Columns/Opinions

by ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed Nov. 3 as Houston Astros Day, honoring the American League champions for winning the 2017 Major League Baseball World Series. The Astros won their fourth game in the best-of-seven Series against the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Nov. 1. It’s the first World Series championship for the Houston Astros in the 55-year history of the franchise and the first for a Texas team. Players wore “Houston Strong” patches on their uniforms in honor of those affected by Hurricane Harvey’s widespread devastation. More than one million fans lined the streets of downtown Houston Nov. 3 to see the players hoist the championship trophy during a victory parade.

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Oct. 27 filed a brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a lower court ruling that required nine of the state’s 150 House districts to be redrawn.

In September, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed the federal district court’s ruling. That allowed Texas to continue to use the existing maps while the redistricting case remains pending.

Candidate filings for the 2018 elections begin next month. Early primary voting begins in February.

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By DEBBIE KNOX

As many of you know Roy has been experiencing some problems lately related to being a Type II diabetic. I’m almost an authority on Type II diabetes now; although, you wouldn’t know it by our lifestyle. I guess it was bound to happen, but you’re never ready for it.

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott and members of Lone Star State’s congressional delegation last week signed a letter seeking $18.7 billion in Texas-specific Hurricane Harvey relief and recovery funding in the next federal supplemental appropriations bill.

Meanwhile, the Texas Department of Emergency Management Commission is working with county judges and mayors to secure funding and resources requested by those local officials.

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By JIM SNYDER

Well, it seems that Hillary Clinton’s blame game tour continues. Clinton recently released her latest book titled “What Happened.” The book takes you down a long path of blaming everyone in recorded history for her 2016 presidential loss. The only person she can’t bring herself to blame is herself.

Trying to read this book or listening to the audio version of “What Happened” is a painful experience. It can only be compared to having a root canal and hemorrhoid surgery at the same time. So let’s look at what really happened.

By ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott on Sept. 27 announced the Texas Department of Transportation had collected more than 2.4 million cubic feet of debris left behind by Hurricane Harvey in roadways across the four districts hardest hit by the storm.

TxDOT is continuing to assist in the removal of debris from roadsides in Corpus Christi, Houston, Beaumont and a number of areas along the Gulf Coast region, Abbott said in a news release.

“This is a tall order, but I want to assure Texans that TxDOT is up to the challenge and has already made great progress. We will not rest until this important job is finished, and we are working to do so as quickly as possible,” he added.

By SYBLE FRENCH

Do you know what time of year this is? Let me remind some of you that came up back when I did. It’s tater digging time. Time to get down on your knees and start grubbing out those sweet potatoes.

Citizens, government agencies continue hurricane recovery work

by ED STERLING

AUSTIN — Help-is-on-the-way announcements from the governor’s office came last week as residents of hardhit counties of the state labored to pull themselves out the watery mire and windblown nightmare of Hurricane Harvey.

On Sept. 14, Gov. Greg Abbott spotlighted Texas Department of Transportation contractors’ efforts to remove debris along state roadways in the Coastal Bend, the area that took a full frontal assault from the deadly storm that plowed ashore and battered Texas in late August and early September.