Opinion

It’s that time of year (while I’m still digesting Thanksgiving giblets and deviled eggs), that I unveil my yearly Christmas list of things that I really don’t want, but will probably get, anyway. Receiving what you don’t want for Christmas is traditional for fathers like me.

The state’s construction industry is voicing concern that President-elect Trump’s vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants would cause major labor shortfalls, according to the Texas Standard.

GUEST COLUMNIST The death of cursive handwriting reared its ugly head during the recent presidential election. Since 2010, according to Yahoo News, many states have dropped cursive writing from their curricula as they shifted to Common Core State Standards for English.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Gov. Greg Abbott issued three executive orders last week targeting the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, The Dallas Morning News reported Abbott said the orders were intended to protect Texans of Chinese descent from “harassment and intimidation” by the Chinese Communist Party and government, and to fight threats to state security.

GUEST COLUMNIST One of the great benefits of streaming TV is that I’m able to watch old network shows that I enjoyed while growing up in the 1970s. One of my favorite shows was “The Waltons.” When I was 11 years old, that prime-time show was a central part of my weekly ritual.

CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS Texas lawmakers last week filed more than 1,500 bills ahead of the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 14.

When he was told he had only weeks to live, his response was telling. He was calm and at peace.

As the holidays approach, many of us look forward to gathering with family and friends, sharing meals, and giving thanks for the blessings of the past year. But for too many families in West Texas, this season brings financial stress and hard choices.

Congratulations to the people of Pecos County! You have made your voices heard. You’ve chosen to support friends and neighbors who were courageous enough to align their personal values with the party of freedom, life, liberty, and justice— the Republican Party.

Get this: life expectancy has apparently hit its peak. According to msn.com, a recent study published in the journal Nature Aging finds that, barring any major medical breakthroughs, “people will top out at a maximum average age of around 87 — 90 for women, 84 for men.” This news runs counter to numerous more optimistic studies I’ve written about the past 20 years.