Lawsuit May Delay $720 Million Kansas Biodefense Lab Construction

Texas business groups have filed a lawsuit challenging the selection of Kansas State University as the site for construction of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility, a high containment lab for researching countermeasures against weaponizable deadly pathogens. The Texas plaintiffs content Kansas Republican Senators Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback exerted undue influence over the site selection process within the Department of Homeland Security. The Texas groups want the $720 million construction project to be built in San Antonio.

Texas Senate Enacts Solar Energy Incentives

By a vote of 26-4 the Texas senate has passed and sent over to the Texas House a bill providing $500 million in energy rebates to encourage homeowners and business owners to install solar panels. The funds will come from a 20 cent monthly tax on homeowner electric bills, $2 monthly on commercial business owners, and $20 monthly on industrial power users.