Texas sues EPA over new ozone standards

By Ed Sterling   The State of Texas and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on Dec. 23 filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its new ozone standards rule.

Inheritance

By Renae Brumbaugh   I am an heiress! I’ve recently inherited a sizable assortment of jewelry.

We aren’t the world

By Rich Lowry   To believe his critics, Donald Trump has ripped up the U.S. Constitution and sprinkled its shreds on the smoldering embers of what was once the Statute of Liberty.

The Week Between

By Lynette Sowell It’s that in-between time of year, when the weight of the previous months has piled up behind us. Most of the time, I like the idea of hibernating and doing nothing for that final week of the year. It’s quieter, for one thing. Businesses slow down, some even close for a break.

New ‘open carry’ legislation takes effect on Jan. 1

by Ed Sterling The coming of the 2016 brings heightened interest statewide in two new laws in particular that were passed by the 84th Texas Legislature in June 2015.   The first is HB 910, a law conditionally allowing the “open carry” of handguns in public places.

The Christmas Star

By Renae Brumbaugh I did it. I finally broke down and bought a new star for the top of the tree. For years, an angel has done the honors, regally reigning over all things Christmas. The only problem was, she wasn’t lighted, so when the tree lights came on, she disappeared.

Climate Make-Believe in Paris

By Rich Lowry Saving the planet has never been so easy.   The Paris climate talks concluded in a rousing round of self-congratulation over an agreement that, we are told, is the first step toward keeping Earth habitable.

Secret Santas

By Lynette Sowell   A simple story of an unselfish man has morphed into what we know as Santa Claus today. I love the story of the original Nicholas.

My favorite preacher, Fred Folk: ‘I’m just a sinner’

By Willis Webb   In the rural climes for Freestone County in the late 1940s and 1950s, my first and only church experience for years was The Luna Missionary Baptist Church. Luna was a little crossroads community about eight miles south of Teague.

Celebrate

By Renae Brumbaugh   I am over-the-moon happy! This Christmas, I’ll get to see everyone I love. Well, not everyone . . . I might not see each of you reading this article, and I do love all of you. But I’ll see all the people on my list, all the people I want to celebrate Christmas with.