Opinion

Names of luminaries met at intersections along our pathway keep popping up as corner posts in life’s fence row. They are not remembered as being Republican or Democrat, rural or urban, liberal or conservative.

I have never made a wooden boy. If I were Gepetto, I would likely make it out of plastic. An argument could be made that there is already a substantial amount of plastic people walking around. The question is, will they follow Pinocchio’s lead and “become a real person?” Time will tell.

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general election begins Monday, Oct. 21 and ends on Nov. 1. Texas voters will be choosing from a full slate of candidates, from president to U.S. senator to various county positions.

Jiminy Cricket! I never dreamed I’d be writing about an insect popularized by Pinocchio, or that this week’s piece may warrant bottomof- the-barrel placement. I may have reached a new low, what with insects in the spotlight.

Marriage can be a complicated thing. After being in ministry for over a decade, I have seen my fair share of rough marriages. In my experience, ongoing marital tensions often exist because of an unwillingness to communicate or forgive one another. For some reason, most people go into a marriage believing their spouse will make them whole or complete. Then, suddenly, the human condition appears. Surprise! Everyone has problems, and the spouse is exposed to those problems at a level that no other human will ever see. For better or worse… right?

Top state lawmakers plan to address soaring homeowners insurance premiums when they return to Austin in January for the next legislative session, according to the Houston Chronicle. The state’s insurance commissioner, Cassie Brown, told a Senate committee that home insurance rates increased last year by more than 21% statewide, twice the average increase in 2022.

Growing up in the 1980s in North Texas meant limited television access. We weren’t fortunate enough to have a large antenna on our house, so I got to play the rabbit ear game with my older brothers (the aged reader will understand). On a great day, we could pick up about eight channels. This limited my television to only a few shows during the day. Often, I could watch the same episode at least three times in one summer break from school.

Texas House Republicans who want to oust Speaker Dade Phelan have coalesced behind a single opponent: state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield. A total of 48 representatives are backing the two-term representative, including four who dropped their own bids for speaker.

The arrival of the football-playing Coleman triplets at the University of Texas in Austin for 2025’s fall semester may break several records before they even meet BEVO, the Longhorns’ beloved mascot.