Republican congressman Ron Paul, of Surfside, believes that much of our federal government should be abolished. He has voted against honoring the likes of Rosa Parks and repeatedly goes against his constituents' interests. He is a contrarian, an outsider, and an ineffectual lawmaker. And he just may be unbeatable.

For running back Emmitt Smith, this season could be halo and farewell.

To residents of Presidio and Ojinaga, the international border that separates them had always seemed irrelevant. They crossed it easily, spoke the same language, and considered themselves part of the same community. When Mexican authorities wrongly imprisoned a Texas grocer in April, that relationship changed dramatically—and it hasn't been the same since.

Mexican movies were muy caliente in the middle of the past century, and Harlingen's Rogelio Agrasanchez, Jr. has the posters to prove it.

What tall Texan dated top actress during Hollywood's heyday? Find out the answer-and other Lone Star lore-by taking the penultimate installment of my literacy test.

How about those Cowboys? Ever since the team's egotistical owner, Jerry Jones, fired coach Jimmy Johnson in a fit of pique, the 'Boys have never been on a slippery slope to perdition. But it's die-hard fans like me who are in hell.

Psst! Looking to have somebody murdered? You might want to call Gary Johnson, the number one hired killer in Houston. Then again you might not. You see he works for the cops.

When one of his reporters turned up missing in Mexico, the editor of the San Antonio Express-News took on one of the most important assignments of his life.

Bob Phillips' passion for small-town oddities makes Texas Country Reporter as irresistible as a bookshop that doubles as a beauty parlor.

Twenty years ago the Butthole Surfers—those unspeakably named punk rockers—first turned up their amps in San Antonio. What keeps them going? Chalk it up to, er, clean living.

Frank Reaugh was one of the state's greatest artists. So why does his name draw so many blanks?

As Democrats and Republicans prepare for the hand-to-hand combat of 2002, African American and Hispanic candidates are finally on the front lines.

If you want to get into the Halloween spirit, head to South Texas and try to scare up San Patricio's famous ghost.

The need for leadership.

Lilly Gonzalez speaks out on Spanglish.

Pamela Colloff gets on the road in search of the Beat Generation's Texas connections.

Katy Vine gets animated with Richard Linklater.

Belching the Lord's Prayer and other fine points of Texas etiquette.