Category: Top News Stories

July 23, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN) delivered the following opening statement in a hearing to examine the facts and circumstances surrounding the attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on July 13. At the hearing, witness testimony will be provided by Colonel Christopher L. Paris, commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, and Patrick Yoes, national president of the Fraternal Order of Police.
As prepared for delivery:
On July 13, 2024, our nation came within an inch of unmitigated tragedy and crisis. In Butler, Pennsylvania, a 20-year-old gunman mounted a building in plain view of former President Donald J. Trump’s campaign rally, took aim, and fired multiple rounds.
At exactly the right moment, however, President Trump turned his head to read a chart, so that a bullet which would have pierced his skull instead grazed his right ear. Three others sitting behind President Trump on the stage experienced a different fate.
Fifty-year-old Corey Comperatore, a father and former fire chief, was struck and killed. As one outlet recently reported, this brave and loving man “spent his final moments diving down in front of his family, protecting them from the gunfire that rang out.” He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Two others, 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver, were seriously injured.
I’d like to pause for a moment of silence in remembrance of Corey and in prayer for the recovery of David and James. Thank you everyone.

This failed attempt on President Trump’s life demands urgent and comprehensive congressional oversight. We must understand how it happened—and ensure changes are made—so this never happens again.
That was the scene last Saturday, where thousands of Americans were exercising their constitutional rights – until they were viciously attacked.
Yet, what we saw after those shots rang out should also encourage everyone. We saw a leader under fire rising up to show the attacker had failed. We saw brave Secret Service agents who put their bodies in harm’s way. And we see Americans across this nation refuse to let this thwart their participation in our democratic process.
At the same time, however, we also witnessed a massive security failure by the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security—the closest someone has been to taking the life of a president or presidential candidate since President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981—more than 40 years ago. We must be committed in our determination to ensure this never happens again. That is why the House Committee on Homeland Security is demanding full transparency and accountability. That’s why we made the trip to Butler, Pennsylvania, yesterday—to see the site ourselves. I’m grateful to the Ranking Member and the eleven other members who were able to come yesterday.
I want to share with the American people some of what we saw yesterday. I was struck by how close the unsecured building, from which Thomas Crooks took his shot, was to the stage where President Trump was standing. What we saw yesterday only raises more questions about how this roof was unsecured. And after several of our Committee members climbed on the roof, let me tell you—any excuse about the roof being “too steep” to post a counter-sniper team up there is pure nonsense.
Protecting the president of the United States and presidential nominees is the Secret Service’s mission. There can be no room for mistakes. Unfortunately, that was not the case here.
In order to prevent a repeat of this, we must first thoroughly gather and assess the facts. That’s why we are here today, most importantly, to obtain answers for the American people from officials in the best position to provide those answers. And like tens of millions of Americans, our list of questions is extensive:
· Why was the rooftop from which the shooter fired multiple rounds not secured?
· Who made the decision not to post counter-sniper personnel on the roof?
· Were warnings from private citizens in attendance about a shooter on top of the building heard by federal law enforcement, and if so, why was nothing done to respond?
· How did the shooter access the rooftop despite reported federal and local law enforcement presence in and around the building?
· Were there communications breakdowns that prevented law enforcement officials from effectively communicating with each other in response to alerts and threats?
· The shooter was spotted and designated as suspicious prior to President Trump taking the stage. Why wasn’t President Trump moved to a secure location until the Secret Service could investigate?
· The shooter visited the rally site multiple times before the actual rally. Reports indicate he even flew a drone on a reconnaissance trip to the rally site on the day of the attack. Why wasn’t the site secure?
· Following the rally, the Secret Service said that reports President Trump’s security detail requested additional security resources were false; however, then backtracked and told the Washington Post that the Secret Service had learned “new information” indicating the Secret Service headquarters may have in fact denied some requests. Why, and when were those requests were denied?
These are just some of the most pressing questions we have, and expected to hear answers to from Secretary Mayorkas, Director Wray, and Director Cheatle. We, also, expect to hear complete answers to questions about the shooter’s motivation and what the FBI has found in its investigation, including information collected from the shooter’s various devices. Unfortunately and unacceptably, they have refused to appear before this Committee today. Director Cheatle testified yesterday before another committee, but many questions remain. Yesterday, she provided wholly unacceptable responses to members of the House Oversight Committee, and completely failed to address the lack of confidence we have of her leadership of the Secret Service. Her appearing before one committee yesterday also does not absolve her of her responsibility to before this committee. In any case, make no mistake, we will continue to push for answers.
While these federal officials refused to testify today, we are grateful for the opportunity to speak with state and local officials and law enforcement members, some of whom were onsite and witnessed the events of that tragic day. Their testimony will be critical to putting together this complicated puzzle, understanding coordination efforts, and getting to the truth about what happened.
Before I conclude, however, I have to urge the Ranking Member to reconsider his legislation that was clearly intended to strip Secret Service protection from former President Trump. While I understand the legislation would not have applied in this instance, it was clear to everyone that it was directed toward the former President. We all introduce messaging bills; this one should be withdrawn.
Today’s hearing is critical so we can ensure that our children and grandchildren will grow up in a free nation where every American can participate in the democratic process. I hope every member will join me in getting to the bottom of what happened—so it doesn’t happen again.
Source: https://homeland.house.gov/news releases
Watch Chairman Green’s full opening statement online at https://homeland.house.gov/

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In the lastest council session, Devine City Administrator David Jordan reported to council that the city had received a $467,000 quote for its annual “wish list” of street paving projects that will be formally presented at the council’s next session. Funds to cover the project have been budgeted meaning the project can begin right away.

Residents will happy to know The City of Devine received 3 generators delivered this past July 18. Two will be at the site of the Edward’s wells, while 1 will be at the wastewater plant.
It’s been a long time since the historic February 2021 snowfall in which the area received 6-9 inches over a period of a couple days. The historic snowfall and below freezing temps in Texas led to ERCOT’s “rolling blackouts”, lasting 30 hours for some unlucky homeowners in our area. But if you re-call, Devine residents were hit extra hard. Without electricity, or back up generators, the City of Devine was not able to pump water up into the water tower, leaving residents without running water for days on top of the blackouts.

In the months following the “Snowpocalyse” as some called it, city leaders in office at that time vowed to secure back up generators to prevent this from happening again, but complications and issues led to a delay.
Under the leadership of Mayor Butch Cook and new City Administrator David Jordan, who came on board this past November, this issue is a priority. Jordan added that the generators will be brought on-line sometime this week.
“This will greatly reduce the chances of the city going without water during extreme weather and electricity outages,” said City Administrator David Jordan.

By Anton Riecher
A proposed cafeteria and gymnasium space for the elementary school has fallen victim to the cost cutting axe as the Devine school board struggle to keep district wide renovations within the voter approved $11.255 million price tag.
On a motion by trustee Carl Brown, seconded by Chris Davis, the board voted unanimously to approve the schematic plans for the project as presented with the combination cafeteria/gymnasium space eliminated.
“With regret,” said board president Nancy Pepper.
Originally, the district sought $32 million in a bond issue for the district improvements, district superintendent Todd Grandjean explained. When that proposed bond issue was rejected by voters, the board was faced with reevaluating the district’s needs, reducing the proposed renovations and improvements to a $11.255 million bond package that won voter approval.

Unfortunately, when the list of safety and security requirements salvaged from the $32 million bond project was submitted to the contractors the eventual cost was $5 million more than the reduced bond package would cover, he said.
“So we have to figure out what do we have to take away from our wish list to be able to get into the price tag that we’re able to afford,” Grandjean said.
The obvious choice for the cut was the $3.8 million cafeteria/gymnasium space, he said. Also on the chopping block were renovations on the upper floors of the high school building.
Losing the cafeteria/gymnasium means major changes to affecting safety and security at the elementary, Grandjean said. Plans call for moving the current administration building to the opposite side of the campus leaving a gap between the first grade wing and the Kinder wing.
“Now we have to figure out how to connect the Kinder wing to that section that’s the main hall,” Grandjean said.
Losing the gymnasium/cafeteria may be reconsidered in November once the new schematic designs are completed and costs reevaluated.
In other security matters discussed at the Monday night board meeting, Grandjean reported that in addition to state required intruder detection audits the Texas Education Agency will also conduct district vulnerability assessments.
“This is when TEA will come to our campus for approximately three to four days and go top to bottom over every single piece of the safety plan,” he said.
The assessment includes adjustments and recommendations to eliminate any deficiencies found in the plan.
Also under the heading of security, Grandjean reported on the completion of eight-foot-high fencing at the elementary and intermediate campuses. That fencing includes one-inch thick fabric covering effectively making the fence “unscaleable,” he said.
Grandjean announced that the district had been awarded $150,000 under the TEA’s Safety and Facilities Enhancement (SAFE) Cycle 2 program, intended to help schools that have already met required safety standards met other statutory school safety requirements and allowable expenses.
The district was previously awarded $1.1 million under the first cycle of the SAFE program. Grandjean said he had hoped the district would match that amount under second cycle funding.
“We didn’t quite get there but this will still be valuable funds that we can use and not have to take money out of our operating budget,” he said.

By Anton Riecher
Action to consider re-negotiation of the contract governing management of the Devine golf course was approved by a 4-1 vote of the Devine City Council at its July 16 regular session.
Urging the re-negotiation, Mayor Butch Cook said that under the current management of the Devine Golf Group (DGG) the course had reached a positive turning point with the recent completion of improvements to the golf course clubhouse, including a new air conditioning system.
“This golf course is a viable operation, especially now that the clubhouse has been completed,” Cook said.
The motion in favor of considering re-negotiation was made by District 3 council member Jeff Miller and seconded by District 2 council member Michael Hernandez. District 5 council member Debbie Randall was alone in opposing the measure.
DGG Rep Ron Richards questioned why their own District 5 representative doesn’t support them. Randall noted that she does at times.
No preliminary figures on the new contract were introduced during the meeting.

“My intent this evening is not for us to sit here and talk about the numbers, going back and forth,” Cook said. “I just want a consensus of the council if we want to proceed in this direction, to sit down and talk about negotiations.”
Cook said he did not believe the existing contract was good for either the city nor DGG. It covers a 10-year period with an additional 10-year option. In addition to an annual lease payment of $1 a year, the DGG pays the city $1 per paid green fee and $2 per membership every quarter. After five years the DGG payment per paid member increases to $5 each quarter.
“In my mind it should be a short contract that we can negotiate at the end of each term,” Cook said.
In the two years since DGG took over management of the course the city has not paid DGG a dime directly, compared to the previous management contract that cost the city $32,500 a month, he said.
The golf course itself is the property of the city and its maintenance remains the city responsibility, Cook said.
“I’ve said it for a year now since I was elected,” he said. “That property is the property of the City of Devine. It is our job to maintain that infrastructure.”
DGG “inherited some things that were really in bad shape,” Cook said.
“They’ve already paid $17,000 for their half of the wells and pumps which is in the current contract,” he said. “They have gone by the contract explicitly and followed everything in it.”
Cook said he did not want the golf course project to fail for lack of capital expenditure.
“We want these guys to succeed,” he said. “They all have local ties. They’re vested in the golf course. They care about it deeply.”
The council approved payment of more than $5,500 in invoices submitted by DGG to reimburse them for electrical work and other repairs involving water pumps. However, the council rejected two invoices totaling more than $700 in plumbing and another $465 related to fire inspection, citing contract language making DGG responsible for payment.
Council voted to table one of two executive sessions scheduled after it was determined that the items to get discussed – requests for quotes for technology services and city engineer, city attorney and city auditor services – could only be legally discussed in open session.
The items were listed on the agenda under the heading of personnel.
No action was taken after an executive session held to discuss litigation with City Attorney Thomas Cate.
The council voted 3-2 against a request from the Devine Housing Authority asking the city to waive this year’s $4,000 check as payment in lieu of property taxes. Mayor Cook explained that the authority cited the expense of recent improvements to local federal housing.
District 1 council member Ray Gonzales, District 2 council member Michael Hernandez and District 3 council member Jeff Miller voted against granting the waiver.
In another vote against the council majority, council woman Randall voted against an amendment to the airport mowing contract issued to contractor Joe Munoz. Mayor Cook explained that the new contract will be paid monthly as is standard with most service contracts.
Prior to Cook taking charge, the whole contract had been paid up front. Last May since the city was already a month into the contract he agreed to half up front. He was told the mowing contract was ‘usually’ paid in advance to cover the cost of equipment and supplies, he said. “We are not doing ‘business as usual’, we are doing it the right way now. Monthly like the contract says” Cook stated.
In response to a quarterly investment report, council members expressed concern over the low rate of return on more than $2 million in funds waiting to be used in the construction of the city’s new ground storage tank.

Make sure to grab your community guide magazines, available for free at many local businesses, chamber offices, and city offices. This year’s Devine Community Guide, Lytle Community Guide, and the Natalia Community are out and about!