Being Texan
January 11, 2022
How Much Is a Dog’s Life Worth?
A writer learns the hard way—the hardest way—that in Texas the answer is: not much.
47 Articles
Being Texan
September 29, 2021
I Love Whataburger, I Just Wish Its Cups Were Biodegradable
In 2018, as national chains pledged to ditch their nonbiodegradable polystyrene cups, Whataburger said it would look into alternative materials, too. What happened?
The Daily Post
June 19, 2015
Pharr Is the Best Small City in the Country for Working Women
The small town in the Rio Grande Valley ranked first in the country on NerdWallet’s list of best cities for women in the workforce.
Critters
June 4, 2015
Inspiring Earthworms Form Artful Herds After Heavy Rain
Park rangers in Eisenhower State Park discovered something odd and awe-inspriring in the wake of recent flooding.
The Daily Post
June 2, 2015
Here’s How Much Water Has Fallen Over Texas
In the month of May alone, enough rain fell on Texas to cover the state in eight inches of water.
Critters
May 22, 2015
Cowboy Family Rescues Horses in Raging Flood, Proves Cowboys Still Exist
When torrential storms brought raging flood waters to their ranch in Eastland, the Barrett family took to the muddy waters to rescue their prized horses.
The Daily Post
May 21, 2015
Another Omnibus Abortion Bill Is Headed to the Texas Senate Floor
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee sent a bill that would severely tighten restrictions on receiving a confidential abortion as a minor to the Senate floor.
The Daily Post
May 11, 2015
Prepare Yourself For Texas-Themed Emoji
A pair of spirited Texans joined forces to bring us the technological breakthrough we didn’t even know we needed.
The Daily Post
May 8, 2015
About That Outbreak of Chlamydia in West Texas…
A small high school in Crane, Texas, just confirmed that 20 of its 300 students have been diagnosed with Chlamydia, spurring a revisitation of the district’s abstinence-only sex education curriculum.
The Daily Post
May 1, 2015
Meanwhile in Lufkin… April 2015 Edition
Our favorite recent items from the Lufkin Daily News’ police blotter.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2015
Banned Deep-Fat Fryers From Some School Cafeterias Could Make a Comeback
“It’s not about french fries, it’s about freedom,” ag commissioner Sid Miller said.
The Daily Post
April 28, 2015
A Student Sat Almost Naked on Campus to Make a Point About Objectification and Assault
Reaction to the Texas State student’s performance art project ranged from supportive to critical.
Critters
April 27, 2015
A Herd of Central Texas Cows Braved Friday’s Floodwaters
In the midst of a storm that brought heavy rains and flash flooding to parts of Central Texas, a herd of cattle was swept away from their pasture.
The Daily Post
April 22, 2015
Eisenhower High Abandons Problematic Prom Dress Policy, Teens Rejoice
A Houston-area high school chose to drop a policy that would have required all female prom guests to submit photos of their dresses for “pre-approval.”
The Daily Post
April 17, 2015
Dress Code-Related Internet Outrage Is Fine, But Probably Won’t Change a Thing
A Facebook post documenting a Texas student’s dress code violation went viral earlier this month, but the school hasn’t and probably won’t change its policy.
Politics & Policy
April 16, 2015
The Department of Criminal Justice Moved a Transgender Inmate to a Safekeeping Unit
Following a string of complaints about alleged harassment, assault, and rape, a transgender inmate in Texas was moved to a special “safekeeping” unit in what LGBT activists consider a significant victory.
Hunting & Fishing
April 9, 2015
Katy Teen Loves to Fish in his Neighborhood Sewer
Sixteen-year-old Kyle Naegeli has perfected the art of sewer fishing.
The Daily Post
April 7, 2015
Here’s What We Know So Far About the Texas Women’s Health Program
In 2011 the Texas Legislature turned down federal money in order to exclude Planned Parenthood from receiving state funds. Four years later a new report shows what happens when a state takes over the Women’s Health Program.
The Daily Post
April 2, 2015
Dallas Attorney Stands Up for Women’s Hair in Negligence Lawsuit
When Cindy Peterson and a handful of other women came forward with complaints about hair loss related to a luxury product line, an attorney from Dallas came to their aid.
Critters
March 27, 2015
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Dog-Locating Drone Flying Over Houston
The World Animal Awareness Society is using camera-equipped drones to film a pilot episode of a stray-dog-related television show in Houston.
The Daily Post
March 23, 2015
Meanwhile in Lufkin… March 2015 Edition
Our favorite recent items from the Lufkin Daily News’ police blotter.
The Daily Post
March 20, 2015
SXSW 2015: Twelve Tweets That Will Make You Hate SXSW
“Are you Meerkatting or can we speak IRL?”
Business
March 16, 2015
Blue Bell Issued a Recall After Three Deaths Were Linked to the Brenham Creamery
Listeria bacteria was found in products created on a single production line at Blue Bell Creameries, in Brenham, prompting the first recall in the company’s 108-year history.
Politics & Policy
March 12, 2015
State Representative Proclaims His Status as a Former Fetus
A miniature controversy erupted Wednesday at the state capitol, when a Republican lawmaker covered the name plaque outside his office with a paper sign labeling him as a “Former Fetus.”
Politics & Policy
March 10, 2015
A State Representative Filed a Bill That Would Harm His Openly Gay Son
Rick Miller, a Republican from Sugar Land, introduced legislation that would reverse local non-discrimination ordinances—like the one in Houston, where his openly gay son works as an attorney.
The Daily Post
March 4, 2015
Something That Should Never Be a Slideshow
On Monday, the Houston Chronicle posted a slide show of photos of a late Longview teenager who suffered from anorexia, inviting readers “witness her fatal transformation.”
Critters
February 27, 2015
Meet the Woman Trying to Open Texas’ First Cat Cafe
Austinite Rebecca Gray has big plans to open the first cafe in the state where humans and felines can peacefully coexist.
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2015
Ted Poe to Twitter: Ban Terrorist Group Accounts
U.S. representative Ted Poe has requested that Twitter stop allowing terrorists to make use of its services.
Art
February 23, 2015
Selfie Sticks Banned in Three Texas Museums
Museum-goers in Texas will have to live with snapping their art selfies the old-fashioned way.
Politics & Policy
February 21, 2015
Texas Might Have Married Its First Same-Sex Couple
What started as a small wedding ceremony outside a Travis County office resulted in a political storm that left the couple, and the rest of the state, confused.
The Daily Post
February 19, 2015
Seriously, Don’t Mess With Texas Women
A roundup of some of the most notable recent displays of gumption from women around the state.
The Daily Post
February 17, 2015
Wal-Mart Is Suing the State to Sell Liquor
The retailer says some Texas liquor statutes are unconstitutional.
The Daily Post
February 11, 2015
Skip the Scenery and Fly to Big Bend
Why drive one of the state’s best scenic routes when you can pay a few hundred dollars to fly there instead?
The Daily Post
February 10, 2015
A UT Fraternity Threw Another Racist Party
Texas Fiji said the party was supposed to be “Western themed,” which guests somehow interpreted as “border patrol.”
The Daily Post
February 6, 2015
A Gay Student Left His Private School To Avoid Discrimination
Austin Wallis posted a video to YouTube this week that details his difficult experience of being gay in a private, Lutheran school in Houston.
Politics & Policy
February 3, 2015
In Texas, There’s No Such Thing as a Transgender Hate Crime
A black, transgender woman was murdered in Tyler, which her friends say was a hate crime—but the murder won’t be investigated that way.
The Daily Post
February 2, 2015
Loaded Guns, Knives, and Other Things Texans Tried to Travel With in 2014
Check your bag for liquids and heavy artillery next time you fly through a Texas airport.
The Daily Post
January 29, 2015
Is Austin’s Reign as Leader of Texas Growth Ending?
Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth—and even Arlington—are exceeding the capital city in a number of ways.
The Daily Post
January 26, 2015
Have You Seen This Ski Mask?
The Rosenberg Police Department released a particularly sketchy sketch in an attempt to identify the suspect in an armed robbery that took place last week.
The Daily Post
January 23, 2015
The Fittest Churches in Texas, Ranked
At least seven places of worhsip in Texas have indoor running tracks, and other key takeaways.
The Daily Post
January 22, 2015
Kolaches Are Apparently the “It” Food This Year
The Today Show says 2015 is the year of the kolache, but we say every year is the year of the kolache.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2015
Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance, Explained
The journey of Houston’s Equal Rights Ordinance has been long and full of plot-twists—but it could all be over soon.
The Daily Post
January 21, 2015
The University of Texas: Home of the Sugar Babies?
As tuition prices climb and student debt rates increase, UT-Austin students look for, ahem, financial aid on an online dating site with a weird twist.
The Daily Post
January 14, 2015
Watch a Bunch of Actors Pretend to be Texans
And brush up on Texas history at the same time. “Texas Rising” premieres on Memorial Day.
Health
January 13, 2015
Texas Got an F- on the Reproductive Health Report Card
The Population Institute’s annual report card has been posted, and Texas failed in a big way.
The Daily Post
January 6, 2015
A Teenager in Fort Worth Was Arrested For Something He Posted on Twitter
A seventeen-year-old posted a photo online that was powerful enough to get him arrested for making terrorist threats at a time when police departments are taking messages on social media more seriously than ever.
The Culture
December 5, 2014
Getting Creative in Small-Town Texas
Artists across the nation—including Michael Stipe, Matt Groening, and Tony Hawk—band together to build a skatepark in Taylor.