AT LEAST 11 DEAD IN STATE AFTER WINTER STORM

At 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. Among those killed were three young brothers who fell through ice on a private pond near Bonham, about 60 miles northeast of Texas.

If You’re Explaining, You’re Losing

Something important just happened in Texas politics, and it’s worth writing about — because unlike me, most folks in rural Texas don’t spend their days tracking political chatter out of Austin or Washington.On Saturday night, in Tarrant County — one of Texas’ largest Republican counties — Democrats...

ENDOSCOPES AND MUDDY HANDSHAKES

Election season, nestled between mid-winter and the next four years, is underway.

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.

HOT CIDER AND HARD CHOICES

Like many of you, I spent much of the past week either preparing for or waiting out winter’s late arrival in Texas.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR MARCH PRIMARY NEARS

The last day to register to vote for the March 3 primary is Feb. 2, according to the Texas secretary of state’s office.

GRAB YOUR OIL PANS, A LUG WRENCH, AND PROBABLY A PLUNGER

This week didn’t provide an editorial villain. I’m not even irritated at anyone.

Letters to the Editor

To the Editor: At a time when trust in media is declining and local newspapers are struggling to survive; we want to thank you for providing the kind of good and accurate journalism that is so essential to our democracy.

Rural Roads Are the Backbone of Rural Texas — and They Deserve Austin’s Attention

If you live in rural Texas, it will come as no surprise that county roads across the state are failing.

FORTY YEARS OF NON-SMOKING

In 1986 to celebrate the Texas Sesquicenten-nial, I did a report from each of the 254 counties in Texas. I also celebrated in another way. I quit smoking in January of 1986. I had tried quitting before, but it took attending a SMOKE ENDERS course at the local hospital.