Christmas tree sales are up in the Lone Star State, even as many tree farmers are aging out of the business with no successors.

After his corruption indictment last year, the Laredo Democrat forfeited his role as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees more than $65 billion in annual spending.

The three interventions come after the state’s education agency announced plans to take over Fort Worth ISD in October.