The state's two most widely recognized flagship universities are the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University ranked as the 52nd and 69th best universities in the nation according to the 2014 edition of U.S News & World Report's "Best Colleges" respectively Some observers also include the University of Houston and Texas Tech University as tier one flagships alongside UT Austin and A&M the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) ranks the state's public universities into three distinct tiers:. Houston Heights World War II Memorial 4 Higher education. The recorded history of Texas begins with the arrival of the first Spanish conquistadors in the region of North America now known as Texas in 1519 who found the region occupied by numerous Native American tribes the Native Americans' ancestors had been there for more than 10,000 years as evidenced by the discovery of the remains of prehistoric Leanderthal Lady During the period of recorded history from A.D 1519 to 1848 all or parts of Texas were claimed by five countries: France Spain Mexico the Republic of Texas and the United States of America as well as the confederacy during the the civil war.
. Constable Precinct 4 Mark Herman Republican In the 2014 Texas elections the Tea Party movement made large gains with numerous Tea Party favorites being elected into office including Dan Patrick as lieutenant governor Ken Paxton as attorney general in addition to numerous other candidates including conservative Republican Greg Abbott as governor. For several decades official British policy was to maintain strong ties with Mexico in the hopes that the country could stop the United States from expanding further. When the Texas Revolution erupted Great Britain had declined to become involved officially expressing confidence that Mexico could handle its own affairs in 1840 after years in which the Republic of Texas was neither annexed by the United States nor reabsorbed into Mexico Britain signed a treaty to recognize the nation and act as a mediator to help Texas gain recognition from Mexico, Instead the state collects revenue from property taxes (though these are collected at the county city and school district level; Texas has a state constitutional prohibition against a state property tax) and sales taxes the state sales tax rate is 6.25 percent but local taxing jurisdictions (cities counties special purpose districts and transit authorities) may also impose sales and use tax up to 2 percent for a total maximum combined rate of 8.25 percent. Main article: Government of Texas Opening and reception A large stone complex several stories high Two crosses top the structures in the foreground Texas has a "low taxes low services" reputation. According to the Tax Foundation Texans' state and local tax burdens rank among the lowest in the nation 7th lowest nationally; state and local taxes cost $3,580 per capita or 8.4 percent of resident incomes. Texas is one of seven states that lack a state income tax; 9 Plano Collin 286,057 The judiciary of Texas is one of the most complex in the United States with many layers and overlapping jurisdictions Texas has two courts of last resort: the Texas Supreme Court for civil cases and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Except for some municipal benches partisan elections select judges at all levels of the judiciary; the governor fills vacancies by appointment. Texas is notable for its use of capital punishment having led the country in executions since capital punishment was reinstated in the Gregg v Georgia case (see Capital punishment in Texas), Terminal E used exclusively by United Airlines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Caroline Tuck - State Farm Insurance Agent