Opinion

Body CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS As Texans endure the dog days of summer, experts say deaths related to heat in Texas and nationwide are likely undercounted, the Texas Standard reported. With climate change causing warmer days and nights, last year was the hottest on record in Texas.

Body Texas public schools received more than $19 billion in pandemic relief funds over the last four years, but that pipeline of cash will largely end on Sept. 30, The Texas Tribune reported.

Body With school back in full swing, I’d like to say a few words about teachers, without whom none of us would know what in the heck to do with the word “whom.” I come from a long-ish line of teachers myself.

Body A federal investigation into five state facilities concluded children in custody face excessive force, sexual abuse and a lack of vital services, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Body I’ve heard it said that things happen in threes, especially tragedies, deaths and doses of Pepto Bismol after a big Tex-Mex dinner. My own three defining experiences over the past few weeks can’t be described as tragedies, per se, so I’ll refer to them as catastrophes, instead.

Body “The trouble with our praying is, we just do it as a means of last resort.” — Will Rogers (1879 — 1935) American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. “More old coffee drinkers solving the world’s problems, and more prayer.

Body A huge pot of federal rail funding and chronic highway congestion are prompting some Texas officials to again consider expanding passenger rail in Texas, according to The Texas Standard.

Body This summer, my wife and I took a vacation with our three semi-grown daughters to one of the most expensive places in America. No, we didn’t visit our local insurance office.

Body Now that two of my daughters are away at college and the one still at home basically views me as an ATM in an unfashionable neighborhood, I’ve tried to find myself a hobby.

Body Dear great citizens of Fort Stockton, A few weeks ago, my daughter and son-in-law, Ray and Wendy Bennett and the employees of Beall’s arranged a fundraiser for me. I have kidney cancer and I’m receiving immunotherapy and Chemotherapy in Dallas.