Defense secretary promotes new hub to partner with tech startups

Ed Sterling   U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Sept. 14 announced the opening of a “Defense Innovation Unit Experimental” hub at the Capital Factory in downtown Austin.

The Trophy Buck

Renae Brumbaugh Green   My husband, Rick, is quite proud of all the dead animals hanging on the walls of his study. He is an avid hunter, and during this time of year, he seems to eat, sleep, and breathe hunting.

Yes, America First

Rich Lowry   Donald Trump’s speech in Arizona has occasioned wailing and rending of garments among the commentariat and “respectable” people everywhere. At bottom, the cause of the freakout is simple: Trump believes in immigration laws, and the country’s elite really doesn’t.

We paved paradise

Lynette Sowell   In looking through the archives of the Leader-Press newspaper from decades past, I’ve seen numerous references to the Santa Fe depot, along with plenty of pictures. It seems that the train didn’t just run through Cove (at random hours of the day and night), but it stopped here.

Paxton says subpoena of corporation’s records violated First Amendment

Ed Sterling   Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Sept. 9 announced he had filed a friend-of-the-court brief “in defense of the First Amendment.

And the moral is . . .

Renae Brumbaugh Green   I live in a college town. That means our population goes up by several thousand every fall, and drops by several thousand again each summer.

Obamacare stumbles on

Rich Lowry   For years, Obamacare supporters have been telling critics of the law to shut up and fall in line. Now, they are urging them to come to its rescue.

The mighty pen

By Lynette Sowell   After last week’s column, I told someone this week’s column would be about something warm ‘n fuzzy, like puppies or kittens. Well, it’s pens.   Back when I was in elementary school, it was a monumental event when you entered fifth grade. Say bye-bye to pencils, kids.

Education chief announces fines assessed to testing service

By Ed Sterling   Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath on Aug. 23 announced the Texas Education Agency will fine the company that delivers and administers STAAR® — the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness — with $5.7 million in liquidated damages.

Big green barn

Renae Brumbaugh Green   I am so vain. I just watched myself sing a solo on our church website, and all I could think was, “My face is so chubby. I didn’t know my hips were that wide. My hair needs help.” I was wearing a green dress. But it looked more like a big green barn on the screen.