Opinion

“ I ain’t old, but I’ve been around a long time. Long enough to know that age is just a state of mind.” — Song lyrics by Delbert McClinton “Ask Leon, he probably knew him.” That insinuation by Texas Press Association Executive Director, Mike Hodges was a humorous jab suggesting that I had been around the newspaper industry for a long time.

Imagine you are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you making you spill your coffee. Why did you spill the coffee? “Because someone bumped into me.” Wrong answer.

Editor’s note: We’re looking for a variety of young voices to contribute to “Hits Different.” If you’d like to write a commentary, send it to Area Editor Jason Hennington at jason.hennington@granitemediapartners. com.

The conflict pitting liberals against conservatives is often blatant, and usually leads to clashes between people over different values and beliefs. I’ve seen it happen between friends as well as people who are not fond of each other.

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Dr. Ron Braley.

“Weep no more my lady, Oh, weep no more today. We will sing one song, For My Old Kentucky Home, For My Old Kentucky Home, far away.” — “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Collins Foster, known as “the father of American music.” May 6 is Derby Day.

The Texas Senate unanimously approved a $308 billion twoyear budget last week, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The next step is to reconcile that budget with one passed earlier by the Texas House.

Make sure if you say yes to others, you are not saying no to yourself. Are you making sure everyone around you is okay? But what about you? Checking in with yourself is essential for maintaining your emotional and mental wellbeing, and helps develop self-reflection and self-awareness.

Editor’s note: We’re looking for a variety of young voices to contribute to “Hits Different.” If you’d like to write a commentary, send it to Area Editor Jason Hennington at jason.hennington@ granitemediapartners.com.

“I tried to raise my children with patience, respect and good manners, but they still ended up being like me.” — Author unknown, but the concept understood. Raising children is not for the faint of heart.

This week’s good news was submitted by Denise Diaz. She is hoping the person who made her day will read this.

Editor’s note: We’re looking for a variety of young voices to contribute to “Hits Different.” If you’d like to write a commentary, send it to Area Editor Jason Hennington at jason.hennington@ granitemediapartners. com.

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.

“You put your left foot in, you put your right foot in, you let your left foot out, and you jerk the car about.” — The Hokey Pokey stick shift driving school song Renewed my driver’s license a few weeks ago. Quite a few changes since I got a license to drive.

The Texas House approved a $302 billion budget last week that included an amendment prohibiting the use of state money on private school tuition — a major setback to Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to establish a school voucher system. The Austin American-Statesman reported that more than 20 Republicans joined nearly all House Democrats to pass the amendment, while 11 lawmakers voted present.