Researchers and physicians tell us that one of the best ways to keep our brains functioning well is to embrace learning new things continually. Stretching our brains with new ideas and skills requires rigid discipline – the type we associate with nutrition and exercise for health. Unfortunately, it’s more normal to rely on what comes easily, and forcing ourselves to do things differently requires reprogramming our habits.

Finding the discipline to learn new things, however, is likely going to become the norm. That’s because, as Americans, we must assess and solve lots of big problems with new solutions. We must either do that or accept a significantly less favorable quality of life.

While we won’t be required to solve problems like those our forefathers faced hundreds ago when they discovered America and set out to build a nation, we have a lot of problem-solving and building to do over the next decade.

America needs new roads, bridges, water purification and distribution systems, new and expanded power grids, updated airports and seaports, modernized educational institutions, affordable homes, sustainable construction of every kind, more healthcare facilities and lots of new public safety assets.

Our success will depend on workforce skills, tools and smart people. Engineers, scientists, researchers, physicians, architects, teachers and technology gurus will be required, but we’ll need more. We cannot be successful without collaborative efforts and individuals motivated to work together to fix what is broken or in need of repair.

Preparing America for a safe and welcoming tomorrow will call for teamwork, trust, respect and the discipline to continually learn new ways to fix or rebuild. The challenge of technology alone will demand extreme discipline from all of us.

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After rejecting all previous applications, the city of Waco is putting its $26 million Riverwalk Project up for rebidding. The new bidding window will be open from April 14 through July 14, with construction expected to begin in August 2025.

Originally, bidding for the project was opened on September 12, 2024. The city determined, however, that all applicants made offers that were substantially higher than what was expected to complete the project. The cost concerns associated with the original bids led the city to reject all bids and reopen the project with a revised design.

The project details will retain the major elements included in the original package. These include the Riverwalk’s homage to Sandtown, a historic Waco neighborhood once representative of the city’s diversity and working-class residents. The homage plaza will include an inscribed map of the neighborhood, a perimeter wall with interpretive information, shade trees and planting and fixed seating elements.

Additional features included in the Riverwalk Project are the waterwall, event lawn, Webster overlook and a bridge under Interstate 35. The rebidding documents include several alternate elements that may be included if funding allows. These features include a canopy portion of the overlook structure, MEP components of the waterwall and conduits and vaults for future Wi-Fi integration.

The city may also perform additional construction on Cove Bridge if the budget allows for it. Project documents outline details on additional parking and drive improvements, a picnic area and landscaping work.

(Photo courtesy of Michael Barera.)

As part of an annual improvement program, the city of Fort Worth will invest $4.2 million in quality-of-life improvements in the Fairhaven neighborhood. Projects are estimated to begin in October 2025. 

The funding is part of a city initiative to support historically underserved communities. The Fairhaven neighborhood was selected for capital projects designed to enhance local safety and infrastructure based on three factors: financial hardship, the potential for positive change and the neighborhood’s existing condition. 

While concrete details on which initiatives will receive funding have not been released, capital investments typically target pedestrian infrastructure, traffic solutions and safety improvements. Past projects funded through this program include: 

• Developing parks and procuring park equipment. 
• Creating new sidewalks and crosswalks. 
• Instituting traffic-calming measures. 
• Building recreational amenities. 
• Installing safety improvements such as cameras. 
• Cleaning up neighborhoods. 
• Code enforcement blitzes. 
• Installing streetlights. 
• Building bike lanes and safe routes to school. 
• Demolishing vacant and abandoned structures. 
• Picking up trash and litter. 

Funded initiatives are community-driven and tailored to the specific needs of each neighborhood. Residents will have the opportunity to provide input on upcoming projects and programs to guide implementation. 

(Photo courtesy of Tom Rumble on Unsplash.)

The city of Taylor has launched a new Capital Improvement Projects Dashboard that gives residents updates on major public works projects throughout the city. 

The dashboard is part of the city’s efforts to embrace transparency and accessibility between residents and the local government. Through the online tool, users can track major ongoing projects and receive regular email updates. 

The city will continually update all content on the dashboard going forward, providing an overview of projects, timelines to completion, funding information and progress updates. Users will be able to adjust project filters by type or status. Project types include: 

• Buildings and facilities. 
• Drainage. 
• Master plans and studies. 
• Parks. 
• Transportation. 
• Water and wastewater. 

Status filters include completed, current or future projects. Users will also be able to search for projects by name or by selecting an icon highlighted on the dashboard’s interactive map. 

The dashboard will also keep residents up to date on the city’s Level Up Program, which catalogs the city’s efforts to improve street infrastructure. Users will also be able to stay in the loop about the Highway 79 sewer project, follow upcoming street improvements or receive updates on the Doris Roznovak Aquatic Center renovation. 

(Photo courtesy of Christin Hume on Unsplash.)

John Muns

Mayor

The City of Plano

Public career highlights and education: I earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management from Abilene Christian University. I served on the Plano Independent School District Board as a trustee for 16 years with three of those years as president. This is what launched my public service career.

What I like best about my public service is: I like being able to create solutions that make a community better. We’re bringing companies from all over to Plano to create multiple diverse opportunities: Live, Work, Play in Plano!

The best advice I've received: My father, James Muns, was the mayor of Plano from 1992-1996 and always told me that to live in a vibrant community, you must give back to the community. It is important not to sit on the sidelines and be one of the takers.

A current project or initiative I'm working on: I’m working on redevelopment of areas that 30 to 40 years ago were mainstays. I’m excited about this project but not ready to announce the whole plan as of now. It’s a reminder that Plano is still a corporation destination for companies from all over the world.

People might be surprised to know that: I was an offensive guard on the Plano High School State Championship football team in 1977 and have lived in Plano for most of my life.

One thing I wish more people knew about Plano is: People tend to take services and resources, like clean water and garbage collection, for granted. We work on that type of infrastructure every day. When a community has great resources, it makes the city a place you want to live.

The Williamson County Commissioners Court has signed off on creating the Central Texas Spaceport Development Corporation (SDC). 

An SDC is a nonprofit organization designed to prioritize dedicated infrastructure for spacecraft, rockets and satellites, known as spaceports. These include building and developing specialized facilities to facilitate space-centric initiatives. Spaceport infrastructure includes: 

• Areas intended for use in space flight activities. 
• A building or facility that is reasonably near a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle or spacecraft launching or landing area. 
• Areas near to a launch vehicle, reentry vehicle or spacecraft launching or landing area that are intended to be used for a spaceport building or facility. 
• A right-of-way relating to any of the above. 

Williamson County will collaborate with Burnet County to further space exploration initiatives through the Central Texas SDC. The corporation will be overseen by a seven-member board of directors, empowered by the authority granted under Chapter 507 of the Texas Local Government Code. The code stipulates that SDCs may: 

• Use eminent domain to acquire property for spaceports. 
• Manage financial investments in spaceport infrastructure. 
• Undertake spaceport projects to develop relevant infrastructure, promote business enterprises, educational programs, job training or development and expansion of affordable housing related to a spaceport.

The Central Texas SDC will be the sixth spaceport in Texas. The other spaceports include: 

• Launch Site One West Texas, operated by Blue Origin. 
• Boca Chica and McGregor Launch Sites, operated by SpaceX. 
• Midland Spaceport, operated by Midland International Airport. 
• Houston Spaceport, operated by the Houston Airport System. 

Williamson and Burnet counties anticipate the SDC will propel space-faring innovation by attracting new synergistic companies to the area. Incoming partners would collaborate with a space transportation company headquartered in Cedar Park to advance launch, lunar and on-orbit services. The Burnet County commissioners will vote on the creation of the Central Texas SDC on March 25. 

(Photo courtesy of SpaceX on Pexels.)

Houston plans to become the first major U.S. city to eliminate street homelessness. The city is embarking on a $70 million initiative to move all unsheltered individuals into stable housing by the end of 2026, according to a report from Community Impact. The city has already secured $21.8 million toward a pilot program.

The initial funding package includes $17.5 million from combined city and federal sources, $700,000 from the state’s Homeless Housing and Services Program, $1 million from the Downtown Management District and $2.6 million from the Houston First Corporation. Discussions are underway with various Houston and Harris County entities to secure the remaining $48.2 million.

A key component of the initiative is helping homeless individuals secure housing within 30 days of identification. The majority of the funding — $45 million — will support rapid rehousing efforts, which provide short-term rental assistance and services to help people quickly obtain housing. An additional $11 million will fund permanent supportive housing, while the remainder will be allocated to mental health services, outreach programs and the creation of a navigation center.

Click here for more information about Houston’s homelessness initiative 

(Photo courtesy of Alexander Fox PlaNet Fox on Pixabay.)

The city of Tyler has announced an updated parks and recreation plan to enhance facilities, create more trails and develop new sports fields and courts. 

The new Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan for 2025-2035, approved by the city council last week, will guide the city’s investments for parks and recreation over the next 10 years. Developed through rounds of community collaboration, the new plan will address resident feedback by reinforcing diverse recreational opportunities and quality open spaces.

Currently, the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for and manages 32 parks, two cemeteries, more than a dozen walking and biking trails, five splash pads, a pool and 45 athletic fields throughout the city.

Click here for more details about Tyler’s decade-long parks and recreation plan

(Photo courtesy of LaterJay Photography on Pixabay.)

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is looking to reduce regulations on a major sector of the economy. The agency recently launched what Chairman Brendan Carr calls a “massive, new deregulatory initiative” aimed at eliminating unnecessary rules and regulations, and it is seeking public input on every FCC rule that could be eliminated to reduce regulatory burdens on American businesses in the telecommunications sector. 

The commission’s recent public notice establishes a formal process for identifying regulations that may impede technological innovation, create barriers to market entry or impose costs that outweigh benefits. Public comments on the initiative are due by April 11, with reply comments accepted until April 28.

Coming as a response to recent executive orders, the regulatory review is a significant step in implementation of the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda within the communications sector, which encompasses everything from radio to broadcast media and the internet. As communications technologies rapidly evolve, the FCC’s existing regulatory structure faces increasing scrutiny over its relevance and efficiency.

Click here for more information on potential deregulation in telecommunications

(Photo courtesy of hello_world_2022 on Pixabay.)

The Texas Senate approved a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying, preventing school districts, cities and counties from hiring firms to advocate for them in the Legislature. Senate Bill 19 was introduced to stop political subdivisions from using public funds to retain lobbyists. Though the bill was passed in a late-night vote, a bipartisan coalition amended it on the floor to preserve local voices in the Capitol.

The amendment—spearheaded by Democrats and a selection of Republicans—exempted full-time local employees from the ban. This would allow nonprofit organizations to continue representing local government entities. Only contract employees would be fully affected by the bill if it becomes law.

Texas Republicans have been working toward banning taxpayer-funded lobbying for more than a decade, making it a legislative priority. The bill will now move to the Texas House, which has resisted similar efforts in the past. The bill was introduced in the Senate in February. Other companion bills include HB 3257 and 4860.

(Photo courtesy of Michael Barera.)

The city of Taylor has appointed Robert Powers as its next chief financial officer (CFO). His first official day in the role was March 3. 

Powers brings nearly 40 years of municipal government experience to the role. Prior to joining in Taylor, he served as finance director for the city of Leander for 15 years. 

He has worked in Williamson County since 2001, first as city manager for Cedar Park and later transitioning to a role as a municipal government consultant. Before moving to Williamson County, Powers served as assistant city manager and assistant to the city manager for Wichita Falls, city manager for Midlothian, budget analyst for Dallas and as a management intern in Fort Worth. 

Powers serves on the board of the Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center. He has also previously worked with the Williamson County and Cities Health District and the former United Way of Williamson County. 

He earned a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame. 

A nuclear technology startup is planning to build 30 micronuclear facilities in Haskell County. As power demands have skyrocketed due to increasing usage and expansion of data centers supporting artificial intelligence, innovative solutions are needed to support the power grid. 

The proposed project would break ground on a 200-acre site approximately 180 miles west of Dallas. Microreactors are a scalable solution for generating electricity and heat for industrial applications in remote areas, able to function as part of an existing grid or independently. Each reactor is 100 to 1,000 times smaller than a conventional nuclear reactor yet produces 20 megawatts of energy, providing power to approximately 4,000 homes. 

The next steps toward executing these plans depend on the company acquiring the necessary approvals and regulatory permissions. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) will need to approve connecting the micronuclear facilities to the power grid. The company is also preparing to file for an early site permit with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). 

This is not the startup’s first foray into developing feasible microreactor facilities in Texas. The company has already built two full-scale prototypes demonstrating the efficacy and impact of micronuclear facilities for local economies and statewide energy demands. 

Texas currently hosts more than 340 data centers, consuming nearly eight gigawatts of power with more expected as the state’s data center industry grows. Nuclear power is noted as one of the most feasible and effective solutions for addressing future deficits, providing a carbon-free source capable of ramping up in response to rapidly developing energy usage. 

(Photo courtesy of distelAPPArath on Pixabay.)

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has announced the availability of $450 million for projects that improve port safety and efficiency. Applications for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) funding must be submitted by April 30.

More funding for projects might be added later this year if approved by Congress.

Projects require at least 20% in local matching funds, with an exception for rural projects and projects at small ports. At least $112.5 million of the available funding will be reserved for projects at small ports.

Click here to learn more about the MARAD NOFO

Photo courtesy of Lovemedead.)

The city of McKinney has promoted Jennifer Arnold to assistant city manager. Arnold has been with the city since 2007. Throughout her time with the city, Arnold has been a planner, senior planner, planning manager and most recently as director of planning. She previously served as planning director since 2018.

The North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) has chosen Danielle Thompson as its next director of procurement. Thompson officially assumed her responsibilities in February 2025. Prior to joining NTTA, Thompson served the city of Dallas for five years as director and assistant director and purchasing agent at the Office of Procurement Services. She brings 23 years of management and procurement experience to the role.

On March 17, the Athens City Council appointed Sarah Smith as director of finance. Smith has been with the city since 2018, starting as an accountant. She has moved through multiple roles since then, including purchasing coordinator, senior accountant and finance manager. She succeeds Mandie Quigg in the role.

Rachel Rowe will be the permanent city manager for Kilgore. Rowe has been serving in an interim capacity for the city since October 2024. She has been with the city since 1999, starting with the police department as a public safety dispatcher and communications supervisor. She transitioned to City Hall in 2018 as a city clerk. Rowe takes over the role from Josh Selleck.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced these appointments and reappointments from March 14 through March 20:

Texas State Board Of Public Accountancy

Kenneth Omoruyi - Bellaire

(all reappointed)

Grant Coates - Fort Worth

Jill Holup - Austin

Jeannette Pierro Smith - Mission

James “Jim” Trippon - Houston

OneStar Foundation

John Fisher - Temple

(both reappointed)

Kathy Kabell - Wichita Falls

Rev. Moises Molina - Brownsville

OneStar National Service Commission

Grace Yocum - Round Rock

(all reappointed)

Ashleigh Feuerbacher - Stephenville

Annette Juba - Austin

Mike Morath - Austin

Corina Sadler - Plano

Board Of Pilot Commissioners For Harris County Ports

Jon Keeney - Taylor Lake Village (reappointed)

Austin County Criminal District Attorney

Brandy Robinson - Sealy

Texas Government Insider is a free weekly newsletter detailing important happenings throughout the state and summarizing current political issues relevant to individuals interested in government.

Publisher: Mary Scott Nabers

Editors:

Adam Rollins

Candace Barnette