You may remember the Terrell and Pat Graham family's struggle against the Johnson Ranch developer in Bulverde, TX. Well, there's new a development, and it's not good.

Johnson Ranch wants to dump 350,000 gallons per day of treated sewage onto the Graham's property for its own private gain. Despite the fact that a judge ruled in favor of the Grahams that the developer's permit should be DENIED, the TCEQ granted the permit anyway! Something smells foul on this deal. IF they can do it to the Grahams, they can do it to YOU!

It's hard to imagine how Congress can sink any lower in the public's approval ratings, but it clearly has other priorities than properly funding our highway system.

Rather than pass a long-term funding solution, it passed its 34th temporary extension of the highway bill since 2009. Even worse, the Senate tacked on a re-authorization of the controversial Export-Import Bank (aka-Corporate Welfare Bank) in its version of the highway bill, which passed the Senate but was not taken up by the House. So they've kicked the can down the road until October when they'll face the same problems.

Heading off to summer vacation trumped funding the core functions of government like roads.

If you're finding it hard to keep up with all the back and forth on the US 281 toll project, you're not alone.

A lot has been happening.

On July 17, just 11 days after the public comment was due, TxDOT issued a Record of Decision to grant environmental clearance for a toll road on US 281. We expected this. However, the good news is what you already know. Judge Nelson Wolff, Commissioner Kevin Wolff, Sen. Donna Campbell, and State Rep. Lyle Larson have all called for the plan to be changed and done completely non-toll. They've added in I-10 for good measure, too.

First they wrote to the Texas Transportation Commission that runs TxDOT to ask for the non-toll funds. Then Commission Chairman Tryon Lewis wrote back that it's up to the local MPO. Then Campbell and Larson wrote to the MPO asking them to revert these projects back to non-toll. However, the MPO does not formally meet to take any action until September 28.

Yesterday, the Bexar County Commissioner formally took action to ask the Commission to approve the funds needed to get 281 and I-10 done without tolls, should the new Prop 7 road funding pass in November. Sound familiar? Judge Wolff asked for the same if Prop 1 passed last year. Prop 1 passed and the MPO still allocated the funds everywhere BUT 281.

So, we're basically in a holding pattern. We've been meeting with elected officials and working with the Governor's staff as well as Transportation Commissioners to make this happen. We have until January 17, 2016, to sue to stop it if necessary. So stay tuned!