This week marks an important milestone for women’s rights.  U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) released the following statement on the 90th anniversary of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment which officially granted women the right to vote:

“It’s hard to imagine that less than 100 years ago, not all women had the right to vote, much less to serve as elected officials. Thanks to the trailblazing efforts of women like Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, American women today are working to shape our government and society. As we celebrate the 90th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment, I am grateful to the American heroines who fought for suffrage and helped expand women’s rights and opportunities.”

One million Texans have now registered with the state’s organ and tissue registry as potential donors.

Glenda P. Dawson Donate Life—Texas Registry is the state database of individuals who have officially indicated their decisions to donate organs, eyes and tissue, to benefit thousands of people of all ages currently awaiting transplants. Three state agencies—the DPS, the Department of State Health Services and the Department of Motor Vehicles—and three organ and tissue recovery agencies—LifeGift, Southwest Transplant Alliance and Texas Organ Sharing Alliance—participate in the registry.

In Texas, residents can register at their local DPS office when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or identification card, or they can enroll in the Registry online at www.donatelifetexas.org. Once they’ve registered, they will receive a letter and donor card to officially confirm their decision to become a registered donor.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today partnered with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas (CACTX) to launch “One With Courage,” a public service campaign that will help raise awareness and prevent children from being sexually abused. “One With Courage” is centered on the courage it takes for a child victim to come forward and inform loved ones about the abuse. The initiative also acknowledges that courageous adults can help protect young Texans by learning to discuss the issue, learn the signs and recognize abuse.

August marks the beginning of school for Texas children; and many parents plan to “cash in” on the savings offered through tax-free clothes and school supplies needed for the next school year.

“From Aug. 20–22, shoppers will pay no state or local sales tax on many school supplies, school backpacks and most children’s and adults’ clothing and shoes priced at less than $100,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said.  “As our economy continues to recover, this tax break will help families get more “bang for their back-to-school bucks.”

This year, Combs predicts shoppers will save $59.3 million in state and local sales taxes during the Sales Tax Holiday, which takes place each year on the third Friday, Saturday and Sunday in August.

The $10,000 Leopold award is the statewide accolade within the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Lone Star Land Steward Award Program, which also recognizes land stewards in 10 different ecological regions and in corporate, co-operative and special categories. The awards recognize Texas ranchers and other landowners who demonstrate outstanding, sustainable management of natural resources.

“The Leopold Conservation Award is the highest honor for private land stewardship in Texas, reserved for the truly exceptional examples of conservation achievement and commitment in our state,” said Carter Smith, TPWD executive director. “We have had exceptional stewards in all areas of the state, and anyone can nominate a previous eco-region winner for the Leopold award. All the information to make nominations is on our website.”

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today sent a demand letter instructing Travelers Insurance (The Travelers Companies Inc.) to cease and desist the airing of a deceptive television advertisement. According to the attorney general’s letter, the ad improperly indicates that Texas homeowners should purchase additional motor vehicle insurance or risk losing their homes if they have inadequate insurance after a vehicle accident. The attorney general demands that the advertisement be removed from all Texas television media markets as well as any print, multimedia, radio or computer-generated ads that appear in the state.

“Texans are protected by robust homestead laws that insulate homeowners from the losses depicted in Travelers’ advertisements,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Because the state already protects homeowners, it is improper for Travelers to scare Texans into buying insurance they may not need. The letter we sent today instructs Travelers to pull down this misleading advertisement immediately or face legal action by the state.

Yesterday the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that tar balls from BP’s Deepwater Horizon were located on Texas shores. While we do not yet know--and cannot yet calculate--the ultimate damage this ecological and economic disaster will inflict upon the state of Texas, we do know that BP will be held fully financially accountable for the costs incurred by the taxpayers when state and local governments engage in clean-up and response efforts. Equally important, BP will also be held responsible for the economic harm suffered by coastal businesses, fisherman, landowners, individuals and communities as a result of the Deepwater Horizon spill.

Over the last few weeks, the Office of the Attorney General has participated in an ongoing series of meetings and conference calls with BP, Gulf State attorneys general, the U.S. Department of Justice and relevant Texas state government agencies to prepare for the State's legal response in the event oil from the Deepwater Horizon reached our shores.

As General Motors announced Texas availability of the nation's first plug-in Chevrolet Volts, Oncor affirmed its commitment to make electric car ownership a smart transportation choice.

"From our installation of more than a million Smart Metershelping customers curb their electricity usage, to construction of 850 miles of new transmission lines delivering renewable wind power, Oncor leads utilities in making Texas the best place in America to drive plug-in cars," said Bob Shapard, Oncor's Chief Executive Officer.

Oncor announced Thursday it will add Chevy Volts to its fleet beginning in the first quarter of 2011 - to be powered by a charging station at Oncor's new headquarters in downtown Dallas.