Opinion

When one enjoys a musical comedy as much as we did recently on a trip to our hometown of Brownwood, mass laughter was a tonic. There’d been an almost sold-out crowd of some 300 at the Lyric Theatre, and the experience made the 140-mile drive commencing at 11 p.m. seems less daunting.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick last week issued a sweeping gag order ahead of the impeachment trial of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Houston Chronicle reported, saying “out-of-court statements” by both sides threaten to jeopardize the trial.

It’s no secret that recent years have been tough on small businesses and on newspapers. A bipartisan bill, the Community News & Small Business Support Act, that has been introduced in Congress would offer relief to both newspapers and local businesses.

Proponents are calling it the “biggest property tax cut in Texas history.” Both chambers of the Texas Legislature passed an $18 billion package during the second special session, the Austin American-Statesman reported. If signed as expected by Gov.

As productivity lessens in later life, one is sometimes guilty of over-analysis, probing the depths of understanding too far. Been there lately? If not, maybe you’re not old enough, or perhaps you’ve learned to downplay interest in the “I-wonder-whys” of life.

Yes, if you think retail gasoline prices have been somewhat stable this year, you would be correct. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) at the U.S.

h IghlIghts Texas House Democrats unveiled a $20.9 billion plan for property tax relief that drops tax rates, increases the homestead exemption, gives annual rebates to renters, and includes pay raises for teachers, the Austin American- Statesman reported. The newest proposal comes as the Legislature continues wrangling over the issue in the second special session this year.

The late Will Rogers claimed that all he knew, he read in the newspapers. My aged Uncle Mort--whose routine includes puttering down the lane to the general store most daysstill is an avid reader.

I am treading in dangerous waters. You see, my two sisters surprised me this morning with a visit. I had no warning of this visit, and no departure day was mentioned. I was thrilled (shocked) when the first one arrived.

The Texas Senate on the first day of the Legislature’s second special session unanimously passed a tax bill last Wednesday that increases the homestead exemption and includes a pay hike for teachers, the Austin American- Statesman reported. The first special session ended with the Senate and House unable to agree on how to provide property tax relief.