Community & Opinions

Big data in the Big Empty

Those cute cartoons of your favorite high school team? Those instant transcriptions of your voicemails? That heart-rate data you’re consulting on your smartwatch? That fraud alert on your credit card?

JGISD board certifies new terms for Chisum, Baldridge, cancels May 2 election in March meeting

In the regular monthly meeting of the Jayton-Girard ISD Board of Trustees on March 16, 2026, in the JGISD board room, Vice-President Stephanie Allen convened a public hearing regarding the 2024–25 Texas Academic Performance Report (TAPR) of JGISD at 6:33 p.m.

Dickens Commission takes no action on Sanders Hollow abatement in March meeting

In the regular monthly meeting of the Dickens County Commissioners Court on March 12, 2026, the following consent agenda items were submitted to the court via electronic devices for approval (details contained in these reports were not immediately available for inclusion in this article).

Sharing your story

Shed a Little Light SUE JANE SULLIVAN My daughters gave me a storytelling program as a gift for my recent birthday. It’s set up so that once a week I receive a writing prompt from questions they have created for me to answer.

Tumbleweeds get around

COMMENTARY Could a tumbleweed by any other name be an icon of the American West? Probably not. Especially since the other name is Russian thistle. Either way, we’re stuck with the ubiquitous born-toroll plants — green and growing or dead and blowing between fences.

2026 Community Calendar

SPUR VISITOR CENTER, 101 Hill Street at Burlington Avenue, is operated by the Spur Area Chamber of Commerce and open during regular hours Tuesday–Saturday. Visitors seeking information on the area may email spurchamber@gmail.com or call (806) 271-3097.

Contradictions and other thoughts

C O M M E N T A R Y | SUEJANESULLIVAN@GMAIL.COM Below are some random things that float around in my head when I am trying to make sense of the world after calling it a day. It’s not a wise move on my part as it often impedes my ability to drift off to sleep.

Teachers in Dickens, Kent schools eligible to apply for South Plains Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up teacher mini-grants

LUBBOCK— South Plains Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up will award teacher mini-grants to elementary or secondary classroom teachers who teach at a qualifying school.

Agency launches low-cost spay and neuter program across state

TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION AUSTIN— DSHS has launched a new sterilization program for dogs and cats after receiving $13 million in state funding to support the initiative for two years. The funds are allocated to 38 applicants to perform these procedures across the state.

Cornyn reverses filibuster stance

AUSTIN— U.S. Sen. John Cornyn last week reversed his opposition to changing the Senate’s filibuster rules, writing in an op-ed that legislation in that chamber should pass with a simple majority, the San Antonio Express-News reported.