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Opinion

Evening enchanters: fireflies

Evening enchanters: fireflies

If you grew up anywhere in the south, you probably spent many early summer evenings as I did. 05/18/2023 12:00 AM

Clock ticking on moving bills

Clock ticking on moving bills

The clock is ticking on getting bills out of the House and to the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week in a story in the Austin American-Statesman. Patrick presides over the Senate and is worried many bills that have made it out of House committees but have not gone before the full chamber will not be considered before the session ends. 05/11/2023 12:00 AM

Something old, something new... something blue

Something old, something new... something blue

Each season is a little different from the same season in past years. 05/11/2023 12:00 AM

Bastard cabbage: get rid of it!

Bastard cabbage: get rid of it!

As one drives along the highways and back roads in the Hill Country, they’ll likely see fields of tall, bright yellow flowers taking over the roadside and surrounding countryside. More than likely this is bastard-cabbage or Rapistrum rugosum. 05/04/2023 12:00 AM

House OKs $4.5 billion for teacher pay raises

House OKs $4.5 billion for teacher pay raises

The Texas House last Thursday passed two education-related bills, one that allocates $4.5 billion for teacher pay raises and another to increase the annual per-student base funding from $6,160 to $6,300 – a 2.3% increase. 05/04/2023 12:00 AM

Senate, House begin budget reconciliation

Senate, House begin budget reconciliation

The Texas Senate unanimously approved a $308 billion two-year budget last week, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The next step is to reconcile that budget with one passed earlier by the Texas House. 04/27/2023 12:00 AM

KWB volunteers

KWB volunteers span the generations. 04/27/2023 12:00 AM

Dueling tax proposals in the Legislature

Dueling tax proposals in the Legislature

The Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief, a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases. It passed overwhelmingly, 141-9. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who presides over the Senate, said that body will not approve it, preferring its plan to raise property exemptions from $40,000 to $70,000. 04/20/2023 12:00 AM

April’s yellow flowers

April’s yellow flowers

Wimberley gardeners often complain about deer consuming their plants, often asking about deer resistance when considering introducing a new plant. 04/20/2023 12:00 AM

Your yard, a wonder of nature

Your yard, a wonder of nature

I just came in from a walk around my yard. The varied bird song provided music to my ears, and I relished the signs of spring in flower, leaf and insect. My favorite part may have been a big, buzzing bumblebee after the nectar in my prairie verbena. I have added many native species to my yard and scattered seeds in my meadow plot. But I have also let some things just “be,” waiting to see what desired to grow in a particular area. 04/13/2023 12:00 AM