Opinion

Texas’ power grid reported record electricity use early last week. Both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are urging residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce electricity use as temperatures soar above100 degrees over much of the state. So far the grid, which administers 90% of the state’s power load, has been able to keep up with demand.

It seems that I’m a little behind on doing my chores around here. There are dishes in the sink, clothes in the dryer, sheets that need changing, and some weeds in the flowerbed which are taller than the rosebush I planted this spring. It would probably take less than half an hour for each of these tasks, but I just don’t have the energy to do it.

My aged Uncle Mort sometimes stumbles across what he calls “business opportunities,” not unlike hogs stumbling over acorns every now and again. He claims that an epiphany experienced during a recent Sam’s Club visit has led to his dusting off a rarely- used business card indicating that he is a “consultant.” I’m not sure anyone should bill himself or herself until others opt to engage their services, but Mort figures that when he reveals his “can’t miss” suggestions to Sam’s management, he will be signed on post haste….

Mixed economic indicators for the upstream oil and gas industry in Texas have industry watchers wondering which direction the industry will be going during the remainder of the year. The Texas Alliance of Energy Producers’ “Texas Petro Index” (TPI) has declined during the last three months, but is still ahead of the same period in 2022.

Lt. Gov.

When I began writing weekly more than two decades ago, I informed readers that they could expect occasional recipes worthy of clipping, putting under magnets on refrigerator doors or placing toward the front of recipe boxes. I have failed.

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been in rehab. Don’t worry, the process has not been court-ordered or taken on after a friend and family intervention.

h The Austin real estate developer who is at the heart of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment was arraigned on eight federal charges Friday, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Nate Paul was arrested by the FBI on Thursday.

Far-out occurrences often are illuminated through the miracle of the Internet, sometimes resulting in findings that may, uh, need additional study. Such occurred recently in Dallas, where a homeowner was troubled by skunks who had burrowed their way under the foundation.

Gov. Greg Abbott late last week warned lawmakers to be prepared for several special sessions to pass a tax reform bill that he will accept, as well as a school voucher plan that failed to pass during the regular session.