Round Rock

Sex Ed the Texas Way

Dallas wants to close the book on abstinence-only education. Texas keeps getting in the way.

John Cornyn Seeks to Fend Off Latest Threat to Texas Economy: Salamanders

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Texas politicians, still on a high from their glorious victory over the evil, job-killing dunes sagebrush lizard, turned their attention to similarly insidious threats to our economic well-being. This time, the threat comes from four species of salamand ... More >>

Sculptor Who Will Make Statue of Rangers Fans Talks About the "Big Responsibility"

​In mid-August, the Texas Rangers said that come Opening Day 2012 the team hoped to have near the Home Plate Gate of the Ballpark in Arlington a statue of Shannon Stone and 6-year-old son Cooper as a tribute to the 39-year-old Brownwood firefighter killed at the Ballpark on July 7. Said Nolan Ryan ... More >>

Slow and Steady 'Round the Texas Motor Speedway at the Winston Solar Car Challenge

Photos by Rachel Parker, with a slide show here​Under the baking sky at the Texas Motor Speedway, a small, rotund man adjusted his straw hat and tightened his grip on a green flag nearly half as tall as he was. "Houston Lady Racers, you've got 30 seconds," he said to the high-school aged girls sur ... More >>

Rangers Building Momentum For Second Half, and the Future

​The Rangers start their post-break schedule tonight in Seattle. Despite a seven-game winning streak, baseball's sixth-best record and a one-game lead in the AL West, president Nolan Ryan sounds none too satisfied. "It concerns me," Ryan told ESPN when asked to assess the state of the Ranger ... More >>

For the First Time in a Long Time, We'll Recognize the Texas Rangers

Together again​A day short of six weeks after breaking his arm, Josh Hamilton is back. So is Nelson Cruz. And with them, will the Rangers welcome the return of their offense? After a weekend in Philly in which they were outscored only 5-4 over 27 innings of, let's face it, boring base ... More >>

Leonys Martin's Long Ride to Center

The Rangers' newest prospect fled communism in Cuba for center field in Frisco. He won't be there for long.

With Josh Hamilton and Cliff Lee Looming, the Rangers are Somehow Surviving

​Adrian Beltre got the big hit. Ian Kinsler made the defensive play. And, in a first, Mark Lowe salvaged what Neftali Feliz ruined. The Rangers beat the Royals in extras last night and -- pending a weekend visit through Cliff Lee and the formidable Phillies' pitching staff -- might avoid ... More >>

Josh Hamilton Breaks His Arm: My Top 10 Observer-ations

Uh-oh.​10. With Josh Hamilton it's always when, not if. And now you know why a lot of us were cringing and complaining when we saw him sliding on the rain-delay tarp in Baltimore last Friday night. He's one of the best players in baseball, but also one of the most injury-prone. 9. And do I ... More >>

Texas Rangers Set Opening Day Pitching Staff and Who the Heck is Mason Tobin?

Don't laugh, we'll actually see this jersey on the mound for the Rangers this season​A year ago today we were dissecting the depth of a Texas Rangers' pitching staff anchored by No. 1 and 2 starters named Scott Feldman and Rich Harden. Hopefully that perspective will soften the blow of ... More >>

Crushing Grain and Slasher Blend Violence And Dark Comedy With Mixed Results

Poster of the Week: Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr. and Lou Barlow And The Missingmen At The Granada Theater Thursday

​Round Rock artist Todd Slater designed this week's featured poster, which promotes tonight's bill of Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr. and Lou Barlow and the Missingmen at The Granada. Look closely and you'll see that the ants crawling all over the woman's face; the design was inspired by the lyric to ... More >>

American Baseball, the European Way

​Even if European soccer owner Tom Hicks convinced Major League Baseball to inject the same screwy tables that govern soccer into America's pasttime your Texas Rangers wouldn't be a playoff team. But, alas, they wouldn't be relegated, either. If baseball were run according to European soccer ... More >>

Yeah, But What If Baseball Went To The European Football Table?

I know the Texas Rangers swept the previously mighty Boston Red Sox and we're all atwitter about the American League West division race heading into August ... September ... maybe even October? But what if baseball were governed according to, say, European football standards? You know, the top ... More >>

Dallas-Fort Worth: A Good, Strong Metro

Brookings InstitutionLast night the Brookings Institution released a study tracking recession and recovery in the 100 biggest metro areas in the U.S., and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington ranks as one of the so-called "strongest 20 metros." Indeed, Texas takes several of the top spots: Austin-Round Rock, ... More >>

Dude Food: SXSW Edition

Patrick MichelsRoppolo's Red River "location" did big business at SXSW.I spent much of the last week in Austin for SXSW, so rather than hipping you guys to some local jewel this week, I've decided to give a play-by-play commentary of how I vittled down in the Live Music Capitol of the World.Comprehe ... More >>

Stay Hungry, Live Longer: the Science Behind the Calorie Restriction Diet

An SMU biologist thinks the secret to the fountain of youth may be found by putting fruit flies on a diet.

Singin' The Blue Plate

They tried to make us work for the details by sending us on repeated trips to KentRathbun.com, which slowly leaked information over the course of a few weeks. Clever. Of course, Robert Wilonsky cracked the case some time ago on Unfair Park, but...But now, Kent Rathbun is spilling lots of informatio ... More >>

Rangers Sign Maddux! Finally Get Pitching Help! Wait … What?

Can Nolan Ryan Save the Texas Rangers? Again?

Dallas is Good for Two Things: Jobs and Cheap Houses. Well, Damn, Ain't That Enough?

Lost Youth

A civil suit alleges prosecutorial misconduct in one child's death, another's incarceration

Best Acting Debut

Joey Steakley, Barbette, Kitchen Dog Theater

Swingers

Barbette soars to greatness with the tragic tale of a trapeze artist

Okra Shock

Gumbo's grub could be addicting

Innocence Lost

Was the case against Lacresha Murray, the youngest Texan ever tried for capital murder, a rush to judgment or a story of justice denied?

Anzu Assumption

Manager musical chairs

Perfect game

When Reid Ryan wanted Round Rock voters to build a stadium for his minor-league baseball team, he turned to the one pitchman no good Texan could refuse -- his dad, Nolan

A bush league of their own

Long before the Texas Rangers, major-league baseball was played in Dallas by a minor-league team called the Dallas Eagles

Joe Bob Briggs

Drive-In Movie Critic of Grapevine, TX