In the News
Norman Lucas believes the Save Our Stages Act would be a lifeline for live music venues.
"It's very important to us," said Lucas of Elevated Minds Music Group, which owns Brass Hall in Marble Falls. "If it passes, we're definitely planning on becoming active in that program because it's going to at least ensure our survival. Otherwise, we wouldn't know if we would survive."
The U.S. House bill was introduced July 29 by Rep. Roger Williams (R-Texas) and Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.).
Texas Congressman Roger Williams is co-sponsoring pandemic relief legislation for music venues.
Senator John Cornyn recently co-sponsored similar legislation in the Senate.
Both the House and Senate bills have bipartisan support.
Some have been creative with how to keep the music going, like the Levitt Pavilion.
Still, that doesn't change the fact that the entire industry could use a big boost.
Casey Donahew can't wait to get back on the stage and sing for crowds.
"Music does heal," the country music singer said. "It happens every day."
Donahew on Friday showed up at Billy Bob's Texas Friday to talk about the proposed Save Our Stages Act, a bipartisan bill U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, is trying to pass through Congress.
The office of Congressman Roger Williams, R-Austin, announced a grant to the Housing Authority of Killeen for just over $20,000 this week.
The grant comes will help pay for housing choice vouchers as part of federal coronavirus aid funding that was passed by Congress.
The grant will provide administrative fees to "prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV), including the Mainstream Vouchers," the news release said.
The sound of music has given way to the sounds of silence at downtown Cleburne's Songbird Live. Three blocks south Plaza Theatre Co. at Dudley Hall sits empty as well having twice shut down since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The owners of both said they do not know when live shows will resume though both added that they plan to do everything possible to ensure reopening becomes a reality.
Congressmen Roger Williams (R-TX-25) and Peter Welch (D-VT-At large) introduced the Save Our Stages Act on Thursday, to provide grants from the Small Business Administration to independent music venues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced the Senate companion version of the legislation.
The U.S. Mint unveiled the design for coins honoring President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara Bush, on Tuesday.
The presidential $1 coin for President Bush will bear his portrait with the inscriptions "George H.W. Bush," "In God we trust," "41st president," and "1989-1993" on the obverse, or "heads," side of the coin. The reverse, or "tails," side will feature the Statue of Liberty, as with other presidential coins.
Here's what state and local elected officials, business leaders and community leaders are saying about Tesla's plans to build a $1 billion assembly plant in the Austin metro area:
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, responded to submitted questions on the COVID-19 pandemic and the economy during a Monday virtual town hall meeting on Zoom. Dave Gruber, associate commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, answered questions as well.
One attendee noted that small businesses continue to feel the pain of the recent shutdown and asked Williams if Congress plans to make additional Payroll Protection Plan loans available.
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, joined U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, on Monday in introducing the MFAR Transparency Act to delay the implementation of the Medicaid Fiscal Accountability Rule and to direct the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the financial impacts on each state. The bill would also identify necessary information for reporting to comply with laws and regulations pertaining to funding of Medicaid payments.