Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
Hometown News For Orange County, Texas
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John Connally was succeeded as governor by Preston Smith who served from 1969-1973. Smith had been lieutenant governor from 1963-1969. Smith was from Lubbock, Texas and while serving both as lieutenant governor and governor had a reputation for being very friendly to the business lobby in Austin. Smith was more of a caretaker governor than any other. Generally, he did not try to influence or meddle with what was going on legislatively. And, was well liked by the great...
TIME FOR ABBOTT TO 'MAN UP' TO TRUMP The Texas audit saga of four counties continues. A measly review of four counties, in a state that has 254 counties, is not enough for Trump. He kept pushing Abbott to add audit legislation to the special session agenda. To Abbott's credit he didn't budge on calling for legislation and has not agreed to let an outside firm conduct audits. That made Trump go into a full blown tantrum, suggesting that Abbott is weak and not a patriot, but...
This week, the Texas Legislature is meeting to discuss everything from redistricting to electricity and the grid. We’ve only got a few more weeks left in this special session, hopefully we will get everything done! Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Governor’s Broadband Council report released This month the Governor’s Broadband Development Council released their annual report to the Legislature as required by a bill passed in the 86th Legislative Session. Th...
GOP STARTS GERRYMANDERING PROCESS What the Texas Republicans proposed congressional maps shows is Republican leaders are scared as hell of suburban voters and they well should be. White voters in the suburbs, especially women, are breaking away from the "R" brand and White guys are still smoldering over the electric grid and lack of leadership during the ice storm. No doubt the suburbs are turning bluer and the surging population in Texas has added two congressional seats to...
Connally stayed in office through two, two-year terms and was the first governor to serve a four-year term. Connally's second run for governor was again opposed by Yarborough. I had supported Yarborough in his initial race but the more I listened to some of his ideas, it became apparent to me that Yarborough was long on oratory, but short on knowledge of government. Yarborough was at a disadvantage financially. Connally had millions with which to support his gubernatorial...
Matthew 19:13-15 "Then were there brought unto him (Jesus) little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.15 And he laid his hands on them..." Part of the reason my wife and I married was to have children and bring them to Jesus. We had already been born again in Christ and desired to be given of the Lord...
The first official day of fall came this week on September 22. With it came a welcome cold front across the state and a beautiful Harvest Moon. Fall brings cooler weather, leaves changing colors, and this year another special session. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Third special session begins The Legislature convened for our third special session this week. There were five items originally on the call including redistricting, appropriating federal funds...
In 1962, the year I was first elected to the Legislature, John Connally was elected governor in a very close Democratic Primary. He succeeded by narrowly defeating a young candidate named Don Yarborough. Connally, with his good looks and handsome demeanor looked the part of a governor. Ability to perform is a great benefit in the political arena. He majored in drama while at the University of Texas undergraduate school which served him well. He went on to law school and...
SEPTEMBER 22 FIRST DAY OF FALL Today begins the fall season here in Southeast Texas. There is not much distinction between the four seasons; however, this week we are seeing fall like weather, cool, with low humidity. Hopefully, we don’t have anymore storms to dodge. My guess is if a storm doesn’t come into the Gulf in the next 12 to 15 days, it’s a good chance we have dodged the bullet. Gulf waters will cool and high pressure is expected most of October. Usually by this...
This week Hurricane Nicholas made landfall, impacting the coastal region of Southeast Texas and neighboring counties. Though the storm hit as a hurricane, it was later downgraded to a tropical storm and then to tropical depression. There are 19 counties under the disaster declaration and five are in Senate District 3, including Jasper, Liberty, Montgomery, Newton, and Orange Counties. If you have been affected by Hurricane Nicholas, please complete the Self Reporting Damage Survey found on Texas Department of Emergency...
The Apostle Paul used his own life to illustrate God's amazing grace. He wrote in Romans 7:24-25 under the inspiration of God, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin." In I Timothy 2:15, Paul spoke clearly of his own unworthiness, calling himself the chiefest of sinners. It says, "This is a faithful saying, a...
This article will be the beginning of a series in which I will examine and comment on the various governors in office during my political career. I served in the Legislature during the tenure of eight different governors. In effect, this series will be remembrances of occurrences during my tenure in office and my relationship with the various governors. In Texas the governor’s office originally was extremely weak. It was established by the constitution adopted in the 1800s f...
GREAT COVERAGE OF 9-11 ANNIVERSARY I was really impressed with all the coverage Saturday on the 20th anniversary of 9-11. All the networks did a great job. What amazed me the most was how much real-time video they had. Also I learned that Bin Laden took between three and four years planning the attack. Think about how everything had to fall right in place. First, eight Afghanistan men had to learn to speak English then take flight instructions. They worked in teams of two,...
Everything regarding our current monthly storm event is still “iffy” as we are well aware of the potential consequences of a rain maker that decides to park on top of us. Even as I am writing this column, our power is blinking on and off! There is no doubt that fish adapt to the conditions Mother Nature throws their way, but they have really been challenged over the past three years. In the last two weeks the trout that had been holding on the beaches and jetties went from moving into the lake to wondering what the hell is...
This weekend, we recognize the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. We remember and pray for all the Americans who were killed during the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and Flight 93. Let us never forget. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Governor Abbott calls third special session Governor Abbott announced this week that he will be calling the Legislature back for a third time starting September 20. One of the most important topics the legislature will cover in...
Abbott's Approval Rating Lowest Ever A couple of weeks ago I wrote that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott seemed to be losing favor with women voters. I found that women, especially those with school age children, are unhappy with his handling of COVID-19. Those I spoke with accused Abbott of playing politics with their children's health with his mask mandate. A Texas Politics Project Poll, done before the new state law that allows anyone to sue doctors, cab drivers or others who help pr...
Luke 8:23-25 "But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even th...
A weekly column from Sen. Robert Nichols by Sen. Robert Nichols, Senate District 3 We continue to hold our friends in Louisiana in our prayers after Hurricane Ida made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane this week. Texas was proud to send a Chinook helicopter, 14 crew members, 30 fire engines, and 132 firefighters to aid in hurricane recovery efforts. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. COVID-19 antibody treatment center opens in Nacogdoches The Texas Division...
LABOR DAY BOUGHT, PAID FOR WITH HARD WORK As the years go by, celebrating the efforts of the working men and women, who through their crafts built so much of this country, has diminished. Proud union members went to school, worked years as apprentices and in time moved up to journeymen, totally skilled in their craft. Even today, the best skilled labor still comes from union craftsmen. What happened? Where did so many union jobs go? I'll tell you, but first let me remind you a...
On August 27, 1908, Lyndon Baines Johnson was born near Johnson City, Texas. LBJ would go on to become a US Congressman, US Senator, the Vice President under President John F. Kennedy, and finally the President of the United States. His birthday is celebrated as a state holiday. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Elections bill advances in the House The House is set to consider Senate Bill 1, the election integrity and security bill. It passed the House Commi...
TEXAS AND VOTER SUPPRESSION Texas is preparing to pass a sweeping voter bill that is designed to hamper minorities and elderly at the polls. Republicans are using the specter of cheating at the polls to push through voting restrictions that are not needed. They are selling the story that our elections are under attack and that the only defense is to limit voting access. Its political manipulating based on a lie. The bill will be awful. While they claim it will be harder for...
On August 17, 1786 frontier icon and brave defender of the Alamo, Davy Crockett was born in Tennessee. Throughout his life, he acquired a reputation as a sharpshooter, hunter, and outdoorsman. He left his home state of Tennessee when he was 49 and set out for Texas. He arrived here in February 1836 and joined the Texas Revolutionaries at the Alamo. On March 6, 1836, he died during the Battle of the Alamo. Here are five things happening around your state: • Proposed amendments to Texas Constitution This week, Governor A...
Summer is drawing to a close and back-to-school season is here. TxDOT asks all Texans to be aware of school zones and school buses as children head back to campus. Remember to slow down for school zones and be prepared to stop for stopped school buses. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Second special session begins This week Governor Abbott called a second special session starting on August 7. For this special session, he added several more agenda items to the call from the first special. Some of the new...
The Battle of Nacogdoches occurred 185 years ago this week. On August 2, 1836, a group of Texas settler defied an order from a Mexican Army commander and did not surrender their weapons. This battle is often referred to the opening gun of the Texas Revolution. The revolutionaries were successful in this first conflict and cleared East Texas of military rule, allowing citizens to meet in convention without military intervention. Here are five things happening around your...
The Battle of Nacogdoches occurred 185 years ago this week. On August 2, 1836, a group of Texas settler defied an order from a Mexican Army commander and did not surrender their weapons. This battle is often referred to the opening gun of the Texas Revolution. The revolutionaries were successful in this first conflict and cleared East Texas of military rule, allowing citizens to meet in convention without military intervention. Here are five things happening around your state: 1. Texas Historical Commission approves plan for...
