Internet Outrage

TCU students puzzled by university's nonchalant reaction to bomb threat

TCU students found out about a campus bomb threat from social media.

After receiving reports of a suspicious package on TCU's campus October 2, authorities quickly sprung into action. But while campus police, Fort Worth firefighters and members of the bomb squad worked to determine what threat the package posed, students and faculty were left in the dark.

Although the incident proved to be harmless, the campus community is still up in arms.

TCU spokesperson Katherine Polenz says the university was just "following protocol" when it chose not to alert students about the perceived threat until after the scene was cleared. "We were in direct contact with campus police the whole time. You don't want to push out massive alerts and alarm people unnecessarily," Polenz says.

Many students, however, disagree. Their confusion seems to be compounded by the fact that TCU recently invested in a mass notification system, TCU Alert, which is designed for precisely these kinds of situations. TCU Alert was added to campus this summer and is scheduled for its first major test October 9.

But campus stakeholders wish it had been used in a real-life situation on October 2. Disgruntled students and faculty members took to Twitter to air their grievances.

So, apparently there was a bomb threat @TCU this afternoon…right outside my building. No notification from the univ. at all.

— Sean Atkinson (@seanatki) October 2, 2014

@TCU so no email about this bomb threat but I get 5 emails about gameday parking? #makessense

— Austin Frank (@AustinFrank1) October 2, 2014

30 minutes since the first picture of a TCU bomb scare was shared on twitter. Where is #TCU administration?

— James Chase Sanchez (@JChaseSanchez) October 2, 2014

Yooooooooo TCU alert, you wanna do your job?

— Matthew Warwick (@MatthewWarwick)

October 2, 2014

Thanks @TCU for being so casual about something so serious

— Rachel Podemski (@Samantha95R) October 2, 2014

If TCU wanted to send an email explaining this bomb threat that would be cool.

— Madeline Muller (@madeline_muller) October 2, 2014

Apparently TCU is locked down but I'm just walking in and out of buildings and finding out about it 20 minutes later

— Blake Carsey (@BlakeCarsey) October 2, 2014

I am however pleased that Yik Yak served a good purpose for once. Step up your game TCU Alert System.

— Jordan Griffin (@JR_Grif) October 2, 2014

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always be prepared

Texas tax holiday offers 3 days to stock disaster supplies tax-free

Fire extinguisher, emergency supplies tax free weekend Texas

Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash

Emergency supplies like fire extinguishers that cost less than $75 are eligible for a tax break this weekend.

The best time for Texas residents to stock up on supplies to prepare for natural disasters is coming up this weekend. The annual statewide Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday runs from April 25-27, when Texans will be able to purchase critical emergency supplies — plus household necessities like batteries and fire extinguishers — tax-fee.

Shoppers can purchase certain emergency supplies tax-free starting at 12:01 am on Saturday, April 25, and the "holiday" runs until midnight on Monday, April 27. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items that can be purchased during the weekend, and purchases can be made in store, online, through the mail, and via custom order.

Saving on emergency supplies
Emergency preparation supplies must be purchased under certain price brackets to qualify for the tax exemption. For example, portable generators must have a sales price less than $3,000 to qualify for a tax break. Ladders and hurricane shutters that cost less than $300 also qualify.

Delivery, shipping, handling, and transportation charges are included in the sales price, according to the Comptroller. So if a shopper buys a $299 rescue ladder and is charged a $10 delivery fee, the total sales price for the purchase is $309, and tax would need to be paid for that sales price.

Additional items that qualify for a tax break as long as they cost less than $75 include:

Axes
Batteries – single or multipack (AAA cell, AA cell, C cell, D cell, 6 volt or 9 volt)
Carbon monoxide detectors
Fire extinguishers
First aid kits
Fuel containers
Ground anchor systems and tie-down kits
Hatchets
Ice products – including reusable and artificial ice
Light sources – including those that are battery operated or portable self-powered sources; candles, flashlights, and lanterns
Mobile telephone batteries and mobile telephone chargers
Non-electric can openers
Non-electric coolers and ice chests for food storage
Radios – including portable self-powered radios, battery operated radios, two-way radios, and weather band radios
Smoke detectors
Tarps and other plastic sheeting

The full list of qualifying items is available on The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' website.

As a reminder, over-the-counter items like antibacterial hand sanitizer, soap, and spray and wipes are always exempt from sales tax if they are labeled with a "Drug Facts" panel in compliance with Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Non-qualifying items that will still be taxed
Medical masks, face masks, and gloves of any kind do not qualify for a tax exemption. Other taxable items including toilet paper, cleaning supplies (such as disinfectants and bleach wipes), vehicle or boat batteries, chainsaws, plywood, extension ladders, and stepladders. Camping equipment and supplies, including stoves and tents, are also not eligible for a tax break.

Additionally, any repair or replacement parts for emergency preparation supplies do not qualify for tax exemptions, and neither do any services that are performed on or related to those supplies.

What to do if a qualifying item is taxed during the holiday
If customers buy a tax-exempt item between April 25-27 and are still taxed, they may request a refund from the seller on the tax paid for the item. The seller can grant the refund to the buyer, or provide them with Form 00-985, Assignment to Right to Refund, which would allow the customer to file a claim for their refund through the Comptroller's website.

tax free weekend emergency supplies texas