Opinion

It’s seasonal for most of us, of course. Our memories kick into overdrive, dredging up details of longago holidays.

Drivers will no longer be required to get annual safety inspections beginning Jan. 1, the Texas Standard reported.

I have never been a superstitious person---not until the recent Friday the Thirteenth. Truth is, I’ve chuckled at others who won’t walk under ladders, change routes when black cats crossed their trails or wear the same unwashed “lucky” garments to extend sports victory strings.

On December 31, the clock will strike twelve, and the ball will drop to signal another year has passed. Many will sing “Auld Lang Syne” to celebrate new opportunities for 2025, and another trip around the sun will begin. The expression “auld lang syne” is a Scottish phrase meaning “old times sake.” Robert Burns, the author, was capturing a moment where two old friends reflect on their journey through life. And when is the best time to do that? Apparently, the instant the new near rolls around and new challenges appear.

Gov. Greg Abbott said last Thursday the state is initiating a billboard campaign across Central America and border cities in northern Mexico to discourage migrants from attempting to enter Texas, the Austin American- Statesman reported.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is seeking a $300 million transfusion of funds to bolster the state’s Medicaid application process, The Texas Tribune reported. The public health insurance program provides coverage for people or families with limited income, as well as pregnant women and people with disabilities.

The song has been a staple in Christian hymnals for more than a century, underscoring deeply held beliefs. “The Way of the Cross Leads Home”--written in 1906--might be in the running for Christians’ national anthem if it ever came to a vote.

If I have learned anything from watching the Cowboys over the years, culture matters. In professional sports, there are fundamentally two cultures, winning and losing. There really is nothing in between. Either a team has a winning record or a losing one. Recently, Dallas has nurtured a culture of loss. It is disclosed in more than the final scores. It appears in the stadium atmosphere, the countenance of the players, and the price of the merchandise. Last week, I saw a bunch of Dak Prescott jerseys on clearance. Apparently, the store had difficulty getting the full price for his name and number. It is too bad we can’t say the same for Jerry Jones, who is willing to pay an exorbitant amount for his DL-QB.

House Speaker Dade Phelan withdrew last week from seeking another term leading that chamber. After three rounds of voting on Saturday, state Rep.

When I was a boy, I liked to fish. Growing up in North Texas afforded me the privilege of having hundreds of small lakes, ponds, and more significant bodies of water to cast a line. One of the mysteries for a growing boy involves figuring out how to catch that elusive bass.