space force, assemble!

Houston floated as possible location for President Trump's Space Force headquarters

Blaffer Art Museum presents Creation of the American Astronaut, Talk by Scott Magelssen

A Houston airport has been suggested at Space Force's home base.

Photo courtesy of NASA

Houston, which already holds an active presence in space exploration and aeronautics through Johnson Space Center, is being pitched to become the home base of President Trump's ambitious Space Force enterprise.

In a letter obtained by CultureMap content partner ABC13 Eyewitness News, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appeals to the president by specifically nominating Ellington Field as Space Force's headquarters.

"The State of Texas stands ready to support your leadership. To that end, there is no better location for the Space Command headquarters than Houston's Ellington Airport, near the Johnson Space Center," Abbott writes.

Abbott continues, "Texas has a long and proud history of supporting our military. We also have the resources, universities, and human capital to support something as important to the nation's future as the Space Command and Space Force."

The letter, which is just a little over a page in length, states Ellington's existing interests as it relates to aviation, including its designation as a spaceport by the FAA. In addition, Abbott informs Trump of land available for development next to NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

Abbott then closes his letter, invoking Houston's space-themed sports teams, the Astros and Rockets, adding the city earned its "Space City nickname."

"I hope you will agree with me that the Space Command belongs in Space City," Abbott concludes.

The letter was released Monday but dated on March 4.

The White House aimed to have Space Force operating as a sixth, separate military service by 2020.

The Department of Defense recently revealed that there would be no plans for a separate academy dedicated to Space Force, deciding in favor of moving existing personnel to the service.

The existence of Space Force is now up to Congress. The Pentagon estimates $72 million would be needed in the first fiscal year to establish the service with about 200 personnel.

---

For more on this story, including video, visit our content partner ABC13.

The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.

science technology

no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

undefined

Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana