Bethany Blankley

Lone Star

reporter @TheCenterSquare BorderReport w BethanyBlankley former Capitol Hill staffer, press secretary& speech writer, prev commentary on religion/politics

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Articles

Texas breaks jobs records again, but oil-gas sector outlier indicates volatility

6 days ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – Texas broke its own employment records again in March, leading the U.S. in job creation. The outlier was in the oil and natural gas sector, which reported a loss, breaking its own pattern of job records, reflecting market volatility.
Texas House overwhelmingly passes Teacher Bill of Rights bill

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – The Texas House overwhelmingly passed a Teacher Bill of Rights bill with bipartisan support that includes enhanced penalties for public school students who commit violence or threats of violence. The Senate already passed its version. In response to increased incidents of student misconduct, disruptive behavior, acts of violence or threats of violence, and disrespect toward teachers and staff, state Rep.
Texas House makes history, passes state’s first school choice bill

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – The Texas House for the first time in state history passed a school choice bill after previous attempts failed in multiple legislative sessions. The House passed SB 2, filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, and its companion legislation filed by state Rep. Brad Buckley, R-Killeen, after 15 hours of being in session on Wednesday. After eight hours of debate that went into the early morning hours on Thursday, the measure passed along party lines by a vote of 85-63. Gov.
Texas oil and gas industry concerned about uncertain trade, energy policies

1 week ago | greenevillesun.com | Bethany Blankley |Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – The Texas oil and gas industry is concerned about the uncertainty surrounding energy production and prices despite President Donald Trump's vow to "drill, baby, drill."After Trump advanced his position on tariffs engaging in trade wars with multiple countries, crude oil prices dropped by more than 20% below the $65-$70 per barrel threshold for operators in the Permian Basin to break even.
Permian Basin producers continue to break production, methane reduction records

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – As Texas producers continue to break oil and natural gas production records, they also continue to reduce methane emissions, according to a new report published by Texans for Natural Gas, a campaign of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association (TIPRO).
Illegal border crossings hit record low second month in row

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – For the second full month in a row since President Donald Trump’s been in office, illegal border crossings reached record lows in March, reversing Biden administration illegal crossings, which were the highest in recorded U.S. history. In March, 29,065 illegal border crossers were encountered and apprehended nationwide, a fraction of what they were under the Biden administration.
Trump expands Gulf of America oil and natural gas production

1 week ago | thehayride.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – Reversing Biden administration policies that halted offshore leasing, prompting lawsuits and restricting oil and natural gas development, the Trump administration is expanding offshore capabilities. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to hold the administration’s first offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America, with the first proposed notice of sale slated for June.
Trump expands Gulf of America oil and natural gas production

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – Reversing Biden administration policies that halted offshore leasing, prompting lawsuits and restricting oil and natural gas development, the Trump administration is expanding offshore capabilities. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to hold the administration’s first offshore lease sales in the Gulf of America, with the first proposed notice of sale slated for June.
Texas House passes largest budget in state history

1 week ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – Rather than reduce spending, identify examples of waste, fraud and abuse to eliminate or prioritize returning a $24 billion surplus to taxpayers, critics argue the Republican-led Texas House passed the largest budget in state history that both expands the size of government and increases spending. The House passed a $336.1 billion 2026-2027 budget on Thursday, the largest in state history. It passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 118-26.
California US attorneys prosecute hundreds for border crimes

2 weeks ago | thecentersquare.com | Bethany Blankley

(The Center Square) – As illegal border crossings drop to record lows under the Trump administration, U.S. attorneys in California are prosecuting border-related crimes, including those committed by cartel and gang members and previously deported violent convicted felons. In the Southern District of California, 97 border-related arrests were made in one week, The Center Square reported. That’s after roughly the same number of cases were filed in the previous week.