Quote of the day

“We need to give them hope.”

— Longhorns coach Charlie Strong after his team’s 38-3 loss to Notre Dame.

Image of the day

Law enforcement, friends, family, and supporters continued to mourn the death of Deputy Darren Goforth over the holiday weekend. A memorial was set up at the gas station where he was executed, and more than $500,000 was raised for his family.

Party Memories

Maybe you went on a nice hike during the long weekend. Perhaps you chillaxed by a pool. Regardless, anything you did was nothing compared to El Paso’s insane dance party, the Sun City Music Festival. Because of course the state’s westernmost city hosts a massive electronic music festival. Who needs Austin and its city limits?

El paso definitely knows how to party

Daily Roundup

Problemas — So it turns out that, like Donald Trump said, Mexicans do cross the border and use our resources without paying for it—but it’s not as bad as you’re thinking. Because of the U.S.’s inability to bill Mexican drivers, Mexican nationals will be soon be able to enjoy new toll roads in El Paso without paying. With only 1 percent of the traffic coming from Mexico, it’s not much of problem right now, reports the Texas Tribune, “but as the number of tolled roads in the U.S.-Mexico border city increases —and more foreign drivers learn they can use them for free … state Rep. Joe Pickett, D-El Paso, said he anticipates an jump in the number of drivers.” Right now, there’s simply no way to bill Mexican drivers with the electronic pay-by-mail system. “If the agency’s inability to bill Mexican drivers becomes a larger problem … the mobility authority could partner with the El Paso Police Department to use automated license plate readers to catch cars that frequently drive on the roads without paying. However, he said, such enforcement methods are too costly to justify with lost revenue from foreign drivers so low.” A few toll dollars aside, however, the Tribune also reports on a much more problematic road issue. The percentage of Latinos receiving traffic tickets has doubled in the past five years, which wouldn’t be a problem if it weren’t also true that the “total number issued to whites have dropped significantly,” over 10 percent. The Department of Public Safety was “unable to provide an explanation for the dramatic shift,” but hey, at least state troopers are issuing fewer tickets overall, right? Oh, and “the share of black drivers ticketed by DPS remained relatively steady.” Lawmakers are suggesting the DPS needs more oversight, particularly in light of recent incidences. And considering the agency pretty much avoided answering any of the Tribune‘s specific questions, that might seem like a good idea.

Poor Sportsmanship —  Texas football season is not off to a great start, and we’re not just talking about UT’s on-field and Baylor’s off-field woes. It doesn’t look like things are any better for high school football. Two John Jay High School football players tackled a referee during Friday night’s game against Marble Falls. The footage seems to indicate that the hit was intentional. Marble Falls police are investigating the incident, writes the San Antonio Express-News and according to KENS5 the sophomore and senior have already been suspended from school and could face assault charges. In addition, “The University Interscholastic League, which oversees public school extracurricular activities in Texas, and the Northside Independent School District, have also launched their own probes,” reports KSAT. From the various reports, it seems the game was already a little rough—Jay players had already been penalized and ejected for late hits. Obviously, school officials and coaches are emphatic in their condemnation of the act and have pledged their full cooperation. As of now, there is no explanation as to why the players targeted the referee.

Come and Reclaim It — Texans sure are proud of their history of wrasslin’ this land into submission. Unfortunately, that independent streak involved large-scale theft, and some people want their historical justice. “More than 600 descendants of a Mexican settler [Joaquin Galán] have sued Texas over the alleged 1870s seizure of a royal land grant, claiming that they are entitled to the mineral revenue the state has collected for years,” writes the Associated Press. As the Austin American-Statesman details, “The Galán Family Trust contends the state illegally took possession of the land in the 1870s, only a few years after the governor had endorsed the family’s claim to the tract.” The state still owns about 40,000 acres of the land. So far, “discussions have been cordial, and the state is still conducting research into [the situation].” A spokeswoman for the family said they’re “seeking answers to a pair of central questions: How much has the state made in mineral royalties since taking possession of the land? And why did the state reverse course and take the family’s land in the first place?” The family has been researching their claim since the 1940s. As of now, “the family is only interested in the mineral rights under the state-controlled land, not the property itself.” If previous, similar cases are any indication, the family’s lawsuit won’t go far. The Texas Supreme Court threw out a 2008 case involving long-ago land disputes, citing the statute of limitations.

Clickity Bits

“Stray Cat On The Loose At Dallas Love Field”

Quail Season is Looking Pretty Good … for Now 

A Complicated Look at Dallas County DA Susan Hawk

“Couple Reunited with Son Switched at Birth in El Salvador Hospital“

Remembering Buddy Holly on His 79th Birthday

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