Texas Press Association Capital Highlights

Wildfire danger continues to rise As we cross the halfway point of July, wildfire danger continues to increase across the state. On Friday, Texas A&M Forest Service firefighters responded to 15 new wildfires that burned 651 acres.

Dictator Envy

Some Western leaders envy dictators' powers. President Donald Trump said, when North Korea's President Donald Trump said, when North Korea's Kim Jong-un speaks, "his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.

On Finishing Well…

The late Dr. Robert L. Smith and Ethelyn Hughes Smith, his bride, fell short in precious few areas of life, but when they did, it was never by intent.

Gulf Of Mexico Pirates Threaten Global Security

A question that matters to America's physical and economic security: Name the criminal, economic and terrorist threat that has the following seven effects on the United States, Western Hemisphere and world. Read the list, then I'll identify and discuss the threat.

Texas Press Association Capital Highlights

TEA releases STAAR results for grades 3-8 The Texas Education Agency has released the 2022 State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness Results for grades 3-8, which showed across-the-board improvements in all grades and subjects, with especially significant gains in reading.

Change the Constitution?

This Fourth of July, watching people fight over what the Constitution means, I asked people, if you could change the Constitution, what would you change? "The forefathers knew what they were doing," said one woman. But the Constitution originally accepted slavery. It's good that we can amend it.

On Going Home…

Thomas Wolf, the author who insisted that we can’t go home again, got it wrong. One can indeed do so, but “home” may hardly be recognizable, and/or—truth to tell—noticeably improved. It’s a two-hour drive from our Metroplex home to Brownwood, our hometown, so our visits there have dwindled.

Proud To Be an American

I am proud to be an American. Yes, I know that our system of government is not perfect, but I firmly believe that it is the best in the world. We are an exceptional country, not because our people are exceptional but because we have a different, and exceptional, structure of government.

Texas Press Association Capital Highlights

Three arrested in deaths of 53 migrants Three people were arrested last week by federal authorities in connection with a human smuggling incident that left 53 migrants dead.

Anti-racism' Widens the Racial Divide

A refreshing interview this week by our news affiliate Colorado Politics challenges current wisdom about addressing racism -- and offers tonic for what ails race relations these days across the country. "As a child, I found myself fighting a war on two fronts.