His campaign spokesman, Bryan Black, told us via email that Staples helped bring landowner organizations into Operation Drawbridge. Staples has long warned that because of a lack of border security, farmers and ranchers are under siege. Images from 2013 conference presentation on DPS website Once an image is captured, software transmits it to law enforcement, and response times can be as quick as 10 minutes, according to the presentation. Farmers and ranchers volunteer to have the $300 cameras placed on their land near the Texas/Mexico border. It was recently canceled after only a few dozen cameras were put in place over more than three years and unimpressive results."Ī 2013 DPS conference presentation placed online illustrates how Drawbridge uses modified off-the-shelf, motion-sensing, low-light cameras of the type hunters use to spot and track game at all hours. It's an update of the much-criticized Texas Border Watch Program, a multimillion-dollar effort by the state to set up video cameras along the border. The main source of Drawbridge funding, Vinger said, is the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor’s Office, which has so far provided grants totaling $2.5 million.Ī description of the initiative from a June 9, 2012, San Antonio Express-News news story said, "(T)he department is installing 500 cameras along the border, part of an electronic monitoring program called Operation Drawbridge. DPS spokesman Tom Vinger told us by email that Agriculture Department grants in October 2012 and August 2013 provided $345,000 to the program. The state’s Department of Public Safety started Drawbridge in January 2012, according to its website. "I don’t want to get popped for something I’ve never taken credit for," he said. ![]() Staples also stressed that his email blast said the agency’s savings "helped" achieve the results. ![]() In an interview, Staples told us his statement was intended to reflect totals for the entire program and he’s never said all the results were due to Agriculture Department aid. Also, Staples’ cited arrest and confiscation totals reflected Drawbridge’s overall results. The Texas Department of Agriculture indeed approved aid for Operation Drawbridge, we learned, but the multimillion-dollar Department of Public Safety project had already been in place for most of a year. "As a result, more than 21,500 arrests have been made and 46 tons of narcotics confiscated." 13, 2014, campaign email blast, "Using cost savings that I achieved from cutting government waste, I helped fund Operation Drawbridge, a low-cost, high-tech, DPS-led operation that placed game cameras along the border to detect illegal trafficking. Staples, Texas’ agriculture commissioner, wrote in a Jan. Keeping with this year’s commemorative theme art, the State Fair has “Treats of Texas, ” a culinary collection for everyone.Lieutenant governor candidate Todd Staples says he not only has a plan that addresses border security, he’s already tackled the challenge. While known for challenging food conventions with over-the-top fried food creations, the State Fair of Texas also has plenty of fruit, vegetable, and protein choices. Fairgoers following a vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free diet, or those who want options, are sure to find food that will work for them. ![]() Here are 10 vendors to check out this year:īailey’s: The Good Luck Black-Eyed Pea Soup at Bailey’s is vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, with hush puppies available on the side. Their tater tots also fall under these three categories and come with an optional side of beer queso.Ĭhan’s Chicken on a Stick: For those looking for a healthier vegan entrée, Chan’s Chicken on a Stick offers Vegetable Lo Mein and Vegetable Rice. Another great healthy option is their Shaking Beef Salad, a 2022 Big Tex Choice Award Semi-Finalist. The salad contains cubed beef, cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pepper, and soy sauce.ĭoc’s Street Grill: Stop by Doc’s for all things vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. This stand sells delicious Jamaican shrimp, beef, and chicken on a stick, along with a veggie empanada.
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