Then again, I could be wrong
Sometimes, I let my keyboard get out of control
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
Dennis Phillips
7 days ago4 min read


The Calendar That Decides Texas
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
Dennis Phillips
Jan 153 min read


When America Decides to Act
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
Dennis Phillips
Jan 84 min read
Happy New Year!
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
Dennis Phillips
Jan 13 min read


A Real War on Drugs
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
Dennis Phillips
Dec 24, 20253 min read


All in the Family
Actor, Producer and Director, Rob Reiner I remember clear as a bell watching All in the Family with my parents in the 1970s. My father even named the family dog Meathead, after the nickname Archie Bunker constantly hurled at Michael Stivic, the liberal son-in-law played by Rob Reiner. It was meant as an insult, shorthand for someone Archie believed was dead from the neck up. What made the joke work, of course, was that Michael was anything but stupid. He was educated, articul
Dennis Phillips
Dec 17, 20253 min read


State of Texas issues major statement
Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott I realize that my playing devil’s advocate on the recent announcement that the State of Texas has partnered with Turning Point USA to allow schools to create clubs may offend some of my readers. I apologize, and perhaps I’m not so much playing devil’s advocate as I am issuing a bit of a warning. First, some background: Texas has launched a partnership with Turning Point USA to establish chapters of the conservative organization on every high school cam
Dennis Phillips
Dec 11, 20253 min read
That Did Not Take Long
My wife asked me, when I first considered publishing the registered sex offender list from the Texas Department of Public Safety, whether I truly thought it was a good idea. She has a way of making me look at issues from every angle, which usually means I take longer to make decisions — something that often keeps me from reacting too quickly. She said, “You are going to create a controversy with this,” and I assured her she was correct. This would create controversy — but for
Dennis Phillips
Dec 4, 20253 min read


The Penny just ran out of luck
Collector's could see an increase in value. The United States has officially ended production of the penny, closing more than 230 years of circulation for the one-cent coin that once played a central role in daily commerce but has now become a costly and impractical relic. The final pennies were struck Wednesday at the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, bringing to an end a denomination introduced in 1793. Once capable of purchasing basic goods such as a biscuit or piece of candy, th
Dennis Phillips
Nov 27, 20252 min read
Publishing the Registered Sex Offenders
About six weeks ago, I proposed adding a new feature to this newspaper: a clear, accessible listing of registered sex offenders living in and around Robertson County. The idea was simple, but important. Yes, most people can go online to the Texas Department of Public Safety website and search the statewide registry. But the reality is that many in our community either do not know how, do not have the access, or never think to check. Newspapers—especially community newspapers—
Dennis Phillips
Nov 20, 20253 min read


I Was Once Accused...
As a local newspaper publisher, I’ve been accused by entire political parties and by individual candidates. I’ve been told I promote one person more than another, or that I’m targeting someone unfairly. It’s a good thing I’ve developed a thick skin over the years—and an even stronger sense of forgiveness—because these accusations come with the territory of running a community paper. I’m also an American. That means I have the same rights as every other American citizen to exp
Dennis Phillips
Nov 7, 20253 min read


Gen Xers Are a Tough Bunch of Cookies
With almost 175k Subscribers on YouTube, The Real Slim Sherri is a YouTube streamer that is now on tour that has been named the “Gen X Takeover.” Sherri has taken the Gen X rhetoric to a new stage, a live stage as a comedian and has audiences rolling in the isles. I do wonder if she has a garden hose on stage or uses bottled water. Promo Photo | Robertson County News I’m part of Generation X, and if you spend any time on social media, you know exactly what that means. Our gre
Dennis Phillips
Oct 20, 20253 min read


What Others Do, I Can Do Too
Texas registered sex offender, Terrance Kennard Freeman, 31 of Hearne, smiling for the TxDPS cameras as he complies to sex offender...
Dennis Phillips
Oct 7, 20252 min read


Austin Remembers as Yogurt Shop Case Resolves
From 1991, a photo of the I Can’t Believe it’s YOGURT! building as it sat the morning after fire fighters cleared the scene. Inside the...
Dennis Phillips
Oct 2, 20253 min read


From Cronkite to Clickbait: What the Kirk Assassination Reveals About America's Media Divide
Political activist Charlie Kirk. "Assassination is the premeditated murder of a person, often a public figure like a political leader,...
Dennis Phillips
Sep 23, 20255 min read


It’s a Day You Remember Forever; September 11, 2001
A sight that shook Americans to the very core. The South Tower of the World Trade Center just after 8:00 a.m. on September 11, 2001 is...
Dennis Phillips
Sep 9, 20253 min read
The Spirit of Farm Aid: A Celebration of Music and Agriculture
A Memorable August Day in Kansas City It was the kind of August day that Kansas City remembers for years—a summer sun dropping over the...
Dennis Phillips
Aug 13, 20253 min read


A Tragic Anniversary: Remembering the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis
On July 30, 1945, in the waning days of World War II, the USS Indianapolis met a tragic fate in the Philippine Sea—one of the worst naval...
Dennis Phillips
Aug 2, 20253 min read
Texas Lawmakers Face 30-Day Agenda: Key Issues for 2025
State lawmakers have just 30 days to address 18 agenda items in hopes of aligning with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's priorities. Abbott has...
Dennis Phillips
Jul 22, 20253 min read
Embracing AI with Accountability in Community Journalism
Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic concept—it is a present-day tool, already embedded in the workflows of modern...
Dennis Phillips
Jul 17, 20253 min read










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