State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Early voting begins Feb. 17Early voting in the March 3 primary begins Monday, Feb. 17 and concludes on Friday, Feb. 27. A full slate of contested races will be on the ballots in both Republican and Democratic primaries. The deadline to request a mail ballot is Feb. 20, according to votetexas.gov.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong…

It was an afternoon when elements of Murphy’s Law loomed, not in cataclysmic ways, but merely gnawing tidbits of annoyance— for both me and others— that harkened us back to lessons of a children’s book,The Little Engine That Could.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

At least 11 dead in state after winter stormAt least 11 people have died in Texas, nearly half of them children, after Winter Storm Fern swept the state last week, the Texas Standard reported.

One Courageous Mom….

A Wheel of Fortune contestant, one Reginald Somebody, answered matter-offactly to host Ryan Seacrest’s query about life goals.Reginald answered soberly. “ My dream is to hawk beer in every major league baseball park in America.”Sure enough, Reginald prevailed on that night’s show, winning $24,626.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Power grid holds up during wintry blast”The electricity grid that covers most of Texas was holding up as of Sunday during the latest winter storm, although localized power outages were reported in Deep East Texas and far West Texas.

PASTOR’S CORNER

Choosing to See God in all Things...Dear friends, I pray to find you blessed on this day. It’s so easy to spot what’s wrong. Turn on the news, scroll your phone, or replay a hard conversation in your mind, and the broken pieces rise quickly to the surface.

Same Song, Second Verse...

It should come as no surprise to those of us who have reached “geezerhood” that our ear drums are challenged annually by random sounds— from up and down, here, there and all around.It’s the sounds of New Year’s resolutions crashing against the floor.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Deadline to register for March primary nearsThe last day to register to vote for the March 3 primary is Feb. 2, according to the Texas secretary of state’s office. Early voting runs from Feb. 17 through Feb. 27, with Feb. 20 being the deadline for applying for a mail ballot.

A Royal ‘Hang-up’ in Dallas...

It’s usually a “ho-hum” thing when my Uncle Mort calls. If it’s about business, I make sure to “think monkey” in front of it.Recently, his “jabber” included details of his “blind hog luck” while fetching groceries from the thicket’s general store.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Democrats Talarico, Crockett set first debateThe first debate in the state’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate is set for Jan. 24 in Georgetown, The Dallas Morning News reported. U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas and state Rep. James Talarico of Round Rock are vying for the nomination.