Austin’s right-hand man a big headache

On Dec. 30, 1847, eleven years after the death of Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas’ right-hand man opened the first real bank in independent Texas. Samuel May Williams came from a distinguished Rhode Island clan that took root in New England a century before his birth in 1795.

State’s workforce surpasses pre-pandemic high

The Texas labor market exceeded the previous prepandemic high in February 2020 by hitting just under 13 million nonagricultural jobs in November, the Texas Workforce Commission reported last Friday. The adjusted jobless rate was 5.2% last month, down slightly from the previous month.

Social Security Matters

Ask Rusty – I Have VA Coverage; Should I Get Medicare Part B? Dear Rusty: I am a 74 year old veteran enrolled with the VA. I have never had Medicare Part B. Should I? My only source of income is Social Security.

Handicap did not hold back “Three-Legged Willie”

On Dec. 27, 1859, Texans laid to rest “Three-Legged Willie,” one of the most colorful and unforgettable figures of the revolutionary period. Robert McAlpin Williamson enjoyed perfect health until the age of 15, when he contracted something people in those days called the “white swelling.

Vogel installed as Worshipful Grand Master of Texas in Waco

5 Years Ago December 7, 2016: Vidor saw the biggest decrease in the funds collected by local retailers and returned to the city coffers by the State Comptroller’s office each month. The City of Pine Forest City Council voted to accept a U.S.

Drier, warmer weather in November Blame it on La Niña

By the end of November, nearly half the state was experiencing drought conditions, up 25 percentage points from the end of October, according to Dr. Mark Wentzel, a hydrologist with the Texas Water Development Board.

Looking Back 12/15/2016

Baptist Hospital Orange will close its emergency room on Thursday, January 12, 2017. The hospital group says that the emergency room doctors group chose not to renew its contract with the Orange campus. Archive Photo

Site preparation gets underway for new Woods Supermarket on North Main

5 Years ago December 7, 2016: Fine automobiles line up in the Capital One Bank parking lot for the annual Vidor Chamber of Commerce Classic Christmas Cruise. On Nov. 30th, Bill Stephenson passed from this life to join his shipmates that fought at Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941.

State lowers price cap for power providers

The state’s Public Utility Commission last week lowered the maximum allowable wholesale price for electricity by almost half, from $9,000 per megawatt hour to $5,000.

Looking Back 12/5/2001

Several owners of classic cars brought them up to Hibernia Bank's parking lot on Saturday, getting ready for the Classic Christmas Cruise this Saturday evening. In the cruise these and numerous other vehicles will begin lining up at 4 p.m.