STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Amidst mounting public outcry, the federal government last week halted construction of border barriers through state park property in far West Texas, The Texas Tribune reported.Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodeny Scott personally stopped construction until he could visit the region.

Life on Reed Road...

Allen Saunders, an obscure Canadian cartoonist, is cited for an inscription in his 1956 “Mary Worth” comic strip. No doubt it had local impact, but much more the next year when repeated in the Reader’s Digest.“Life is what happens to us while we’re making other plans” has been quoted often.

PASTOR’S CORNER

Be a Blessing, Not a Burden ...We all have difficult days. There are times when we need encouragement, support, and someone to help carry us through. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with needing help. In fact, God designed us to walk through life together.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

By Gary BordersTexas schools see little change in TEA grading Texas public school campuses and districts received their state report cards late last week from the Texas Education Agency, with most showing little change from the previous school year, The Texas Tribune reported.

Grahams and Crackers...

When my Uncle Mort draws a bead on topics, he redefines “random.” He’s as likely to converse about frogs “belly-bouncing” into his favorite fishing hole as he is about whether there’s life in distant galaxies.Recently, he targeted a favorite snack, Graham Crackers. How’s that for random?

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHLIGHTSSpaceX, Tesla make Grimes plant official What CEO Elon Musk says will be the world’s largest computer chip manufacturing plant is planned for Grimes County, east of College Station, the Austin American-Statesinan repotted.

Catching Up is Hard to Do...

The story goes that a long- ago West Texas man—beloved in his community— talked incessantly about Fort Worth, his favorite city, even though he’d never been there.He usually referred to it as “Cowtown” or “Where the West Begins.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

Cyclosporiasis mostly in two regions in stateNearly three-fourths of cyclosporiasis cases detected in Texas have been confined to two regions, The Dallas Morning News reported. The Texas Department of State Health Services provided numbers for each of the state’s eight public health regions.

STATE CAPITAL HIGHLIGHTS

State CapitalNew challenge to school funding systemThe Midland school district is suing Education Commissioner Mike Morath and other state leaders in another challenge to the state’s public school finance system, known as “Robin Hood,” according to The Texas Tribune.

I’m Back...

About two months ago—after more than 23 years of writing weekly columns—I took my leave. ( OK, maybe it’s my “ weakly” assembly of words masquerading as columns might be more accurate.) Whatever, I’m back.