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Nearly 60 Texas House Democrats left the state last Monday for Washington, D.C. in an effort to stop passage of a Republican-led elections bill. This in effect blocks all legislation since the House doesn’t have a quorum present. As the Austin American Statesman and other media outlets reported, Gov. Greg Abbott has threatened to arrest the absent lawmakers upon their return. While in Washington, the legislators have met with Vice President Kamala Harris and several Democratic senators to push passage of a federal elections bill that is currently stalemated.

Texas families have through July 31 to enroll their newborns in the Texas Tuition Promise Fund® and pay this academic year’s rates for all or some future tuition and schoolwide required fees at Texas public colleges and universities, excluding medical and dental institutions. New borns are children younger than one year of age at the time of enrollment.

Texas ranks fifth nationally in both dairy production and its dairy cow population and the industry is growing rapidly despite recent challenges such as inclement weather and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the just-released June/July edition of Fiscal Notes, the Comptroller’s office examines the economic impact of Texas dairy farms.

More than 70 Texas A&M Forest Service personnel are currently deployed to wildfire incidents across multiple western states including Arizona, California, Idaho and Montana. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there are 70 large fires burning across the United States with more than 17,700 wildland firefighters and overhead personnel committed to these incidents.

On this day in 1917, construction of Camp Logan near Houston began. After the United States entered World War I, the War Department took advantage of Houston’s climate and ship channel to order the building of the camp. The Third Battalion of the black Twenty-fourth United States Infantry arrived in late July to guard the site. Tensions between local authorities and black soldiers, however, escalated during the following weeks and erupted on August 23 as the Houston Riot of 1917, resulting in the declaration of martial law. By 1918 the camp served as a hospital for wounded men. William C. Hogg acquired the site after the war, and eventually 1,000 acres became Houston’s largest recreational area, Memorial Park.

Terrell Police units were dispatched to IH20 and the exit ramp to exit 501 (South Hwy 34) in reference to a vehicle crash involving an SUV and an 18-wheeler during the early morning hours of July 19. Upon arrival, officers observed a 2020 Kia Sorento had struck the back of an 18-wheeler.

Terrell police made the following arrests and responded to the following incidents between July 14 and July 21: Arrests: Dunier Aguilar-Garcia, 39, Homestead, FL, theft under $100 - shoplifting Maria De Los Angeles Mendoza, 46, Terrell, burglary of a building, theft under $100 of a person Nikedrick Deon Daniels, 27, Terrell, violation of a bond/protective order more than two times within 12 months, assault of a family/household member impeding breath/circulation, abandoning or endangering a child with intent to return Jodeci Devante Hawkins, 28, Terrell, assault by contact or threatening family violence, simple assault family violence David Lee Shaddox, Jr., 48, Terrell, simple assault, theft of property <$100 James Edward Stevens, 44, Terrell, aggravated assault against a public servant, possession of a controlled substance PG1 < 1G Sheila Rena Stokes, 49, Garland, speeding 32 m.p.h. in a 20 m.p.h.

I’m sure most readers of my column are well aware of my take on catch and release. I’m all about the conservation of our fish and game but have absolutely no problem with the practice of releasing the fish I need for dinner into a hot cast iron skillet filled with cooking oil.

Approximately 20 riders representing Journey of Hope made their way through Terrell last week, enjoying a two-day local stay while promoting fellowship as well as visibility for people with disabilities through grant funding and community engagement.

The Kaufman County Commissioners Court found itself on familiar ground this week, revisiting a discussion topic related to the implementation of a curfew in the unincorporated portions of the county. The court heard a presentation in favor of a proposal for a curfew from Kaufman County Sheriff Bryan Beavers, Kaufman County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Laura Peace, Kaufman County District Attorney Erleigh Wiley and Kaufman County Court at Law Judge Tracy Gray at its July 6 meeting.