Then again, I could be wrong

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

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

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

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

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

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—

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

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