‘Sport of kings’ flourished in Texas during depression

by Bartee Hailie In April 1934, a year after pari-mutuel horse racing became legal, Texas’ fourth track opened in San Antonio under the name of Alamo Downs. Horse races and wagers on the outcome were common in the Lone Star State as far back as the middle of the nineteenth century.

Farm to Market

This is a notice to all my readers that I’ve decided to change professions. Again. Now, I know I’m prone to crow about a career change now and then, but this time I mean it. When I said I wanted to be a racecar driver, I wasn’t serious.

Senate passes bill to remake Public Integrity Unit

Statewide authority to investigate and prosecute public corruption would be moved out of the Travis County District Attorney’s Office under Senate Bill 10, legislation approved by the Senate on April 9. Sen.

Making mistakes is normal

It is said that males make more mistakes than females. That may or may not be true. What is true is that male pride often makes the “stronger” sex less apt to confess to an error  in judgment.

Record strength tornado tears through Panhandle

by Bartee Hailie   The only F5 tornado ever to touch down in thenorthern most part of the Lone Star State tore through the Texas Panhandle on Apr. 9, 1947 leaving death and destruction in its 100-mile-long wake.

Cosmetic surgery

by Renae Brumbaugh   I had a bit of cosmetic surgery done last week. Only it wasn’t the traditional type of cosmetic surgery. Not a nose job, though I’ve always felt I needed one. More of a . . . piercing. Yeah, that’s it. A belly piercing. Three of them, to be precise.

Ft. Parker State Park

That was a typical inquiry and response in my teen years and the question and response here might tend tobe a bit confusing  to a minor history buff. Ft.

House passes state budget after long debate

After 17 hours of floor debate and hundreds of amendments considered, the Texas House of Representatives on April 1 passed House Bill 1, a state budget for fiscal years 2016 and 2017 that  appropriates $209.8 billion. The vote was 141 in favor to 5 against, with nay votes cast by Reps.

A diplomatic revolution

By Rich Lowry   The socialist government in France usually doesn’t have much in common with congressional Republicans, for whom both France and socialism tend to be anathema.

Too many eggs

By Renae Brumbaugh   Right now, I have forty-six eggs in my refrigerator. Forty-six, people. And no, I’m not planning to open a cupcake factory or a breakfast café. I have no aspirations to take over as the Easter Bunny. I don’t even like rabbits, but that’s another article.