The Culture
January 31, 2012
Goodbye To Y’all That
Is the Texas twang disappearing? Researchers from the University of Texas at Austin's Texas English Project pretty much say: "Yup."
January 2012
Eat My Words
January 31, 2012
What You Need to Know About Dining in Texas This Week
We’ve been waiting. We’ve been watching. We’ve been reading the tweets. We’ve been following the FB posts. Finally, a few much-buzzed-about restaurants will be opening their doors this week. (One even decided to open tonight—a day early. Surprise!) We confess that we can’t keep up with every new restaurant in
January 31, 2012
Mo’ Problems, Less Money
Rick Perry raised only $2.9 million in the last quarter of 2011, new campaign finance documents reveal.
Politics & Policy
January 31, 2012
Will conservatives jump into the school finance fight?
I was talking to an attorney for the plaintiffs in the upcoming Supreme Court case, when he said that conservatives may intervene in the school finance lawsuit. Their contention, the attorney said, is that an efficient system could be achieved with school choice and vouchers. A school finance lobbyist told
Politics & Policy
January 31, 2012
GOP looks to 2013 for redistricting
Nothing prevents the Legislature from drawing new maps. Redistricting is no different from any other bill, and it doesn’t have to be limited to the session after a census. That said, I don’t see the point of going through the exercise. So what if Republicans endorse a referendum to re-redistrict
Politics & Policy
January 31, 2012
FLA polls show Mitt pulling away from Newt
From RealClearPolitics: 1/30 polls Insider Advantage: Romney 36, Gingrich 31 Public Policy Polling: Romney 39, Gingrich 32 Suffolk University: Romney 47, Gingrich 27 Quinnipiac: Romney 43, Gingrich 29 Gallup Tracking: Romney 27, Gingrich 28 1/29 polls Survey USA: Romney 41, Gingrich 26 NBC Marist: Romney 42, Gingrich 27 Miami
Critters
January 31, 2012
Monkeys, Humans Camped Out in RV Near Texas-Louisiana Border
A Louisianan couple and their four Capuchin monkeys are on the lam in East Texas, avoiding authorities who may want to take away the animals.
The Culture
January 30, 2012
Jennifer Love Hewitt Strips and Sings for Her New Lifetime Series Promo
The show, titled The Client List, is based on a TEXAS MONTHLY story about a "massage parlor" in Odessa.
Business
January 30, 2012
New Pleasure Pier Under Construction in Galveston
Restaurant mogul Tilman Fertitta is building a $60 million amusement park on the pier where the old one used to sit.
Critters
January 29, 2012
VIDEO: “60 Minutes” on Exotic Game Ranches in Texas
Lara Logan joins a hunt for scimitar horned oryx in the Hill Country.
Politics & Policy
January 28, 2012
The Hill: Texas Democrats, minorities, near “huge win”” with redistricting settlement
From the story, dated 1/27, by Cameron Joseph: The Texas state attorneys defending the state’s GOP-drawn redistricting plans from court challenges have reached out to settle litigation, according to sources in the state. The settlement would give minority groups and Democrats what they’ve been demanding from
Eat My Words
January 28, 2012
Oh no! Barbecue Stalwart Wild Blue Is Closing.
Little did I know when I wrote the following words nearly four years ago—“Please, patronize Wild Blue before it’s too late”—that my greatest fear would come true. One of the true stalwarts of Texas Barbecue–Wild Blue B.B.Q., located in the near-Brownsville city of Los Fresnos—will shut its doors on
BBQ Joint Reviews
January 27, 2012
Fargo’s Pit BBQ
Most professional food critics will make at least three visits to a restaurant before completing a review or issuing a star rating. Given the miles that I travel (without a traveling budget) in search of smoked meats around Texas, I don’t get this luxury. I routinely provide
January 27, 2012
Meanwhile, in Lufkin…
Our favorite recent items from the Lufkin Daily News' police blotter.
Eat My Words
January 27, 2012
More Proof That Austin Is Smoking Hot!
There’s nothing like a bandwagon. No sooner did Food & Wine and Bon Appétit fall all over themselves to give Austin a whole lotta love than StarChefs.com (an online magazine for chefs and culinary insiders) decided to hold one of its four national awards ceremonies in Austin
Sports
January 27, 2012
The Texas Town That Canceled Football
The school district serving Premont, a rural South Texas town, has suspended sports to save itself.
January 27, 2012
Win the Weekend: What Texas is Talking About
Dublin Dr Pepper is still in business, Rick Perry has been less popular before, and other news you need to know.
January 26, 2012
Texas Set to Execute First Man of 2012
Rodrigo Hernandez, who was convicted of the rape and murder of Susan Verstegen, a 38-year-old single mother and Frito-Lay employee, is set to die.
Politics & Policy
January 26, 2012
The Texas newspapers’ poll
The results are hardly surprising. In a recent post, I raised the question of whether Perry could be reelected. I didn’t think so then, and I don’t think so now. And the talk from Ray Sullivan and the Perry team that he could run for president in 2016
Politics & Policy
January 25, 2012
How Drunk Would You Have Been If You Played Karl Rove’s SOTU Drinking Game?
Rove said that if State of the Union watchers drink every time President Obama said the phrase "middle class," then "we're going to have a lot of drunk people in America." Was he right?
The Culture
January 25, 2012
Own Stars: Walker, Texas Ranger Endorses Newt and Other Celeb News
Woody Harrelson wishes he was Jerry Maguire, a Kristofferson enters the wrestling ring, and Larry McMurtry's book criticism gets criticized.
January 25, 2012
VIDEO: Mom Gives Birth in Car While Dad Films From Behind the Wheel
Jennifer and Zachary Russell were driving up 287 to a Mansfield birthing center when the baby came.
The Culture
January 25, 2012
Fightin’ Words: Robert Earl Keen v. Toby Keith
Keen calls out the more mainstream country star, saying Keith "borrowed" from his most famous song, "The Road Goes on Forever."
Border & Immigration
January 25, 2012
Nacogdoches Embraces Burmese Refugees
When refugees from Myanmar moved to the small city to work for Pilgrim's Pride, residents practiced good Texas hospitality and made efforts to bridge the cross-cultural divide.
January 24, 2012
A River (of Pig Blood) Runs Through It
Columbia Packing Co., a meatpacking plant in Dallas's Oak Cliff neighborhood, has been accused of dumping pig blood into Cedar Creek, which feeds into the Trinity River.
Politics & Policy
January 24, 2012
Fewer Americans Concerned About Illegal Immigration
More Americans are worried about tax fairness and "moral breakdown" than illegal immigration, a new national poll finds.
Food & Drink
January 23, 2012
El Paso Is Tops in Texas When It Comes to Selling Girl Scout Cookies
The Sun City beats out Houston, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Austin on the Daily Beast's top 25 "Girl Scout Cookie Capitals."
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2012
Mitt Romney’s Bill White strategy
A single word can turn a campaign in the wrong direction. In the case of Rick Perry, of course, that word was “oops.” In the case of Mitt Romney, the word was “maybe”: Romney’s answer to the question of whether he would release his tax returns. It came across as
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2012
Meet Mitt Romney’s Mexican Relatives
NPR's John Burnett traveled to Colonia Juarez, Mexico, to explore a side of Romney’s biography that he doesn't stump about.
January 23, 2012
Rick Perry Gets Praise from an Unlikely Place
In the latest issue of the New Yorker, Hendrik Hertzberg explains why Governor Perry's idea to give the Supreme Court term limits is a good one.
The Culture
January 23, 2012
Lyle Lovett Wishes the Aggies Hadn’t Joined the SEC
The singer-songwriter talks college football, Willie, and Mexican food with Garden and Gun, which also has a lot of love for Texas in its latest issue.
The Culture
January 22, 2012
VIDEO: Matthew McConaughey Reprises Role as “Dazed and Confused”’s Wooderson
The actor puts back on the mustache and Ted Nugent t-shirt in Butch Walker's new music video.
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2012
Supremes toss San Antonio district court maps
This solves one problem but creates a slew of others, starting with the most obvious: which maps will be used? The Legislature’s maps haven’t been pre-cleared by the D.C. court. The San Antonio district court’s maps were incinerated by the Supremes, who ordered the San Antonio judges to draw new
The Culture
January 20, 2012
“Bootylicious” Horsefly Named After Beyonce
An Australian scientist honored the singer by dubbing the "all time diva of flies" Scaptia beyonceae. Surprisingly, this isn't the only insect named after a Texan.
January 20, 2012
The Week in Business: Profits, Losses, and Everything in Between
A hedge fund scandal revolves around Dell, AT&T turns its gaze on Dish Network, and Houston executives rake it in.
Sports
January 20, 2012
Win the Weekend: What Texas is Talking About
T.O. brings the popcorn back to Texas, the SXSW lineup guarantees crowds, and other cocktail chatter.
January 20, 2012
Furry Friday: Dogs Riding Zambonis
The San Antonio Rampage, the city's minor league hockey team, will attempt to set the Guinness World Record for most dogs at a sporting event.
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2012
CNN reports Perry will drop presidential bid today
The only surprise is how long it took for Perry to surrender to the inevitable. He has been a non-factor since the Iowa caucuses. During the past month, I have been working on a story about what happens when Perry returns to the Capitol. It will be posted on the
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2012
A trip down Memory Lane
A new CNN/Opinion Research survey finds Rick Perry leading Mitt Romney in the GOP presidential race by double-digits, 32% to 21%, with Ron Paul at 13% and all other candidates in single digits. Most interesting is that Perry’s biggest strength may be the electability factor, with 42% saying he
The Culture
January 19, 2012
Cormac McCarthy Pens First Major Original Script
The Counselor has already been optioned by the same producing team that adapted McCarthy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Road.
Business
January 19, 2012
Allen Stanford Trial to Start Monday
Houston's own mini-Madoff, who is accused of orchestrating an international $7 billion Ponzi scheme, finally goes to court.
Politics & Policy
January 19, 2012
Flash! News from the Perry campaign
A COMMUNICATION FROM THE PERRY CAMPAIGN TO THEIR SUPPORTERS Subject: PERRY COMMITS BEYOND SOUTH CAROLINA!!! We’re in for the long haul, folks! Perry supporters nationwide! Our ranks have grown and money is being raised from individual donors at a breakneck pace. You are ALL A MAJOR PART
Eat My Words
January 18, 2012
Pourology 101 Comes to San Antonio
Modeled on the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, the first ever San Antonio Cocktail Conference is ginning up for next weekend, with four days of drink seminars, guided tastings, and cocktail parties. You can get a buzz just reading the program, which is amazing both in its scope and in
Politics & Policy
January 18, 2012
NM GOP assails Public Policy Polling
Normally I do not engage in discussions over which polling firms do good work and which do not. My policy has been to publish polls and let readers reach their own conclusions about which polls are credible and which are not. However, due to Public Policy Polling’s findings in the
January 18, 2012
Another NASA Love Triangle?
A former NASA contractor allegedly killed her Air Force Colonel husband's mistress after learning of the affair.
The Culture
January 18, 2012
Own Stars: Wes Anderson’s New Trailer and Other Texas Celeb News
Wes Anderson released the trailer for Moonrise Kingdom, Yao Ming saves pandas, and Vanilla Ice renovates more than his career.
Sports
January 18, 2012
Is Japanese Baseball Star Yu Darvish on the Rangers Yet?
The Texas Rangers shelled out $51.7 million for the exclusive opportunity to sign the 25-year-old pitcher. Today, they either enter into the baseball convenant, or the Rangers get their money back.
Politics & Policy
January 17, 2012
Can Perry win reelection?
A new poll from Public Policy Polling, a well known firm that is aligned with the Democratic party nationally, calls into question Perry’s standing with Texas Republican voters: In a PPP poll taken in September, the month in which Perry announced his candidacy for president, Perry led Romney by 49%
The Culture
January 17, 2012
Glenn Beck’s New Irving Production Studio
The former Fox News host takes fans on a virtual tour of his new Las Colinas production studio.
Food & Drink
January 17, 2012
If Killer Bees Get Us, Blame the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Due to budget cuts, the federal agency plans to shutter the Kika de la Garza Subtropical Agricultural Research Center in Weslaco, the organization standing between us and invasive pests.