Opinion

“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” — Zig Ziglar (1926 – 2012), world-renowned motivational author and speaker “So,” friends ask, “How is retirement going?” “Great,” is my go-to answer. “It lasts just long enough … between calls from people needing my help for a while.” Careful planning of one’s career, I’ve always advocated, is a crucial step in life.

Last year, scientists signed the New York Declaration, formally acknowledging that animals, including invertebrates, have consciousness. That’s right: your dog, your goldfish, and possibly even the cricket chirping behind your fridge at 3 a.m. are not only alive, but aware of it. And now that this is official, I’m not sure whether to celebrate or to start apologizing to every mosquito I’ve ever slapped mid-air.

The passage of the state’s first voucher program means homeschool families in Texas will soon be eligible for up to $2,000 to use toward educational costs such as tutoring or curriculum. From 500,000 to 600,000 Texas children are being homeschooled — between 8% and 10% of all school-aged children, the Houston Chronicle reported.

“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men.” — Author Herman Melville “Write an article about the banquet … and make it sound like we had a good time,” the judge pronounced as punishment after declaring me guilty.

When House Bill 2 (HB-2) passed the Texas Legislature last month, Alpine ISD— like many school districts across the state—welcomed the additional funding with open arms. The bill was a crucial and timely investment in public education, offering much-needed relief to districts that the state had long underfunded. We appreciate the hard work of members of the Texas House and Senate in increasing funding for Texas public schools. Every dollar was desperately needed, is graciously received, and will be put to good use to improve academic and well-being outcomes for the children of Texas.

Serving on Alpine’s City Council is both a privilege and a responsibility I take seriously. As your representative, I believe local government should work for the people— with transparency, accountability, and a clear commitment to serving our community, not personal agendas.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced Moore Airfield Base in South Texas as a location for a U.S.-based sterile fly dispersal facility to combat the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS). The announcement comes after a resurgence of NWS in southern Mexico that has prompted significant actions from both lawmakers and federal agencies to protect the U.S. agricultural industry.

Thank You On behalf of Audie’s family, we wanted to take a moment to tell you all how grateful we are. The amount of love and support we have received has been overwhelming.

Gov. Greg Abbott just before the midnight deadline Sunday vetoed a bill on THC products and said he would call a special legislative session to regulate products containing the substance, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The veto angered the bill’s chief champion, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

At Sul Ross State University, we are proud to serve the students of Far West Texas and the Middle Rio Grande Region with quality education, dedicated faculty, and a commitment to rural access and student success. This year, I’m pleased to share that the 89th Texas Legislature has made historic investments in higher education that directly benefi t Sul Ross and the communities we serve.