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in Texas Monthly
by
Katy Vine, May 2008
Sex education is a prickly subject for families, schools and communities alike -- especially in Texas, which has more teenage births than any state despite spending $1 billion a year on sex ed. Ordinarily, the issue of what kids learn about sex in school (or don't) is a local one, decided by school boards. But in Texas, statewide conservative politics and morality also weigh in heavily, along with the health-textbook buying power of the second-most populous state. Vine provides a fact-filled look at the history of sexual education and the long arm of red-state social politics.
Posted 3:34, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Tracy Gamble
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
S.C. Gwynne, May 2008
In this interesting piece, Gwynne describes a trip with Texas land commissioner Jerry Patterson, whose personality is perfectly suited to the personal airplane he pilots: adaptable, yet highly idiosyncratic. Throughout his 12 years in public office, Patterson has garnered a reputation for his unusual ideas; as a state senator from 1992 to 1998, he authored legislation allowing Texans to carry concealed weapons and ride motorcycles without helmets. In addition to exploring the truly unique politician, Gwynne chronicles the controversy Patterson created around the Christmas Mountains by announcing his intentions to sell the conservationist-donated tract of land.
Posted 11:01, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Michael Hall, May 2008
Musicians, politicians, oddball luminaries (like Kinky Friedman), and old friends paint a portrait of Willie Nelson in this Texas-sized collection of memories and praise. Organized into sections about "The Nashville Years" and "The Women," the blurbs vary in quality from the truly interesting to the outright boring. This tidbit from President Jimmy Carter is par for the course: "I remember when I was nominated to be president, Willie sang 'The Star-Spangled Banner' and missed a few words. In 'The Star-Spangled Banner'!" Any casual Nelson fan with time to kill will enjoy this parade of anecdotes, even if it reads like a premature eulogy.
Posted 10:45, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Ryan Grim
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Paul Burka, May 2008
After unprecedented turnout in the Texas Democratic primaries in March, the state that was supposed to be reddest of them all is at least softening to purple. Burka, who equates finding out that Democrats exist in Texas with discovering life on Mars, cites the fact that demographic shifts and a hotly contested Democratic race played a large part in the primary, where Democrats outvoted Republicans nearly two to one. More than a little flustered by the trend, Burka obstinately refuses to acknowledge indications that his state may be voting blue for the first time in 40 years, adding a touch of humor to the trend piece.
Posted 10:10, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Gallaway
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Evan Smith, May 2008
Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings speaks about the current state of American schools, noting that while the student achievement gap is closing around the nation, much work still needs to be done, pointing to problems such as America's high dropout rate. Spellings also discusses the difficulty in getting the best teachers in the "most challenged educational setting." When she recommends awarding teachers for tougher work, we assume she's talking about low-income, disadvantaged schools, but the interview is filled with such hampering, vague phrases.
Posted 9:35, 2 May 2008
This abstract was written by
Brian Willett
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Karen Olsson, April 2008
Raising money to research something you cannot definitively describe or show a practical application for can be tricky, but Gary Hill and Karl Gebhardt are trying to do just that with dark energy. Trying to raise $34 million to renovate University of Texas' Hobby-Eberly telescope, the pair hope to better understand the 96 percent of the universe that cannot be seen. By Hill's admission, dark energy "may not be dark and it may not be energy," but the two refuse to be pessimistic. Olsson aptly navigates the topic's various related theories and sticking points.
Posted 3:09, 31 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Gallaway
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Evan Smith, April 2008
In this interview, Dallas Mavericks coach Avery Johnson portrays himself as a more general leader than just his specific NBA duties. The conversation begins with a discussion of his self-help book, Aspire Higher, and transitions into the role of the coach as a leader, how his college coach groomed him for coaching, and lessons he's learned from NBA contemporaries. Smith maintains a good flow to the interview, tying together Johnson's perspective on a variety of issues with the common theme of leadership.
Posted 5:04, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Chris Umphlett
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Jesse Bogan, April 2008
Border Patrol agent Frank Lugo's words are the only evidence for the case of the killing of his partner, Jose Gamez Jr. Unfortunately, Lugo's recounting of the incident varies with each telling. Without a witness, the case was closed in 1988, ten years after the murder, as the FBI had run out of leads. Bogan recaptures the story with a wealth of details, talking to relatives and colleagues and going through old records. However, just as the case has no conclusion, neither does this story, though it's still an interesting profile of Lugo and his futile attempt to posit himself as the victim.
Posted 4:57, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Sonya Svoboda
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Jan Reid, April 2008
During a short excursion to Mexico City, Reid was pulled from a taxi, shot, and left for dead by a group of thieves. He soon learned that the bullet had damaged his spine and would cause him complications and possible paralysis. But in this narrative he relates his long recovery, which he describes fondly as a time spent among the people who have meant the most to him, his largest regret being the loss of his most cherished cane, a gift from a longtime friend. Though the focus shifts several times, somewhat awkwardly, Reid writes some beautiful descriptions of his recovery, particularly memories of his old cane.
Posted 2:18, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Jonathan Gallaway
and edited by Brijit.
in Texas Monthly
by
Pamela Colloff, April 2008
On the 15th anniversary of the ATF raid on the Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas, Colloff assembles a series of interviews from a wide range of eyewitnesses from both sides of the infamous event. Government eyewitnesses tell Colloff that they regret their actions, though they contend that the Branch Davidians purposely triggered the tragedy as a self-imposed Armageddon. On the Davidian side, those involved proclaim their innocence and accuse trigger-happy agents of launching the assault on the compound. While the piece could answer more of the lingering questions surrounding the raid, Colloff's article still serves as a sober, illustrative warning to both government and extremists.
Posted 12:11, 28 March 2008
This abstract was written by
Elliot Feldman
and edited by Brijit.