Relations with the United States improve as drug violence continues to plague Mexico was the message Jim Kuykendall, political officer at the U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico shared with students last week.

Kuykendall gave a presentation outlining the roles of Mexico and the United States in an ever-improving bilateral relationship Thursday evening as part of Communication Week.

Students removed candy and allegedly vandalized an art installation Monday in the Joann C. Mitte Art Gallery.

Mary Mikel Stump, art gallery coordinator for the School of Art and Design, said a junior in the art department and three accomplices removed nearly 400 pounds of candy from an exhibit on-loan. The exhibit was on display from New York’s Museum of Modern Art in the Mitte Art Gallery.

Texas legislators are searching for new ways to deal with an aging prison population.

Lawmakers are considering early parole as a possibility for non-violent geriatrics and illegal immigrants from Texas prisons to combat the effects of budget cuts in the criminal justice department.

Sen. John Whitmire, D-15, said the population of Texas prisons is becoming older and sicker as inmates across the state serve sentences. The maintenance of geriatric inmates and those suffering from severe illness creates a financial burden on the state’s criminal justice budget.

Diversity may be in jeopardy in the coming years at higher education institutions across the state.

The Texas legislature plans to reduce the amount of funds allocated to the TEXAS Grant by 41 percent, a $400 million decrease from the current amount—and 46 percent of recipients are Hispanic.

Texas State utilizes a memorandum to educate students on hazing.

Texas universities are required by law to circulate a hazing memorandum each semester outlining the definition, rules and consequences of the action.

Margarita Arellano, dean of students, said the memorandum, is considered the first step in a campaign of education on hazing and its 

consequences.

A bill proposed in the Texas House could ease students’ concerns about the rising cost of tuition and shift the financial burden to faculty.

Rep. Jason Isaac, R-45, filed a bill in the Texas House to freeze tuition rates at four-year public higher education institutions for the next four years based on the current cost.

Isaac said the bill is aimed at protecting students from facing the possibility of higher tuition while financial support systems are being reduced.

Rep. Jason Isaac (R-45) filed a bill in Texas Legislature today to freeze four-year public university tuition rates.

Local law enforcement officials will soon be sporting a resident’s artistic renderings of what makes San Marcos special.

The city's police department is hosting a two-category, city wide contest to design a badge and a cloth patch worn on the shoulder of officers’ uniforms. The winning entry in each category will receive a $250 gift card.

Texas State’s new research greenhouse opened to students and faculty Feb. 1 after seven months of construction.

The new facility was constructed to replace an existing greenhouse located adjacent to the Supple Science building.