By Glen Melanconn I was born in Heidelberg, Germany, in a United States military hospital. My dad proudly served in the US Army for 17 years. He was there to defend against a Soviet invasion. The US Army first arrived in Europe during World War Two (1939-1945). It was partContinue Reading
By Dan Bridges Texas has long been a football state. One of the most successful Texas football dynasties, the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s, stems from three players for the University of Arkansas and their 1964 championship season: Jerry Jones, Barry Switzer, and Jimmy Johnson. For the Arkansas Razorbacks, theContinue Reading
By Dan Eakin Most of us probably live from day to day mostly thinking about how to meet the physical and material needs of the day. Sometimes we may go for days, weeks and maybe even months without giving much thought to the fact that we will one day die.Continue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer I hate to repeat myself, but maybe now somebody is willing to listen. I wrote the following on June 26, 2021. I have only edited a little to update a few data points. This discussion is life or death. The vaccines are highly safe and effective. Government andContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer John Adams, the nation’s second president, once wrote, “I must study war and diplomacy so that my children may study math and science and that their children may study art and philosophy.” Thus is the story of Lawrence Sullivan “Sul” Ross, a man who beat the proverbialContinue Reading
By Glen Melancon The January 6 attack on American Democracy grew from seeds planted 40 years earlier. In the 1980s conservative activists created incendiary rhetoric to attack our government. Since the New Deal, conservatives had lost to a wave of progressive legislation. The Federal Government improved the lives ofContinue Reading
By Michael Reagan I don’t know how long I’ll be able to take the Tokyo Olympics. The Games are barely underway, but I’m already turned off by the annoying political grandstanding. On Wednesday, our cocky women’s soccer team took a knee just before the start of their match against Sweden.Continue Reading
By Dr. Sam Bridges Sam Houston needed a miracle. Thousands of troops were charging into Texas from Mexico, threatening all that Texas settlers had built and all that they attempted to defend. Heartbreaking defeats at the Alamo and Goliad had severely damaged the army and morale. Now on the runContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Taxes fund public services. A vote is our voice for funding these services. As a community, we decide on which services to fund or how they are funded. We benefit from these services either directly or indirectly. Direct benefits are pretty easy to understand. If you haveContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Voting is the life blood of a democracy. Votes express the will of the many to direct the actions of the few. Voting preserves our Republic. Restricting voting kills democracy. Americans have struggled over the last 232 years to expand voting. In the beginning, woman couldn’t vote. Continue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer The World watched on Jan. 6, 2021, as criminals swarmed the United States Capital. The thugs wanted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Most of us looked on in horror. Congress had gathered in a solemn, constitutional ceremony to count the Electoral College votes. Each state hadContinue Reading
Austin Lewter/Jefferson Jimplecute Jennifer and I have four children — three girls and a boy. I was reared with all brothers. In fact, there was a dry spell of Lewter girl births from the late 1930s until the mid 2000s. So raising girls has been an education, but one I wouldContinue Reading
Ken Bridges/Contributing writer Henry B. Gonzalez had a long and controversial career as a Texas politician. He was the first Hispanic elected to Congress from Texas and was never afraid to speak his mind on the issues. Gonzalez was born to immigrant parents in San Antonio in 1916. His parentsContinue Reading
Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Since February, the United States of America has been making steady progress in the fight against Covid 19. Public safety measures such as mask wearing and physical distancing slowed the spread of the virus. We bought time for the development of several vaccines. The vaccines are highlyContinue Reading
