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Almost 100 years ago, a sales manager for a Fort Worth-based flour milling company was put in charge of his company's radio advertising. That salesman, W. Lee "Pappy" O'Daniel, sensed an opportunity – for himself. He created what would become a wildly popular western swing band, first to advertise his firm's biscuit mix, and later to advertise his own political ambitions. O'Daniel would ride this traveling radio show all the way to the Governor's office. Once there, he held on to power by launching an era of censorship and limits on academic freedom, and campaigning on what the Texas State Library and Archives Commission called "crude appeals to anti-communist and anti-civil rights feeling."

Clearly, Texas is no stranger to performative politics. But today, as Texas' population swells and becomes more diverse than ever, the ripple effects are difficult to overstate. Consider just some of the issues Texas is now wrestling with:

•    Censorship of school libraries
•   Immigration policies
•   Parental care for transgender kids

In a few months, Texans will deliver a review at the ballot box. They not only will be choosing from competing visions of Texas' future, but in important ways, the future of the country as whole. That saying "as Texas goes..." has seldom felt as significant as it does in this moment.

What do you think? Reach out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or email and let us know.

- David Brown

Greg Abbott says he’ll send migrants to Washington D.C.

The governor, who is at odds with the Biden administration over the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions on asylum seekers entering the U.S., announced that migrants will be taken to the nation’s capitol by bus.

Texas has a feral hog problem. Hunting them makes it worse.

Although there’s a thriving hog hunting industry in Texas, other states have banned hunting them altogether. Because if you just shoot one, the rest scatter.

A new oral history project preserves San Antonio’s pioneering West Side Sound

During the 1950s and 60s, San Antonio’s West Side was the site of a unique musical phenomenon. Teens from the mostly Latino neighborhood started making music with the soul of Motown acts – but with Texan accents.

Why the hype about hemp hasn’t translated into profits for Texas growers

Hemp became a legal crop in Texas more than two years ago, and hopes were high. But now a Texas A&M expert says overproduction of hemp has led to a 90% drop in prices.

O’Rourke blasts Abbott’s border inspections as threat to economy after truckers block ports (The Texas Newsroom)
Lina Hidalgo staffers will stay on the job after felony charges connected to an $11 million COVID-19 contract (Houston Public Media)
Austin's medics ask the city for raises, citing 'unbearably difficult and dangerous' work conditions (KUT Austin)
Bexar County declares disaster due to fire-prone conditions (Texas Public Radio)

The Talk of Texas is running down the state’s entire 254 counties – Anderson to Zavala – with points of interest pulled from the Texas Standard archives.

Is there a can't-miss attraction in your area? Drop us a line and let us know.

A map of Texas counties highlighting Andrews, at the base of the Panhandle and next to New Mexico

Angelina County
Founded: 1846
County seat: Lufkin
Population: 86,395
Plugging in: Nestled in deep East Texas, the growth of Angelina County was tied to the railroad. Nowadays, a different type of connectivity is driving growth. When we spoke to Lufkin state Rep. Trent Ashby in 2020, he was leading the push for a statewide plan for broadband internet access. The 87th Texas Legislature approved Rep. Ashby’s plan, leading to the creation of the Texas Broadband Development Office .
Play ball: Interested in catching some sports? The Lufkin Little League All-stars, aka the “Thundering 13,” clenched the U.S. championship and made it to the World Series in 2017, coming in second to Tokyo. Lufkin’s 2018 Junior League team (the “Fierce 14") featured many of the same players and made the World Series as well.
One last thing: Fancy something sweet? Lufkin’s Atkinson Candy Company has churned out Chick-O-Sticks for decades. (Just don’t go poking around the factory at night.)