The Dallas Morning News Co.

Will the State Water Plan Funding Get Out of the House? Maybe

Last week, pretty much everybody and their grandmother thought the state water plan was deader than an Elvis Presley-era jumpsuit. Hopes were high when the 83rd legislative session opened in January. Many people who pay attention to this stuff (i.e. people like us who think water rights are intere ... More >>

Texas Wine Blogger Alfonso Cevola Honored at Italian Wine Fair

You could hear a Texas twang at the 47th annual Italian wine trade fair last week in Verona, Italy: Organizers of the behemoth event, Vinitaly, awarded the prestigious Vinitaly 2013 International Prize to Dallas-based Italian wine blogger and journalist Alfonso Cevola, author of On the Wine Trail in ... More >>

Word to the Wise: Don't Hire a Hitman Over the Phone Like Tab Denny Johnson Allegedly Did -- Dude Might Turn Out to be the Sheriff.

Tab Denny Johnson of Burleson was already in jail for allegedly assaulting his wife when, authorities say, he figured he needed to finish the job. Problem was, of course, he was probably going to be behind bars for a while. So he figured he'd ask one of his peers to figure out how to kill his old la ... More >>

Texas A&M Gives Kevin Sumlin A Nice, Big Raise

So how much are an 11-2 record, a Heisman Trophy, a win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, a Cotton Bowl rout of Oklahoma, and a top ten recruiting class worth? Well, if Kevin Sumlin's new contract that he inked earlier this week with Texas A&M is any indicator (and really it's the only indicator) the val ... More >>

The 30 Essential Texas Restaurants: Surprising Shut-Outs

Haven't had a chance to peruse this week's feature yet? Catch up on our list of the 30 essential Texas restaurants and then meet us back here. Synchronize Swatches! There have been plenty of questions asked by readers confounded by how some of their favorite Texas restaurants could have been left o ... More >>

The 30 Essential Texas Restaurants: Nearly Made It (a.k.a. the Dan Marino Restaurants)

If you've read this week's feature -- "Eat Here: The 30 Essential Texas Restaurants to Visit Before You Die" -- then you've no doubt already asked why X, Y or Z restaurant didn't make the list. Maybe you've asked this question angrily to your computer, or rhetorically to a coworker who actually trie ... More >>

R.I.P. Texas Metal God Mike Scaccia

The Texas metal community lost a major creative force over the weekend when Ministry/Rigor Mortis guitarist Mike Scaccia passed away in Ft. Worth. He was 47. Scaccia collapsed onstage at Metroplex metal haunt the Rail Club early Saturday morning, where he was performing as part of a 50th birthday ... More >>

The 30 Best Texas Albums

Ranking the 30 best Texas albums of the past 30 years seemed like an impossible task. We did it anyway.

Dallas Beer Scene: The Common Table Owner Corey Pond Gives Us an Insider's Look at What's Brewing in DFW

It's been quite the year for craft beer in Texas. One of the biggest stories, however, is news that hasn't quite made its way down to Houston. Dallas is currently experiencing a boom in breweries that's as big as, if not bigger than, the expansions Houston and Austin have seen in past years. (See "T ... More >>

Atheism Rising

Those folks across Texas who don't believe in God are getting organized and going public.

Anthony Bourdain, Part 2: Layovers, Twitter, Ruth Bourdain and the Dangers of Boredom

Yesterday, we caught up with Anthony Bourdain -- chef, author, TV host, publisher and recent Texas barbecue convert. We talked about his love affair with Austin (he used the word "quirky" twice, if you're counting) and his disdain for Dallas Morning News critic Leslie Brenner, why restaurants servi ... More >>

This Week In Food Blogs: Burgers, Burgers and More Burgers

29-95: Did you head out to the food truck rally this past Sunday at The Refinery? Andrew Rebman was there snapping shots all day long, in case you missed it. Most food trucks ran out of food -- although a few were able to restock and sell out once again -- as huge crowds clamored for unique eats fro ... More >>

Flaming Young

Ten food-related words you need to stop misspelling

The Texas Chefs Hall of Fame: 1981 and Now

Assistant music editor Craig Hlavaty recently purchased a 1981 edition of The Genuine Texas Handbook, a guide to all things Texan. It's an often-tongue-in-cheek look at the people, places, outfits, songs, foods and more that made someone Texan 31 years ago. Incidentally, the book and I are the same ... More >>

TAPPS Head Edd Burleson's Take On Non-Christian Schools: A Texas Shanda For The Goyim

Edd Burleson is the head of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, and when it comes to discussing recent controversies between TAPPS and non-Christian schools, he brings the crazy like he brings the "d"s to his first name. The Dallas Morning News published an interview with Burle ... More >>

ESPN's Craig James to Run for U.S. Senate In Texas

The next senator from Texas?​Great news if you're a fan of inept political campaigns, or if you just want less awful announcing on your TV. Craig James, ESPN college football analyst who was personally involved in two ugly college football scndals of varying degrees, is running to replace Kay ... More >>

Welcome to the Nabi-hood: Montrose Gets a New Asian Fusion Restaurant

​Another table-turning restaurant is making Montrose its home: Say sayonara, Tomo and irashaimase to its new incarnation, Nabi. The Asian fusion restaurant is taking over the sushi joint, which had been a fixture on Lower Westheimer since 2007. Prior to Tomo, the building at 1517 Westheimer wa ... More >>

We Live In A World Where Dallas Has Won An NBA Title: Five Things to Consider

Old school Mavs​Way, way back in the day, when we lived in Dallas -- more or less against our will -- we were Dallas Maverick fans. The Dallas Morning News' offices were a block or two from Reunion Arena, and Mark Aguirre and Roy Tarpley were there to he enjoyed. The Mavs never made it over ... More >>

Trader Joe's is Trading on Texas: Dallas to Get First Store

Photo by davyninInside a Trader Joe's store in Pittsburgh.​The Dallas Morning News roused a lot of food-lovers across the state with some happy news this morning: Trader Joe's, the specialty grocery chain based in California, is coming to Texas. Hot on the heels of another California import, I ... More >>

Colleges With Gay Support Services Must Also Have "Family Values Centers," Texas House Says

Wayne Christian wants "heterosexual values" taught, too​Late Friday night, while the eyes of the political world were focused on whether the federal government would shut down, the Texas House of Representatives took yet another bold step in ensuring that the state remains a laughingstock. An ... More >>

Tommy Lee Jones for Senate: Crucial Updates

Since our item on Houston attorney Geoff Berg's campaign to draft Tommy Lee Jones for the Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison, things have been moving fast. 1. Tommy Lee Jones still has had nothing to say on this. 2. But the story has been picked up by CNN, the Dallas Morning News, ... More >>

Now Rick Perry Wants To Invade Mexico

Pancho Villa redux: U.S. sends troops into Mexico due to border crime?​Talk about an election win going to your head: Now Rick Perry wants U.S. troops to invade Mexico. Speaking with Chuck Todd on MSNBC this morning, Perry said "He'd be open" to sending U.S. troops into Mexico to control bord ... More >>

Top Ten Sports Moments: Four Personal Stories

Different kinds of heartbreak​We've identified the absolute, unarguable Top 10 Sports Moments (and five worst) in Houston history. Everyone has at least some personal stories connected to events on the list. I have four.1. UH-LouisvilleI was the quintessential cub reporter, having lucked into a j ... More >>

The Buc-ee's Backlash Begins (Finally)

​The Heavens parted and we heard Angels singing...And on the eighth day, God created Buc-ees. And He saw that it was good.-- Testimonial on the blog at Buc-ee's official Web site. For what is, in the end, merely a chain of roadside truck stops that don't even allow trucks to stop, Buc-ee's and it ... More >>

Texas Traveler: Must-Do Dallas

​So maybe, like Texas Traveler, you're exiled to Dallas for a business conference, or an extra-long layover at DFW airport, or relocated for work and have no idea how to pass the time. Well, Texas Traveler has a few ideas, some off the beaten path, and some right smack square in the middle of it.6 ... More >>

How Did Texas Monthly Miss This Burger?

​You've had the fabulous "Baby Goat Masala Burger" at Indika, right? You know, the cabrito burger seasoned with masala and topped with goat cheese and watercress? How did Texas Monthly skip this masterpiece on its list of the 50 top burgers in Texas, while the messy bulgogi burger at Burger Te ... More >>

Houston 101: "Amarillo By Morning," One More Goddamn Time

​Houston 101 is taking a bit of a road trip today in honor of George Strait. Our sister blog Rocks Off is counting down the days until Strait returns here for a non-rodeo appearance, and it put us in mind of the first time we'd heard a Strait song -- at the trial over one of the Texas political wo ... More >>

Washington Ave. Revisited

Forget what I said about Catalan – Chris Shepherd is one of the top toques in Texas.

Texas Woman Fights Abuse at the State's Schools for the Mentally Retarded

Her son was beaten up by an angry caregiver at Denton State School

Best Burger in Texas?

The Good, the Bad and the Humidity

Eleven artists work up a show about Houston past and present

Houston, 24/7

The new all-Houston, all-the-time news station hits the air

Dream Team or Bad Dream?

Democrats sift pre-election portents for the answer

Space Center & Me

Or, how I learned to stop caring and accept the dumb

Camera Ready

Chronicle staffers tout their stories on Channel 11

It's Still News

What's the statute of limitations for rip-n-read violations?

Golden Oldies

How many times can the Chronicle write the "How to be a Texan" story?

Running on Empty

Local political campaigns struggle to get news coverage

One for the Geezers

Former staffers line up to testify against KHOU

More of the Same

Houston braces for an invasion of TV news

Rubber Fetish

Glory days for KHOU and Anna Werner

Pigskin Parade

A nonevent gets blanket coverage

Business Bewareing?

Will past financial flops come back to haunt a front-runner?

Real or Satire?

News Hostage

News Hostage

See. Be Seen. Don't Eat.

As a jazz club, Sambuca is so-so. As a restaurant don't ask.

To Bloom Again

Quiet, intellectual John Bloom transformed himself through his alter ego, Joe Bob Briggs, into a drive-in-movie critic on TV. Now a new character is emerging: John Bloom himself.

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