Columns

At some point in the whole Messiah-birthing affair and the impromptu party that followed, featuring only three slightly clever chaps and some shepherds with a paucity of sheep, it may have occurred to someone that there weren’t any flamingos at the nativity. And yet there she was every year: Ethel. “But, Dad, aren’t all animals…

As time runs out next week on the fourth special session, Gov. Greg Abbott said he will continue to fight for school choice, despite the Texas House once again decisively rejecting it when 21 Republicans largely from rural districts joined Democrats in stripping it from a $7.6 billion education bill. The Austin American-Statesman reported it…

National experts are predicting an increase in spending this holiday season. There is also a concern if many of the items on consumers’ holiday lists will be available on the shelf or online and are faced with the disappointing words: “Sorry, this item is currently out of stock.” That’s especially true when there are challenges…

A sweeping border security bill that allows state and local police to arrest undocumented migrants is headed to Gov. Greg Abbot’s desk, The Dallas Morning News reported. The bill also allows state district judges to order those migrants be returned to Mexico. In addition, a separate bill that provides billions in funding for expansion of…

The Texas Legislature, conceived as a part-time body to meet every other year for 140 days, is now in its record fifth session (counting the regular session). When the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is included, legislators have been in Austin pretty much the entire year, as the Texas Tribune noted. While…

As the clock ran down on the Legislature’s third special session, Texas House and Senate leaders exchanged barbs over Gov. Greg Abbott’s school choice bill and border security proposals, the Austin American-Statesman reported. In a social media post, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said House Speaker Dade Phelan “wasted another special session” as that chamber failed…

A VEW FROM THE BRIDGE Someone pulled the emergency handle on the Tube, halfway through the tunnel to Earl’s Court. The London Underground train came to a jarring halt, and several passengers tipped into each other or poles. There was no general panic. People looked up and down the carriage to see what was the…

For the longest time, mobile/manufactured homes were not allowed inside the city limits of Pearsall, unless it was in a mobile home park established and zoned for such. Over time, requests came into city hall for the council to approve what is called a Conditional Use Permit, allowing mobile homes to be moved into sites…

The library at my elementary school was in a separate building, and so we had to be escorted there as though it were a special outing. Sunlight streamed through tall French doors into the room that was lined on every wall from floor to ceiling with books. We wondered what giants would come and browse…

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Gov. Greg Abbott, just hours after the Senate initially approved a school voucher measure, said he would add teacher raises and increased public school funding to the ongoing special session agenda if the Texas Legislature passes his voucher plan, the Texas Tribune reported. “I want to make sure we provide a carrot to…