Can You Take a Hint?

Heloise, America’s best-known homemaker, has dirty little secret: she hates to clean house. If you hate it too, she’s convinced that you need her more than ever.

by Jan Jarboe Russell

The War Zone

When crack comes to a neighborhood, it infiltrates, it corrupts, and it destroys—and there is nothing the cops can do about it.

by Jim Atkinson

Honorable Toys

Godzilla lives! Just ask any Texas collector of Japanese action figures.

by Jerry Jeanmard

How Houston Beat the Bust (Sort Of)

Don’t break out the champagne yet. Sure, things are better, but there’s still a long way to go. And the main reason for the recovery is the market—Houston is a bargain.

Edited by Tom Curtis

How Houston Beat the Bust: Real Estate

The resurrection of a former “see-through” office building. How a land developer diversified—into jaguars. And secrets of the “vultures” who buy up, fix up, and fill up troubled Houston apartments.

Edited by Tom Curtis

How Houston Beat the Bust: Energy

Engineer Saba Haregot’s love affair with Houston (it’s not just all those job offers). How natural gas is helping to reinflate the economy. And a shuttered plant that tempers oil pipe opens up.

Edited by Tom Curtis

How Houston Beat the Bust: Branching Out

An entrepreneur captures customers in public rest rooms. A high-tech plant moves from oil to medicine. Space and biomedical manufacturing are finally off the drawing boards. And a former union boss becomes a bingo mogul.

Edited by Tom Curtis

Compadres De La Revolucion

Though the leaders of Mexico’s revolution all lived short and violent lives, a handful of those who rode with them have survived to a ripe old age in Texas.

by Jan Reid

This Water Is My Water

Cool, clear, and pure, it’s the bounty of the Edwards Aquifer, and if something isn’t done to limit pumping by Hill Country farmers and a thirsty San Antonio, it may also be dry.

by Al Reinert

Texas Primer: The Drill-Stem Fence

A lot stronger and more hospitable than barbed wire, this is one of those good fences that make good neighbors.

by Michael Hilton

Behind the Lines

Duked and Bushed.

by Gregory Curtis

Politics

Power Play

Houston Lighting and Power’s purchase of a Canadian cable TV company may come as a shock to HL&P ratepayers.

by Patricia Kilday Hart

Sports

Mojo Madness

The Permian Panthers provide the best entertainment between Dallas and El Paso, and nobody enjoys the show more than Jerry Swindall.

by Joe Nick Patoski

Books

Hasty Copy

Dan Jenkins’ latest takes a tough-cookie journalist out of a thirties movie and puts her into a chase through Depression-era Fort Worth; Sarah Glasscock populates her fictional Alpine with a cast of real characters.

by Suzanne Winckler

Reporter

Texas Monthly Reporter

Hieromania, the burning curiosity of glyphies; Post time in the race for Houston’s new gossip columnist; an unlikely car and an unlikelier trailer; the parking garage from hell.

by Alison Cook

Roar of the Crowd

Women, children, parents, teachers.

State Secrets

The worst school districts in Texas—and how they got that way; where have all the bankers gone?; why Dukakis fell beind in Texas.

Edited by Paul Burka