Columns/Opinions

Voters back property tax amendments

Voters back property tax amendments

Voters back property tax amendments

Texas voters overwhelmingly approved two proposed amendments on Saturday that will provide property tax relief to homeowners. According to the Austin American-Statesman, nearly 85% of voters supported Proposition 2, which raises the homestead exemption from $25,000 to $40,000 starting this year.
Looking Back 5/8/1997

Looking Back 5/8/1997

Looking Back 5/8/1997

Pictured Top: Eighteen-year old Jennifer Carter of Vidor, left, was chosen as Sabine County Rodeo Queen this past weekend at the Sabine County Rodeo.
Ask Rusty – Can a Widower Get Full Survivor Benefits Early?

Ask Rusty – Can a Widower Get Full Survivor Benefits Early?

Ask Rusty – Can a Widower Get Full Survivor Benefits Early?

Dear Rusty: My wife passed from COVIDrelated heart disease in 2020, just short of her 65th birthday. I will be 66 in May 2023. Do I have any recourse for a part of her benefit? Online at ssa.gov it says I can retire 4 months early due to her passing. Is that true? I’m confused on these issues.
Post invests fortune in West Texas Utopia

Post invests fortune in West Texas Utopia

Post invests fortune in West Texas Utopia

Months of costly construction went down the drain on May 14, 1907, when C.W. Post picked out a new place for his West Texas dream town and ordered the original site abandoned. The hired hands shrugged their shoulders.
Texas ranked #1 for business 18 years in a row

Texas ranked #1 for business 18 years in a row

Texas ranked #1 for business 18 years in a row

Texas challenged by nursing, trucker shortage Texas has the fourthlowest nurse-to-population ratio in the country, with only 9.25 nurses per 1,000 residents, according to a recent report by the comptroller’s office.
Ask Rusty - I’m Working; Why Hasn’t My Social Security Benefit Increased?

Ask Rusty - I’m Working; Why Hasn’t My Social Security Benefit Increased?

Ask Rusty - I’m Working; Why Hasn’t My Social Security Benefit Increased?

Dear Rusty: I will be 72 in July. I started taking my Social Security at age 64 after a job loss and other items that came up. So, my plan to wait past 68 evaporated, but I have continued to work since that time at a considerably smaller amount.

He swallowed a what?

Boy, how lucky can a guy get. Tom Jozsi of Kenosha, WI swallowed a drill bit that wound up in his lung and survived, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. Thank goodness it was a tiny drill bit that his dentist was using in preparation for a filling.
Early voting underway

Early voting underway

Early voting underway for May 7 election

Early voting began Monday for local elections and two proposed constitutional amendments relating to property tax reductions. Early voting continues through Tuesday, May 3, with election day on Saturday, May 7.