It has been no summer vacation for Phillips Publishing, obviously the entity responsible for producing the Robertson County News and The Silsbee Bee. We have been flooded with expansion work for the company since the summer began. Most people don’t understand the amount of work we actually produce in this office. You see the work done for your newspaper, but you would have to multiply that by two and very soon by three to get a full grasp of the amount of news content, photos

The killing of Charlie Kirk should be a focal point of national attention, just as other high-profile cases have been. While major incidents often dominate media cycles for weeks or months, this case seems to be receiving surprisingly little coverage. It’s critical that a case with such profound implications not be overlooked in the public discourse. The preliminary hearing, which concluded after five days, was pivotal in determining whether the accused shooter would be bound

Accused of killing Charlie Kirk, Tyler Robinson sits in the courtroom listening to the evidence against him. Without riots, without destruction, without property loss, and without firebombs—or any damage of that kind—the preliminary hearings in the Charlie Kirk assassination case began. The proceedings aim to determine whether the prosecution’s evidence is sufficient to move the case forward to trial and whether the death penalty remains a potential consideration. On the firs

16-Years Old, Cameron Phillips was adopted by Dennis Phillips from HOPE Animal Shelter in Hearne, Texas and lived a full life under the treatment of Dr. Jason Brinlee. For pet lovers, dog and cat lovers alike, losing a lifelong companion can be one of the most difficult and deeply emotional experiences of life. Recently, I faced this myself when I lost my beloved black Labrador Retriever, Cameron, who had been by my side for 16 years. Adopted from Hope Animal Shelter in Hearn

Over the weekend, Robertson County faced what dispatchers ultimately determined was a swatting call. Around 6:30 p.m., reports came in of a supposed emergency in a rural area. The initial response was swift, but as more information became available, it became clear the incident appeared to be a malicious false alarm. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Saturday was already an extremely busy night for law enforcement, with a large gathering in Calvert and multiple legitimate

For over 25 years, on and off, I’ve found myself attending Texas Press Association conferences, missing a few here and there, as life gets busy. But, by and large, I’ve attended many of these gatherings over the years. Having just returned from the 2026 Texas Press Association conference in Dallas, I wanted to share a few insights and takeaways with my readers. At this year’s conference, Mike Hodges, our long-serving executive director, announced his retirement, though he hum

“Nobody reads a newspaper anymore.” I hear that statement all the time. But then something interesting happens every year when our community newspapers launch the “Best of the Best” ballot. The only place to get it is inside the printed newspaper. It is not online, cannot be downloaded, and isn’t on social media. Yet every year we receive over 3,000 ballots hand-filled and delivered to our office. Sure, some ballots come from businesses campaigning to win their categories, bu

AUSTIN — The Texas Department of State Health Services has launched a $13 million statewide initiative aimed at expanding access to low-cost spay and neuter services for dogs and cats, marking one of the most significant coordinated efforts in recent years to address pet overpopulation across the state. The program, funded by the Texas Legislature, is structured as a two-year initiative designed to increase the availability of high-volume, low-cost sterilization services in b

PACK DECK — Any typical night at The Lodge Card Room in Round Rock, Texas. Texas has dozens of poker rooms as the game escalated in popularity when amateur Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker in 2003, proving anyone could hit the big time winning 2.5 million setting off the Poker boom that rages on today. Poker News | Robertson County News ROUND ROCK — A recent raid on The Lodge Card Club, one of the largest poker clubs in Texas, has ignited a renewed debate about

For months now, I’ve held off on writing this. But sometimes the community deserves to know what’s happening behind the scenes—especially when that community relies on accountability. Crossroads Nursing Home owes the newspaper $1,195 for advertising placed in 2025. Since July of that year, we have attempted to collect on the outstanding bill. While the amount itself is not enormous, the situation raises larger concerns. To be clear, this is not personal. I am not writing this

The main flow of oil for the middle east is now in the middle of a war zone. The modern conflict between the United States and Iran did not begin with missiles or airstrikes. It began with mistrust. In 1953, the CIA backed the overthrow of Iran’s elected prime minister, reinstalling the Shah and cementing decades of resentment among many Iranians. That resentment boiled over in 1979 during the Islamic Revolution. The U.S. Embassy hostage crisis severed diplomatic ties, and re

Mexican cartel leader killed by Mexican Military Is this the real war on drugs? It is no secret that Mexico and parts of South America remain primary sources of illegal narcotics flowing into the United States. In recent months, President Donald Trump has framed U.S. policy not as a traditional war on drugs but as a direct campaign against the cartels themselves. That shift in focus appears to have produced a dramatic and unprecedented result: Mexican forces struck at the ver

Texas Press Association Every year, the Texas Press Association holds its annual Better Newspaper Contest—a long-standing industry tradition that many community newspapers take seriously. For some, it’s about recognition. For others, it’s validation. For me, it’s about something deeper. I spent this weekend combing through everything Robertson and Hardin County printed in 2025. It took the better part of two days, and for good reason: if you’re going to submit work to be judg

Its a horse, it’s a bird... it’s American presented as only Budweiser can. From singing toilet seats and prostate cancer screenings to a man made of Pringles and a flying horse (sort of), this year’s Super Bowl commercials both hit and missed the intended spot. You got it — it’s time for my annual Super Bowl commercial review, complete with my top picks of the year and a few that should’ve stayed on the cutting-room floor. A little history first. I’ve been writing this column

------------------------ Still, deadlines are a necessary evil in the newspaper business, right up there with ink-stained hands, coffee that’s been reheated three times, and explaining—again—that we do not control the mail. With that said, the newspaper’s deadlines are returning to their original footing, and for once, the change actually makes sense. The reason is simple: the newspaper now has the opportunity to once again be a Wednesday publication. If you’ve been around ne

I went rolling through the internet the other night. I do that sometimes, and I’m sure most of us have fallen down an internet rabbit hole at one time or another. This particular rabbit hole landed me on a local Buy, Sell and Trade Facebook page that represented itself as Robertson County. That caught my attention. My son Roy uses these pages all the time. I’ve overheard him complain more than once about how hard it is to tell what’s actually local and what’s coming from outs

2026 Election Calendar The 2026 election cycle in Texas is not a single day circled on a calendar. It is a long, deliberate process that unfolds over nearly an entire year, governed by firm deadlines that reward preparation and punish inattention. For Texans who want their voices heard, understanding the election calendar is just as important as casting a ballot. The process formally begins on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, when voters become eligible to apply for a ballot by mail u

Trump with senior officials watching the Venezuela operation from Mar-a-Lago. The United States entered 2026 projecting unmistakable power on the global stage, flexing American military muscle in a way not seen in years. While many readers have followed the headlines out of Venezuela, the speed and scope of recent events warrant closer examination. What unfolded in early January was not a diplomatic standoff or a slow-burning proxy conflict, but a direct U.S. military operati

Every year seems to pass a little faster the older I get. The funny thing about that realization is that newspapers force you to confront time head-on, every single week. From the headline banner on page one that shows the issue number and publication date, to the date stamped across every inside page, time is always staring back at me. I change those dates weekly, and every time I do, it gives me a brief moment of pause to reflect on what just passed. As I strip away last we

U.S. forces interdict suspected smuggling vessel — U.S. military personnel board a low-profile vessel in open waters during a counter-narcotics operation as a U.S. Navy ship stands watch in the background, part of expanded maritime enforcement targeting drug trafficking routes. Photo courtesy of U.S. military via ABC News For decades, Americans have heard politicians talk about a “war on drugs.” Most of the time, it meant tougher sentencing, crowded prisons and endless speech