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Then again I could Be Wrong...
Publisher - The Silbee Bee
Weekly column by Dennis Phillips — featuring local news, hilarious misadventures, strange life events, and the occasional mind-numbing, head-scratching, possibly thought-provoking ramble.
Capitol Highlights
State Capitol Reporter - Texas Press Asssociation
A weekly, bullet-point look at the Texas Capitol — covering the antics, actions, and aftermath of each legislative session. Gary delivers a straight-shooting news report on the state government issues that matter most to Texans.
Primary turnout smashes recent midterm records
Nearly 4.5 million Texans voted in the Democratic and Republican primaries, according to The Texas Tribune, surpassing recent turnout numbers. A total of 2.3 million ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and 2.2 million in the Republican primary, marking the first time Democratic turnout was higher since 2020. Texas has approximately 18.7 million registered voters, so turnout was just under 25%. Voters in both parties can return to the polls in May to decide primary winners in several runoff elections where no candidate garnered a majority: U.S. Sen. John Cornyn faces challenger Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Cornyn received 41.9% of the GOP vote to 40.7% for Paxton in the March 3 primary. State Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston faces U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin for the Republican nomination for Texas Attorney General. Middleton led in the primary with 39.1%, while Roy had 31.6%. On the Democratic side for attorney general, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, faces former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski. Johnson fell just short of winning a majority with 48.1% in the primary, while Jaworski earned 26.4% of the vote. Two Democrats are headed for a runoff for lieutenant governor. State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin, finished well ahead of Marcos Velez, a Houston labor leader, with 48% of the vote. Velez received 31.5% of the primary vote. The winner will face incumbent GOP Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. There are also several runoffs slated in congressional and state house races. The runoffs will be held May 26, with early voting running from May 18-22. Voters cannot cross over to vote in a runoff, meaning if they voted in the Democratic primary, they cannot vote in a GOP runoff, and vice versa. Voters who didn’t cast ballots in either March primary can participate in the runoff of either party. Gas prices spike sharply in wake of Iran war The price of gasoline rose nearly a dollar per gallon in some cities after the joint U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran last week. The Dallas Morning News reported gas prices are now at their highest level since President Trump took office in January 2025. Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz have been largely stalled, greatly reducing production by Asian refiners. U.S. crude oil prices topped $89 late last week. Since the Friday before the attacks, Brent crude oil, the global benchmark for oil prices, has increased by 24%. Trump said Friday there will not be a deal to end the U.S.-Iran war without an “unconditional surrender” by Iran. Huffines says he would not change voucher program Former state Sen. Don Huffines, who handily beat Gov. Greg Abbott’s handpicked candidate for state comptroller in the GOP primary, said he does not intend to change the state’s $1 billion voucher program if he wins election in November. Huffines, who challenged Abbott for the governorship in 2022, praised the current handling of the program, according to the Houston Chronicle. “We’re not here to be disruptive,” Huffines said. “I don’t see a big disruption in the process that’s already started, as long as it’s going smoothly and being run effectively and managed.” Huffines will face State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D- Austin, in the fall. The comptroller’s office has been tasked with overseeing the voucher program, which is in its first year. Gonzales ends reelection bid after admitting affair U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, withdrew from his re-election race after admitting to an extramarital affair with an aide who later died by suicide, The News reported. “After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” Gonzales said in a statement posted on social media. The House Ethics Committee announced a probe into his conduct after the primary ended. Gonzales finished second to challenger Brandon Herrera in the Republican primary for the state’s 23rd congressional district, but the race was headed to a runoff until Gonzales withdrew. Herrera will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout, an attorney, in the general election. SpaceX beach closure fight reaches Texas Supreme Court The Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in a fight over whether counties can temporarily close a beach for a space flight, The Tribune reported. Rio Grande Valley environmentalists and indigenous groups have sued over a 2013 law that allows some counties to close a beach. The dispute primarily concerns SpaceX, which operates a launch site near Boca Chica Beach in Cameron County. The Federal Aviation Administration has authorized the company to launch rockets up to 25 times a year, prompting the closure of roughly eight miles of beach adjacent to the launch pad. Attorneys representing the plaintiffs argued the Open Beaches Amendment to the state constitution grants the public an unrestricted right to use public beaches. The state contended that the amendment does not guarantee unlimited, unfettered access. “It is a more limited right,” said Beth Klusmann, deputy solicitor general for the Texas Attorney General’s Office. “The question, of course, then is what are those limits.” Drunk driving crashes spike in spring Spring break is upon us, and the Texas Department of Transportation is supporting community efforts across the state to stop impaired driving. The state last year saw a spike of drunk driving crashes in March, more than any other month. There were 700 DUI-alcohol related traffic crashes in the state during the 2025 spring break period, leading to 36 fatalities and 63 serious injuries. During that time, 51% of all alcohol-related crashes in Texas involved young drivers aged 17–30. Drivers are urged to never drive after consuming any amount of alcohol or drugs and to arrange for a sober ride beforehand.
Kelley Mathews
What the True Faithful Look Like
AI videos can fake out the best of us at times. Counterfeit dollars have snuck past trained observers. Stunt actors and body doubles behave as if they are the real actors we’ve come to watch in a movie. Deception surrounds us in both light and heavy ways. Have you ever met a “fake” Christian? Their integrity is questionable, their attitudes disdainful, and their hearts are hardened. But they masquerade as followers of Jesus, talking the talk, singing the songs, going to church, praying, and joining in on all the other outward “Christian” behaviors. Unless you know their hearts, they look so much like true believers that it’s difficult to judge if they are sincere. Even more problematic, sometimes they don’t know they’re fakers—they think they are the real deal, too. Some of you may recall from an earlier column that I’ve been working through the Bible on a 90-day plan. This week I was reading in the Gospel of John. In 8:21–32, the Jewish people want him to plainly tell them who he is. He finally tells them that he does only what the Father who sent him wants him to. “For I always do what pleases him,” he concludes (v 29). Then John comments, “Then many who heard him say these things believed in him. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (v 30–32). They protested that they were children of Abraham, not slaves, and what did he mean anyway about being free? In other words, they claimed they had God’s approval, membership in his family, because of their lineage. But Jesus corrected them: “No, for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example” (v 39). Ouch. Jesus rebuked people who felt entitled to certain privileges because they belonged to a certain family. They were born into a community, a culture, a religious tradition. But heritage alone isn’t enough for Jesus. To be a “child” of someone meant more than mere biological connection. It meant following in their spirit, becoming like them in action and attitude. When his mother and brothers would visit him as he taught, he would tell those listening, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it” (Luke 8:21). Jesus expects that his true followers will follow his example. It’s not enough to have prayed a prayer or grown up in church. True disciples act like Jesus. We love our enemies. We pray for those who hurt us. We show compassion to the hurting. We obey his commands. We treat others as we wish to be treated. We are in the middle of Lent, a wonderful season for reflection: Consider the authenticity of your faith in Christ. What evidence do others see that proves your faith is real?
A look back in Hardin County history
Every wonder what bread prices were 50 years ago? How about that track meet you once ran? Each week ew take a look back to the way things once were.
Golden Arches’ Big Arch
I am very particular about my burgers. The best burger in Texas comes out of my own kitchen. The second best comes from a small Black-owned burger shop just south of Aldine called Burns Burger Shack. But the new Big Arch from McDonald’s may have worked its way into contention for third place, and that’s not praise I give lightly. The biggest problem with oversized burgers is what I call “bite math.” Aesthetically, people love a towering burger, the Scooby-Doo-style stacker that looks impressive in a photo but requires you to unhinge your jaw to eat it. That is, objectively, a poor way to construct a burger. A great burger bite should deliver everything at once: meat, bread, sauce, and toppings in the proper ratio. When a burger gets too tall, that balance collapses. You end up with bites that are all bun, bites that are all meat, and bites that are mostly lettuce sliding out the back. It’s messy, inconsistent and ultimately disappointing. The Big Arch solves this problem by going wide instead of tall. That extra width spreads the ingredients out, allowing for a much more even distribution of meat, bread and condiments. Each bite lands closer to the ideal burger ratio. The crispy onions and Big Arch sauce complement the greasy richness of the quarter-pounder patties, creating something that feels surprisingly well-engineered for a fast-food item. And in today’s fast-food economy, that engineering matters. When meal deals at major chains are creeping toward the same price range as sit-down spots like Chili’s, a fast-food burger can’t just be passable anymore. It has to hit a home run. The Big Arch is a big swing, but even on its worst day it’s still a solid base hit. I judge burgers on what I call the “nap scale.” It’s a simple metric: how badly do I need a nap after finishing one? As I write this, having just finished a Big Arch, I’m struggling to keep my eyes open at the keyboard. By that measure, the clown may still wear the crown in fast food. Think you know a better burger? Email me and I’ll put it to the test; dylan@silsbee-bee.com.
