Shopping with other people’s money

Lynette Sowell -My front porch-   It’s always fun to go shopping when someone else is footing the bill. Like the time I had the chance to go shopping, as a committee member, for door prizes for a group’s annual Christmas banquet.

DPS asks citizens to report suspicious behavior

Ed Sterling -Capital Highlights-   In the wake of the widely reported June 12 mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, the Texas Department of Public Safety called on Texans to pay close attention to what’s happening in their own communities.

My dad

Renae Brumbaugh -- Coffee Talk --   I have a great dad. During my growing up years, he did everything that good dads are supposed to do and then some. He provided for our family. He protected us. He teased me and tickled me and threw me high into the air and caught me.

In defense of the Cincinnati Zoo

Rich Lowry -- Column --   The typical response when someone saves a small child from harm isn’t “How dare you?

Governors confer about containing spread of Zika

Ed Sterling -Capital Highlights-   Gov. Greg Abbott on June 9 participated in a White House-hosted conference call for governors to discuss the Zika virus threat and what to do about it.   U.S.

I’m of the opinion

Lynette Sowell -My front porch-   There’s a saying about opinions that goes something like this: “Opinions are like noses. Everyone has one.” That’s the printable saying, anyway.   It’s true.

Evil Turtle

Renae Brumbaugh -- Coffee Talk --   I know what you’re thinking. Since moving to the country, I’ve become the crazy animal lady. And you’re right.   I can’t help it though. We have some pretty strange animals living in my yard, and I can’t control how they behave.

A Safe Space From Chaucer

Rich Lowry -- Column --   Yale English majors are demanding a safe space from Chaucer.   In a petition to the English department, Yale undergraduates declare that a required two-semester seminar on Major English Poets is a danger to their well-being.

Governor declares state of disaster in long list of counties

Ed Sterling -Capital Highlights-   AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on June 1 declared a state of disaster in 31 counties that have been hit repeatedly with severe weather and flooding in recent days.

Back in the day

Lynette Sowell -My front porch-   Some of us lived dangerously back in the 80s, when we were in our teens. We had skills that “kids these days” don’t know of or understand. Like, how to handle a crisis when you’re hundreds of miles from home, with no cell phone, no GPS, no Internet.