Heart of Texas Council of Governments

05/12/2026

03/31/2026

🚨 Heads up, Heart of Texas! A statewide emergency alert test is happening Thursday, April 2. 🚨

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) has announced a statewide drill of local public warning systems to ensure these critical tools are ready when they’re needed most.

🔍 What to Expect:
Residents across the HOTCOG region may receive test alerts via phone call, text message, or email.

🎯 Why It Matters:
This drill helps identify gaps, strengthen coordination, and ensure alerts are delivered accurately, quickly, and reliably during real emergencies.

🏛️ Regional Impact:
HOTCOG proudly supports this effort by funding the regional emergency notification system, helping keep our communities informed and connected when it matters most.

👇 Find the sign-up link for local emergency alerts in the comments.

01/27/2026

🚨 Office Closure Notice 🚨
Due to continued hazardous ice conditions in our parking lot and surrounding side streets, our office will be closed the remainder of today.

The previously announced late start has been cancelled in the interest of safety.

Reminder, all transit services will be closed today as well.

We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Please stay safe, and we will share updates as conditions improve.

01/26/2026

❄️ Weather Update – Tuesday ❄️
Due to potentially hazardous road conditions caused by ice, HOTCOG will have a late start Tuesday and will open at Noon.

🚌 Important Notice:
Rural Transit services will not be operating tomorrow.

Please stay safe and use caution if you must travel. Thank you for your understanding!

01/25/2026

❄️ Office Closure ❄️

Due to the icy conditions following this weekend’s storm, our office will be closed tomorrow, Monday January 26th for the safety of our team and the public.

We will continue to assess road conditions for Tuesday morning.

Thank you for your patience — stay safe and warm!

01/16/2026

📢 Grant Applicants – Helpful Workshop Opportunity! 📢

The Office of the Governor’s Public Safety Office (PSO) is hosting a virtual PSO Application Workshop to help applicants prepare and submit applications for current PSO funding opportunities.

🕒 1.5-hour live session
✔️ Guidance on creating, submitting, and certifying applications
✔️ Walkthrough of the PSO eGrants system
✔️ Especially helpful for first-time PSO applicants

Attendance is not mandatory, but highly recommended.
⚠️ Note: This workshop does not replace any local Council of Government workshop requirements.

👉 Register here: https://fs3.formsite.com/OOG_HSGD/myuvvwiqav/index

A Microsoft Teams link will be sent to registered participants before the session begins.

10/13/2025

📣 Grant Workshops This Week!

We’re gearing up for the Criminal Justice FY 2026 and Homeland Security FY 2026 funding announcements, expected in early December.

To meet eligibility requirements, each participating agency must have a representative attend a HOTCOG Grant Application Workshop this year.

We’re starting early and offering more in-person sessions than in the past to make attendance easier for everyone.

🗓 First Workshops:
📅Tuesday, October 14, 2025
📅Thursday, October 16, 2025
Morning Start Time is 9:00AM and Afternoon Start Time is 1:00PM

➡️ Attendance at one workshop satisfies the requirement for both grant programs.
➡️ No registration needed—just sign in when you arrive!
➡️ Each day includes two sessions (lasting about 2 hours).
➡️ Sessions are scheduled within 4-hour blocks to allow extra time for questions.

You can find the full schedule under the grant workshop schedule tab on our website: https://www.hotcogtx.gov/regional-services/criminal-justice-planning

We look forward to seeing you there as we kick off another successful grant season!

08/05/2025

Protect Our Children: Attend the September Intermediate Child Abuse Prevention Course

Law enforcement plays a critical role in identifying and preventing child abuse. If you’re a peace officer working toward Intermediate certification, don’t miss Intermediate Child Abuse Prevention on September 8–10, 2025, hosted by HOTCOG at ESEC in Waco.
This 24-hour TCOLE course led by instructors Brandon Fergueson and Jason Stone will cover critical prevention, investigation, and victim support strategies. Limited to 25 participants, so register today or contact Lana Gudgel at [email protected].
https://www.hotcogtx.gov/regional-services/law-enforcement-training-classes

07/31/2025

August 18 Homemade Explosives Course: TCOLE Credits and Preparedness

Are you and your staff ready for an incident involving homemade explosives? HOTCOG’s August 18 training will prepare you with knowledge that could save lives. Held at ESEC in Waco and led by instructors from New Mexico Tech, this course offers 8 hours of critical content and TCOLE credit. Class size is limited, so register today to secure your place or email Lana Gudgel at [email protected] for more information.
https://www.hotcogtx.gov/regional-services/law-enforcement-training-classes