Ah, summer: a time for sunscreen, grilled meats, and your cousin showing up to the family cookout, quoting Joe Rogan between bites of brisket. Or, as happened to me recently, you post something on Facebook, and, all of a sudden, here comes that high school acquaintance you haven’t talked to in decades, ready to share […]
Tag: TB1
Posted inHealth
‘Clarity’ on Texas’ Abortion Ban is Coming… Whatever That Means
UPDATE: May 21, 2025 The so-called “life of the mother” act to “clarify” medical emergencies that constitute exemptions under the laws, SB 31, easily passed the Texas House and will soon be on it’s way to the Governor’s desk. Once the Governor has signed the law, it will take effect September 1, 2025. PREVIOUS STORY: […]
Posted inCulture
The Beyoncé Cowboy Carter Act Two Tour is Putting Texas Where it Belongs: Everywhere
Thanks to Beyoncé, now the rest of the world knows what it really means to be Texan and country. We know some outsiders looking into our state think that we’re all a bunch of racist, transphobic, ignorant people, but Beyoncé (intentionally or not) is using Cowboy Carter to show what most of us know to […]
Posted inCulture
Meet the Texas Librarians on the Front Lines in the War Against Books
In recent years, Texas has become an epicenter of the rapidly-spreading book banning movement. This year alone, our state lawmakers lead the nation with at least 31 proposed bills that the American Library Association says would effectively restrict librarians’ abilities to do their jobs. One such bill, Senate Bill 13, passed through the Texas Senate […]
Posted inCulture
After 15 Years and a Criminal Charge, Erykah Badu’s ‘Window Seat’ Is Still Texas’ Best Music Video
Texas hasn’t gotten its due as a major piece in the complex puzzle of American art. We’re here to rectify that. Every three weeks, H. Drew Blackburn will conduct a thoroughly scientific analysis of the 254 integral (one for every county) books, movies, tv shows, albums, podcasts, songs, and magazine articles — you name it […]
Posted inNews
‘I Feel in My Heart to Hug You:’ The El Paso Walmart Shooter Killed Her Brother. Instead of the Death Penalty, She Asked For A Hug
It took Frank Rodriguez less than a minute to address the gunman directly and implore him to “have the balls” to face him. Rodriguez’s son, Javier Rodriguez was the youngest victim at only 15 and wanted to be a U.S. Border Patrol agent, his father previously said. “Look at me! I’m talking to you. I’m […]
Posted inNews
El Paso Walmart Shooter ‘Will Leave Prison Only in a Coffin on God’s Time’
UPDATE: This story has been updated as the hearing continued. Towards the end of his sentencing hearing on Monday, Patrick Crusius, 26, stood shackled and stone-faced as he heard from relatives of some of the 23 people he killed in an El Paso Walmart. They told Crusius how the nightmare of that weekend in 2019 […]
Posted inOpinion
Trump Administration Deportation Actions, Plans Are ‘Beyond the Pale’ As President Considers Deporting Citizens
In a mere three months, the Trump administration has arrested legal residents, stripped them of their status, accused them of being members of transnational gangs, and sent them to a prison labor camp in a foreign country. Upon scrutiny, many of these cases reveal a disturbing pattern: many of those deported have no criminal record, […]
Posted inCulture
How Houston Traffic Made My Marriage Stronger
This story contains descriptions of mental illness and suicidal ideation and may be triggering for some readers. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please contact the the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Like any true Houstonian, I’m obsessed with our traffic. Since we’re the home of six out of 10 of the most […]
Posted inNews
Texas House OK’s School Voucher Bill — the Rest of Y’all Better Pay Attention
The Texas House of Representatives gave initial approval of Senate Bill 2 around 2 a.m. Thursday morning, with an 85-63 vote, largely along party lines. What does that mean? Texas is on its way to one of the country’s largest tax-payer funded school voucher programs, a first for the state. “For the first time in […]