Opinion

Local students have just gotten their taste of freedom. Given that summery temperatures can occur nearly year-round in Texas, most might agree that usually, the real question is whether summer ever ends.

35 Texas counties eligible for individual disaster aid Residents in a total of 35 Texas counties now qualify for individual disaster assistance following a series of severe storms and flooding that began in late April, The Dallas Morning News reported. “I thank our federal partners and emergency response personnel across our great state who are working tirelessly to protect and support their fellow Texans,” Gov.

Disclaimer: No pets die in this column ( but they sometimes smell like they did). As I write, I’m trying to relax in my recliner on a cold winter’s day next to a roaring fire, yet my feet are freezing because a large, semielderly cat named “Missy” – AKA “The Loaf” – is lounging on the fireplace hearth directly in front of the firebox and hogging all of the heat.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, narrowly won re-election in a hotly contested runoff race and has vowed to seek his third term as speaker, drawing threats from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to oppose any of his supporters in the 2024 primary.

“Good morning, Fort Stockton,” That is similar to how I started the 1,125, give or take, emails that I sent off this week introducing myself digitally to the people serving the city, county, schools, and local businesses, letting them know to divert their agendas and calendars my way. And now it’s your turn. So, whether it’s “paper day” Thursday morning, or Friday afternoon by the time you are picking up the Pioneer, I am very happy to meet you.

According to my extensive research (approximately five minutes on Google when I should have been folding underwear), the Chinese zodiac system assigns an animal symbol to each year. It is believed that people born in a given year have the personality of that year’s animal. For example, based on the placemats at my favorite Chinese buffet, I was born in the Year of the Dog, which means I am loyal, honest and difficult to housebreak.

Seven Texas counties have been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for grants for emergency work and replacement of disaster-damaged public infrastructure, after severe weather and flooding struck much of Deep East Texas, Gov. Gregg Abbott’s office reported. Counties eligible for FEMA’s Public Assistance program include Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker.

In my last column, I admitted to some things I’ve never done in my 50-something-year-old-dudetype- person life. (I still haven’t been to Hooters.) So, of course, that discussion brought to mind a few things I’ve actually accomplished – or committed – and deeply regret.

GARDENER’S MAILBAG Dear Neil: How is purpleheart propagated? I would normally use cuttings for its sisters, the wandering Jews, but since it’s a perennial, should I dig and divide it? Use cuttings, especially since they’re so widely available at this time of year. They root easily and they’ll have ample time to develop good roots in their 4-inch pots, then become established out in the beds before fall.

Texas House Democrats are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to call a special session to increase public school funding, while Abbott is criticizing them for opposing legislation last year that tied increased funding to his pet project — school vouchers. The Austin American-Statesman reported the Democrats sent a letter, written by Rep. Jon Rosenthal, D-Houston, calling for a 30-day special session focused on both increasing per-student funding and investing more in school safety.