Opinion

Father Time has struck once again and we close the calendar of 2023 and open another year that brings a fresh beginning. In the east at Times Square we witness the “Ball Drop,” in the central we listen to “Nashville’s Big Bash,” in the mountains “The Mile High Tree” in Denver, and finally in the west along “Freemont Street” of Las Vegas numerous celebrations usher in the New Year with fresh beginnings.

Astandoff at an Eagle Pass park continues as the Department of Homeland Security has sent a second letter to Gov. Greg Abbott demanding access to the Rio Grande park that is now under state control.

Excessive alcohol use is commonplace during the holiday season, and it is the reason why so many people choose to give themselves an alcohol-free break. Dry January is popular, but you can start this exercise anytime.

As the primaries heat up and the nation goes through the throes of another election cycle, cast your vote for something unexpected, something that defies the lies of politicians, something that could save our nation — and most certainly our souls.

The U.S. Justice Department issued a scathing report late last week on the May 4, 2022, mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

In January of 2023, the 88th Texas Legislature had just convened. The session launched with the hope of additional funding for public schools to cover the rising costs of essential goods and services and to increase compensation for educators, who like everyone else were struggling with unprecedented inflation. The session also began with Governor Abbott promising to deliver on “school choice.” Even though the legislature earmarked $4 billion in additional funding for public schools, twelve months and four special sessions later we are right back where we started last year with no new money and even more uncertainty.

Some of the earlier knights of the coffee table arrived just before daylight, flipping their cups to the upright and fillable positions, and were joined quickly by Dewey, which is an unusual occurrence. Doc was the only one of us downwind from Dewey, and we watched to see if any fainting took place, but evidently Dewey had not yet begun his job of transferring soil nutrients from the dairies to people’s yards.

The Texas Railroad Commission has suspended nearly two dozen permits that allow oil and gas companies to inject saltwater into the ground, which regulators say has contributed to increased earthquakes of greater magnitude in West Texas.

I drove my parents to their cabin this week. My mom is having some terrible pain in her jaw and wasn’t sure she was up to drive, and my dad doesn’t see well enough to drive anymore.