From the Editors Desk In a way, they have never really gone away. But the days when gospel quartets on the radio, unless people are listening to a country gospel radio station, are about gone.

Capital Highlights State agencies and regulators were heavily criticized at a Texas legislative hearing for failing to communicate during the deadly Panhandle wildfires, the Texas Tribune reported. The three-day hearing, held in Pampa, investigated the Smokehouse Creek fire and others that burned more than a million acres, destroyed hundreds of homes, killed up to 10,000 cattle and resulted in two deaths.

GUEST COLUMNIST I can remember the old pot belly stove sitting in the middle of a room at my grandpa’s house as our family gathered for special occasions. Sometimes parents will see the same thing but react differently.

AUSTIN — One economist is calling it “the most profitable 22 minutes in Texas history,” according to the Texas Standard. The total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8 is expected to draw up to a million visitors to the Lone Star State, especially in its narrow path of totality.

There have been two tragedies involving multiple deaths just a few miles west of Silsbee in just over a month. On Feb.

Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that six of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the United States from 2022 to 2023 were in Texas. According to the Texas Tribune, Kaufman County, just east of Dallas, led the list with a 7.6% increase in new residents that brought its population to more than 185,000. Census data shows that Rockwall and Liberty counties closed out the top three, with growth rates of 6.5% and 5.7%, respectively.

People need to be careful feeding any wild animal in the parks or from city property. They also need to remember that feral cats are wild animals. Cats may be friendly to you if you have food, but they may not be that friendly to a child that just wants to pet them.

1. TEA announces opening of Texas Student Heroes Award nominations This month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced that nominations for the annual Student Heroes program are open. The program recognizes Texas public school students in prekindergarten through high school who do an outstanding volunteer service that benefits their fellow students, schools, or communities. One student from each of the 15 State Board of Education districts is recognized. Nominations can be submitted by anyone, including school personnel, other students, parents, or community members. To nominate a student, fill out the nomination form on TEA’s website and include a brief essay submitted by the nominator describing the student’s work. For questions, please email heroes@tea. texas.gov or call the SBOE support office at (512) 463-9007.

Is anybody besides me sick and tired of hearing and reading where some of the candidates this year are calling each other liars either on the air or in print? And could it be that, in reality, all of them are lying? Or at least not telling the whole truth, or stretching the truth? Someone said, when a half truth is told for the whole truth, it becomes a lie. Kinda like in the garden of Eden when the serpent told Eve she wouldn’t die if she ate the forbidden fruit.

Early voting in the March 5 primary election ends Friday with a host of candidates on the ballot in both parties, including president, U.S. Senate, all 38 Texas U.S. representatives, all 150 Texas House representatives, and down to local races for district attorney, sheriff and other positions.