The Mignon Memo

One Person, One Vote.

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Texas may use total population when drawing political districts. This means that all people are counted for representation, not just eligible voters. To read more…

Author Abbott.

Next month, Governor Abbott’s book, “Broken But Unbowed,” will be released. His book is part biography and part push for a constitutional convention of the states. To read more…

Take me out to the ball game.

Baseball is back, and so is one of Texas’ great rivalries. This year the rivalry between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, both vying for the American League West championship, is especially competitive. Some have dubbed it the Lone Star or Silver Boot Series. Which side are you on? To read more…

Only in Austin…

If you were out and about this weekend, you may have stumbled across some unique street and brass bands from across the country. HONK!TX is a nonprofit, community-driven festival that brings these bands together to perform in the public spaces of Austin. We’re already looking forward to HONK!TX 2017!  To read more…

Interim head of Child Protective Services (CPS) announced.

Chief Deputy Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Charles Smith will act as the new head of Child Protective Services (CPS) on an interim basis. Commissioner Smith will add the duties of assistant commissioner for CPS while continuing to oversee HHSC operations of Medicaid-CHIP, eligibility services, procurement and contracting, and health policy and clinical services. To read more…

March Madness.

Sunday, Texas A&M men’s basketball pulled off an upset in the last 35 seconds of its matchup against Northern Iowa to secure a place in the NCAA’s Sweet Sixteen. Northern Iowa pulled off a half court short at the buzzer to defeat the University of Texas the previous Friday. Texas women’s basketball is still in it to win it. How many brackets did those games bust up? To read more…

Sprucing up for spring.

With the majority of Spring Breakers out of the way, work has started on improvements to the Alamo. $5 million in improvements include emergency upgrades to mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, as well as non-emergent upgrades like the installation of high-speed fiber optic cable for Internet and Wi-Fi service. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Just as the SXSW crowds cleared out, the PGA Tour crowds moved in. 64 elite players have been divided into 16 groups to compete for the Walter Hagen Cup in the WGA Dell Match Play. 80,000-90,000 spectators are being shuttled back and forth on 360 to take part in the action at Austin Country Club. Fore! To read more…

Supreme stalemate.

Today President Obama announced his nominee for the United States Supreme Court. Currently, Judge Merrick Garland serves as the chief judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConell has already reiterated the position that the nomination process should not happen until after the presidential election. To read more…

Recounts for runoffs…

David Simpson (R-Longview) has secured the second-place runoff spot over James “Red” Brown and will face Bryan Hughes (R-Minneola) in the May 24^th primary runoff election. 13 votes separated Simpson and Brown. To read more…

AG Office movement.

Chip Roy, first assistant attorney general, has left the Attorney General’s office to join Trusted Leadership PAC, a super PAC supporting his former boss, Ted Cruz. Jeff Mateer, an attorney who specializes in religious liberties, is now first assistant to General Ken Paxton.  To read more…

Only in Austin…

Austin is a festival. We just live here. SXSW is in full swing as its second week is fully underway. Celebrities, musicians, techies, and more have flocked to the state’s capital to experience everything SXSW has to offer. Some have waited hours to meet the infamous Grumpy Cat. Would you? To read more…

Judge Specia stepping down.

Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner John Specia is retiring on May 31^st. Judge Specia, a former family law judge and attorney, has led DFPS since 2012. To read more…

The billion dollar question is…

… whether metal pipes, tubing, and other equipment used for oil and gas extraction are exempt from sales taxes. Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments on this issue that could trigger over $4 billion in refunds and cost the state $500 million in revenue each subsequent year that the exemption remains in place. To read more…

A Workforce Initiative Trifecta.

Governor Abbott has established a Workforce Initiative to be led by Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Commissioner Raymond Paredes, and Texas Workforce Commissioner Andres Alcantar. Regional Education Workforce meetings will be held across the state to assess local economic activity, examine workforce challenges and opportunities, and consider innovative approaches to carry out the state’s workforce goals. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Attending SXSW events? If you’re in need of some extra juice, tweet a screenshot of your dying cell phone battery to @mophie with #mophieRescue and a cuddly St. Bernard from the St. Bernard Rescue Foundation may arrive equipped with a charger. This year, the loveable rescuers will arrive via motorcycle sidecar!  To read more…

The results are in.

The results of the Texas Primary are in!  Here are the fast and furious results of yesterday’s election.  For more detailed information, go to the Secretary of State’s website here. Primary runoff elections will be held May 24, 2016.

Voter turnout was up and in many parts of the state; many voters cast their ballots well after the polls had officially closed. With over 80% of precincts counted, Republican participation was well past 2.5 million voters and Democratic participation near 1.4 million voters.

President

Both Ted Cruz (43.7% of the vote) and Hillary Clinton (65.2% of the vote) easily won their respective primaries. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio finished a distant second (26.8% of the vote) and third (17.8% of the vote).

U.S. Congress

Incumbents avoid runoffs

It was a good night for congressional incumbents. Early on in the night, nine U.S. House primary races were called in favor of incumbents: Louie Gohmert (R-CD 1), Sam Johnson (R-CD 3), John Ratcliffe (R-CD 4), Joe Barton (R-CD 6), Will Hurd (R-CD 23), Michael Burgess (R-CD 26), Henry Cuellar (D-CD 28), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-CD 30), and Marc Veasey (D-CD 33). In a much closer race, incumbent Kevin Brady (R-CD 8) defeated 3 primary challengers, avoiding a runoff. Incumbent Gene Green (D-CD 29) defeated challenger Adrian Garcia by a healthy margin in what has been a very personal race. Pete Sessions (R-CD 32) also defended his seat by defeating 3 challengers outright. John Culberson (R-CD 7) is another incumbent to defeat multiple challengers and win this primary outright.

Runoffs and new faces

CD 15: Vicente Gonzalez (D-McAllen) came in first out of 6 candidates running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Ruben Hinojosa. He will face Juan “Sonny” Palacios, Jr. (D-Edinburg) in a runoff on May 24th.

CD 19: Lubbock Mayor Glen Robertson (R) and former Texas Tech Vice Chancellor Jodey Arrington (R) are heading to a runoff to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer.

Statewide Races

Texas Railroad Commission
Gary Gates  (28.4%) and Wayne Christian (19.8%) will face each other in a runoff on May 24th to become the Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commission in November. Grady Yarbrough (40%) and Cody Garrett (35.1%) are headed to a runoff to become the Democratic candidate for Texas Railroad Commission in November.

Judicial Races

Justice, Place 5, Texas Supreme Court: incumbent Paul Green (R) (52.1%) defeated challenger Rick Green (47.9%) and will face Democrat Dori Contreras Garza in November.

Justice, Place 3, Texas Supreme Court: incumbent Debra Lehrmann (R) (52.2%)  defeated challenger Michael Massengale (47.8%) and will face Democrat Mike Westergren in November.

Justice, Place 9, Texas Supreme Court: incumbent Eva Guzman (59.2%) defeated Joe Pool (40.8%) and will face Democrat Savannah Robinson in November.

Judge, Place 6, Court of Criminal Appeals: incumbent Michael Keasler (R) (56.9%) defeated Richard Davis (43.1%) and will face Democrat Robert Burns in November.

Judge, Place 5, Court of Criminal Appeals: in a race for an open seat. Scott Walker (41.4%) is headed to a runoff with Brent Webster (20.5%), Steve Smith (19.6%), or Sid Harle (18.5%). At the time of writing, a few precincts had not yet reported. The winner will face Democrat Betsy Johnson in November.

Judge, Place 2, Court of Criminal Appeals: Mary Lou Keel (R) (39.4%) and Ray Wheless (R) (35.4%) will head to a runoff on May 24th. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Larry Meyers in November.
Texas Senate

• SD 1 (Eltife retirement): Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) (48%) led a pack of four by a healthy margin all night, but could not avoid a runoff. He will face David Simpson (R-Longview) (21.3%) in a runoff on May 24th.
• SD 19: incumbent Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) (74.6%) easily defeated Helen Madla (25.4%) and will face Republican Peter P. Flores in November, although this is a safely Democratic seat.
• SD 24: At the time of writing with 90% of precincts counted, it looks like Susan King (R-Abilene) (28.9%) and Dr. Dawn Buckingham (R-Lakeway) (23.9%) are headed to a runoff. The winner will face Democrat Virginia Leeder in November in this safely Republican seat.
• SD 26: incumbent Jose Menendez (D-San Antonio) (59.%) successfully defended his seat from Trey Martinez Fischer (40.8%).

 Texas House

Many projected that an increase in voter turnout due to the presidential race would be detrimental to incumbents and “establishment” candidates. Though many races came very close, only 4 incumbents were unseated. These four races were split between being a perceived win for the “anti-establishment” or a loss.

• HD 1: incumbent Gary VanDeaver (R-New Boston) (61.9%) defeated George Lavender in a rematch for this House seat.
• HD 2: incumbent Dan Flynn (R-Van) (50.6%) defeated Bryan Slaton.
• HD 4: Lance Gooden (R-Terrell) (51.8%) defeated incumbent Dr. Stuart Spitzer (R-Kaufman) in a close rematch separated by roughly 1,000 votes.
• HD 5: Cole Hefner (R) (46%) and Jay Misenheimer (R) (27.1%) are headed to a runoff to replace Bryan Hughes who is in his own runoff for a Texas Senate seat.
• HD 7: Jay Dean (R-Wichita Falls) defeated David Watts and will succeed David Simpson in the Texas House.
• HD 8: incumbent Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) (50.4%) narrowly defeated challenger Thomas McNutt by 222 votes in one of the closest races of the primary.
• HD 11: Travis Clardy (R-Nacogdoches) (86.3%) easily defended challenger Tony Sevilla. Although a safely Republican seat, Clardy faces Democrat Stephen Wright in November.
• HD 12: incumbent Kyle Kacal (R-College Station) (70.4%) defeated challengers Timothy Delasandro and Michael Stanford.
• HD 14: incumbent John Raney (R-College Station) (68.8%) defeated challenger Jess Fields.
• HD 17: incumbent John Cyrier (R-Lockhart) (65.1%) defeated challenger Brent Golemon.
• HD 18: Keith Strahan (R-Liberty) (28.2%) and Ernest Bailes (R-Shepherd) (25.9%) are headed to a runoff on May 24th to succeed retiring John Otto.
• HD 20: Terry Wilson (R-Marble Falls) (54.3%) defeated incumbent Marsha Farney (45.7%).
• HD 27: with 3 primary challengers, incumbent Ron Reynolds (D-Missouri City) was unable to avoid a runoff and will face Angelique Bartholomew (D-Missouri City) in a May 24th runoff. The winner will face Republican Ken Bryant in November. This is a safely Democratic seat.
• HD 33: Frisco Mayor Pro Tem Justin Keating (R) (37.6%) and Heath City Council member Justin Holland (32.9%) are headed to a runoff and will face Democrat Karen Jacobs in November to replace retiring Scott Turner (R-Frisco). This is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 36: Sergio Muñoz, Jr. (D-Mission) (60.1%) defeated challenger Abraham Padron (39.9%).
• HD 37: incumbent Rene Oliveira (D-Brownsville) (67.9%) defeated challenger Don De Leon (32.1%).
• HD 47: incumbent Paul Workman (R-Austin) (60.6%) (39.4%) defeated Jay Wiley and will face Democrat Ana Jordan in November.
• HD 49: with seven candidates running, Gina Hinojosa (D) won outright with 57% of the vote, avoiding a runoff and will be the one who replaces retiring Elliott Naishtat.
• HD 54: Scott Cosper (R-Killeen) (41.8%) will face Austin Ruiz (R-Killeen) (33.4%) in a runoff to take the seat of retiring Jimmie Don Aycock. The winner will face Sandra Blankenship in this safely Republican seat in November.
• HD 55: former state representative Hugh Shine (R-Temple) (53.6%) defeated incumbent Molly White (R-Belton) (46.4%).
• HD 58: incumbent Dewayne Burns (R-Cleburne) (53.6%) defeated challenger Philip Eby (46.4%).
• HD 59: incumbent Dr. J.D. Sheffield (R-Gatesville) (61.6%) defeated challenger Brent Graves (38.4%).
• HD 60: Mike Lang (R-Granbury) (53.9%) defeated Kevin Downing (46.1%) in the race to replace retiring Jim Keffer.
• HD 64:Lynn Stucky (R-Sanger) (42.3%) and Read King (R-Denton) (30%) are headed to a runoff. The winner will face Connor Flanagan (D) in November. This is a safe seat for Republicans.
• HD 65: incumbent Ron Simmons (R-Carrollton) (83.2%) defeated challenger Ben Kissling (16.8%) and will face Democrat Ben Mendoza in November. This is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 71: Stan Lambert (R-Abilene) (51.9%) won outright out of 5 primary candidates and will face Pierce LoPachin (D) in November to replace Susan King who is in her own runoff for a Texas Senate seat. This is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 73: incumbent Doug Miller (R-New Braunfels) (43.5%) is headed to a run off with Kyle Biedermann (39.8%) on May 24th.
• HD 75: incumbent Mary Gonzalez (D-El Paso) (57.9%) defeated challenger and predecessor Chente Quintanilla (42.1%).
• HD 77: Evelina Ortega (D-El Paso) (69.2%) defeated Adolfo Lopez (30.8%) by a wide margin and will replace Marisa Marquez in the Texas House.
• HD 81: incumbent Brooks Landgraf (R-Odessa) (67.8%) defeated challenger Joshua Crawford (32.4%).
• HD 84: incumbent John Frullo (R-Lubbock) (55.2%) defeated former state representative Jim Landtroop (44.8%).
• HD 89: incumbent Jodie Laubenberg (R-Parker) (70.7%) defeated Dalton Lytle (29.3%).
• HD 92: incumbent Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) (58.1%) defeated challenger Scott Fisher (41.9%) and will face Democrat Kim Leach in November, although this is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 94: incumbent Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) (58.3%) defeated challenger Andrew Piel (41.7%).
• HD 96: incumbent Bill Zedler (R-Arlington) (71.8%) defeated Wesley Nelson (28.2%) and will face Democrat Sandra Lee in November, although this is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 99: incumbent Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) (58.2%) defeated challenger Bo French (41.8%).
• HD 106: incumbent Pat Fallon (R-Frisco) (82.9%) defeated Trent Trubenbach (17.1%).
• HD 110: incumbent Toni Rose (D-Dallas) (63.7%) defeated challenger Sandra Crenshaw (36.3%).
• HD 112: incumbent Angie Chen Button (R-Garland) (77.4%) defeated Chris DeHart (22.6%) and will face Democrat Jack Blackshear in November. This is a safe seat for Republicans.
• HD 113: incumbent Cindy Burkett (R-Sunnyvale) (56%) defeated Jonathan Boos (44%) and will face Rhetta Andrews Bowers (D) in November. This is a possible swing district.
• HD 114: incumbent Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) (55.2%) defeated challenger Dan Morenoff (44.8%) and will face Democrat Jim Burke in November. This is a safe seat for Republicans.
• HD 115: incumbent Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) (53.4%) defeated Bennett Ratliff (46.6%) in a rematch and will face Democrat Dorotha Ocker in November, although this is a safely Republican seat.
• HD 116:Diana Arévalo (D- San Antonio) (53%) defeated both opponents—Martin Golando (29%) and Ruby Resendez (18%)—outright, avoiding a runoff.
• HD 118: newly sworn in John Lujan (R-San Antonio) will face Tomas Uresti (D-San Antonio) in a rematch in November.
• HD 120: Barbara Gervin-Hawkins (D-San Antonio) and Mario Salas (D-San Antonio) are headed to a runoff to replace Ruth Jones McClendon in the Texas House.
• HD 121: Speaker Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) (60.3%) handily defeated both primary challengers Sheila Bean (11.1%) and Jeff Judson (28.6%) by a wide margin, avoiding a runoff.
• HD 124: incumbent Ina Minjarez (D-San Antonio) easily defeated challenger Sergio Contreras with 71.5% of the vote.
• HD 127: incumbent Dan Huberty (R-Humble) defeated challenger Mitchell Bosworth with 77.8% of the vote.
• HD 128: incumbent Wayne Smith (R-Baytown) (43.6%) is headed to a runoff with Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) (48%) on May 24th.
• HD 130: Dr. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress) easily defeated primary opponent Kay Smith with 70.1% of the vote and will succeed retiring Allen Fletcher.
• HD 131: incumbent Alma Allen (D-Houston) defeated challenger John Shike with 89.8% of the vote.
• HD 134: incumbent Sarah Davis (R-West University Place) (59.5%) defeated primary challenger David Palmer (40.5%), and will face Democrat Ben Rose in November. This is a possible swing district.
• HD 137: incumbent Gene Wu (D-Houston) (65.2%) defeated primary challenger Edward Pollard (34.8%) and will face Republican Kendall Baker in November. This is a safe seat for Democrats.
• HD 139: Kimberly Willis (D-Houston) (31.9%) and Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) (28.7%) are headed to a runoff to succeed Sylvester Turner in the Texas House.
• HD 144: Mary Ann Perez (D-South Houston) defeated 2 primary opponents outright and will face incumbent Gilbert Peña (R-Pasadena) in a November rematch. This is a swing district.
• HD 148: incumbent Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) defeated primary challenger Dave Wilson with 88% of the vote.
• HD 149: incumbent Hubert Vo (D-Houston) (64.9%) defeated primary challenger Demetria Smith, but will face Republican Bryan Chu in November.
• HD 150: Valoree Swanson (R-Spring) defeated incumbent Debbie Riddle with 52.5% of the vote and will face Michael Shawn Kelly (D) in November. This is a safely Republican seat.

State Board of Education

SBOE-1: Georgina Perez (D-El Paso) (55.9%) defeated Joe Fierro, Jr. (27.9%) and Lynn Oliver (16.1%), avoiding a runoff, and will succeed retiring Martha Dominguez (D).

SBOE-6: Democrats Jasmine Jenkins (43.8%) and R. Dakota Carter (32.5%) are headed to a runoff on May 24th. The winner will face SBOE Chair Donna Bahorich in the fall.

SBOE-9: Mary Lous Bruner (R-Mineola) (48.5%) and Keven Ellis (R-Lufkin) (31.1%) are heading to a runoff on May 24th. The winner will face Democrat Amanda Rudolph in November to replace Thomas Ratliff, who is retiring.

Six, six days until the March 1st primary.

Have you voted? Early voting goes through Friday. Shorter lines and more polling place options—What are you waiting for? To read more…

5 Republicans remain.

In Nevada and South Carolina, Donald Trump easily won the Republican presidential caucuses with Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio battling for second place. After Saturday’s South Carolina results, Jeb Bush suspended his campaign. Ben Carson and Governor John Kasich remain in the race. The focus now turns to Texas and other Super Tuesday states. To read more…

Texas and Mexico talk energy.

This week Governor Abbott met with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Houston to discuss Mexico and Texas’ continued collaboration on a joint energy task force.  To read more…

Only in Austin…

Not happy with any of your options for President? Stinson’s on Burnet Road has a suggestion, University of Texas men’s basketball coach, Shaka Smart. In his short time as coach, Smart has turned the Texas program around, now thriving nationally at #24.   To read more…

El Papa en El Paso.

Today, tens of thousands of El Pasoans and visitors will flock to the Sun Bowl Stadium to celebrate Mass with Pope Francis. The mass will be televised live as it is held 2 miles away in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. At least 200,000 are expected to cross the four bridges from El Paso to Ciudad Juarez for a chance to see the Pope. To read more…

Early Voting for the March 1^st Primary has begun!

Early Voting for the March 1^st Texas Primary started yesterday and goes through Friday, February 26. It’s your civic duty. (And the best way to have the block walkers and phone bankers check you off of their lists!) To read more…

Saying goodbye to Justice Antonin Scalia.

 Over the weekend, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died of a heart attack in Marfa, Texas. As the justice in charge of emergency motions coming from Texas, Justice Scalia impacted Texas greatly. He was given the first chance to stop or allow state officials from enforcing hot legal issues such as abortion restrictions, voter ID, redistricting maps, and last minute halts of death sentences. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Football season may be over, but feelings remain strong in Austin regarding the TX-OU rivalry. A traffic sign located at Rio Grande and 24^th Street was recently hacked with a phrase that has been on the lips of many a Longhorn. This could be the most popular traffic sign in Austin history.  To read more…

Rep. John Lujan sworn in.

Yesterday, John Lujan was officially sworn in as the newest member of the Texas House. Lujan is the first Republican to hold House District 118, a south Bexar County seat, after winning a special election to replace Rep. Joe Farias. To read more…

The Anti-establishment wins New Hampshire.

Anti-establishment candidates in both parties secured strong wins in New Hampshire last night. Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders won by large margins. In the Republican primary, Governor John Kasich finished second, followed closely by Jeb Bush. Candidates are now looking to the February 20^th Republican and February 27^th Democratic Primaries in South Carolina. To read more…

Waiting in the Franklin’s BBQ line takes commitment

This couple took that commitment literally, bringing friends, a judge, and wedding license with them to be wed while waiting in line for some infamous Franklin’s barbecue. This is the first for Franklin’s, but certainly not the last. And no, even the newlyweds didn’t get to cut in line. To read more…

Only in Austin…

Looking for sweets for your sweetie this Valentine’s Day? Lammes Candies is the expert, having been in the candy making business since 1878. Lammes has a rich history that goes beyond having the best praline recipe around. It survived being lost in a poker game, pushed through the sugar rationing of WWII, and continues to be an Austin treasure.   To read more…

The Iowans have spoken.

Ted Cruz (27.6%) pulled off the Republican win in Iowa, closely followed by Donald Trump (24.3%), and Marco Rubio (23.1%). Hillary Clinton narrowly defeated Bernie Sanders by a margin of .02%. We Texans will have our say about preferred candidates (presidential and those down ballot) March 1^st. To read more…

Rubio’s Texas Team.

After a strong third place finish in the Iowa Republican Caucus, Florida Senator Marco Rubio announced his Texas Leadership Team. Current legislators on the team include: Rep. James Frank (Wichita Falls), Rep. Larry Gonzales (Round Rock), Rep. Jason Isaac (Dripping Springs), and Rep. Myra Crownover (Denton). To read more…

Governor Abbott’s First Year at a Glance.

Governor Abbott released his first “Report to the People of Texas,” highlighting successes of his first term as Governor. Economic and job development, public and higher education, transportation infrastructure, and border security all make the list covered in the report.  To read more…

Only in Austin…

Nightcap, the brain-child of Christin Rowan-Adams, officially opened on New Year’s Eve. In a cozy bungalow on the quiet side of West 6^th Street, you can indulge in desserts and cocktails. Chef Drew Dunston and Pastry Chef Annabelle Turner, both formerly of Paggi House, helped bring Christin’s vision to life. Who doesn’t love a fun desert bar? To read more…

Republicans swipe a House seat in a special.

John Lujan (R-San Antonio) defeated Tomas Uresti (D-San Antonio) in the special election for House District 118 by a margin of 171 votes. Representative-Elect Lujan will serve the remainder of Rep. Joe Farias’ (D-San Antonio) term, ending this year. Both Lujan and Uresti are candidates in their respective primaries on March 1. To read more…

Ruth retires early.

After 20 years of service, Sunday, January 31^st will be Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon’s last day as state representative for House District 120 (San Antonio). 11 months remain of her term. A special election date to fill her seat will be decided by Governor Greg Abbott. To read more…

The Texas Senate has a new Republican Caucus Chair.

Sen. Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) has been elected by his colleagues as the next Senate Republican Caucus chair. This position was previously held by Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills), who stepped down after being appointed chair of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.  To read more…

BBQ is serious business, y’all.

Buc-ee’s, everyone’s favorite roadside pit stop, is suing its brisket supplier over price increases. Buc-ee’s claims Sadler’s Smokehouse in Brazoria County never notified them in writing about the increase as required by their contract. Perhaps some sauce hid that provision. To read more… 

Only in Austin…

SHED Barbershop & Supply is not your grandfather’s barbershop, and offers “classic services in a modern environment.” If you’re looking for someplace to style trending man bun, this is the place. SHED also hosts a monthly “Old-Fashioned Friday” where old fashioneds, snacks, and music are a plenty.    To read more…