The dream of a first-rate university rising out of the prairie north of the Colorado River is almost as old as Texas itself. Which prompts the question, When will UT finally live up to its potential?

At UT's Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, extraordinary cultural treasures are available for your inspection—if you know the magic word.

Can one man change the world's largest Baptist university? He can if he's controversial preacher-president Robert Sloan, Jr. And, just maybe, one man can destroy it too.

For so many American families with loved ones overseas, Vietnam complicated everything. The Allens, of El Paso, found that out the hardest way possible.

How Matthew McConaughey got discovered, why Renée Zellweger’s part is so small, why some of the actresses can’t eat ketchup to this day, and everything else you didn’t know about the making of the classic high school flick Dazed and Confused.

Suzan-Lori Parks gets the culture and cadence of West Texas right, sort of; Annie Proulx doesn't.

Will Houston's next mayor be White?

What Julia Child is to French cooking, Diana Kennedy is to Mexican: a pioneer in her field with creativity to spare and strong opinions about everything.

For decades, family-run motels looked after weary travelers all across Texas. And who looked after the families who ran them? The Temple-based Tourist Court Journal.

When I was growing up in Arlington, the upper Trinity River was a dirty joke—and it still is. But the lower Trinity? You've got to see it to believe it.

Three months ago we named David Dewhurst one of the state's best legislators. Now we're not so sure.

Anne Dingus drives herself to tears.

Molly Ivins goes nuts for Arnold.

A whole Lottie love.