Surrounded by hundreds of law enforcement officers, the loved ones of Texas State Trooper Chad Walker solemnly laid him to rest after he gave his life in the line of duty. The funeral and burial of Trooper Walker this past week reminds us all of the inherent dangers our law enforcement members face each day... Read More

“Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29. Happy Resurrection Day from my family to yours! We hope everyone had a blessed Easter week and is enjoying the gorgeous weather we’ve been experiencing across East Texas. As you may know, every ten years, through a process called Redistricting,... Read More

He is risen! With the Easter season upon us, I am reminded of how fortunate we are to live in a state where your Legislature begins every day bowing our heads in prayer. With all the hustle and bustle that surrounds the Capitol this time of year, it is so helpful to come to the... Read More

The Dogwood and Bradford Pear trees are starting to show their colors and, of course, there is yellow pine pollen everywhere. Only us lucky enough to call East Texas home know what that means… The start of Spring is behind us and we can now expect warmer weather and longer days. With many local fairs... Read More

As most parents of school-aged children know, this is the time of year when schools observe a well-deserved spring break.  To that end, I was fortunate enough to have my family travel to Austin this past week so we could spend some time together. I hope all of our students, teachers, and school district employees... Read More

The document creating the Republic of Texas turned 185 years old this week. On Tuesday, March 2nd, 1836, fifty-nine Texas delegates signed the handwritten Declaration of Independence at Washington-on-the-Brazos, declaring themselves free from Mexico. As we reflect on our beginning, I’m reminded of the saying that Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an... Read More

Emergency and crisis management can be a confusing and complex process, but our local officials—the boots on the ground—are working tirelessly to address the crises of people in each of our East Texas counties. In heartfelt appreciation, I want to acknowledge our County Judges and Commissioners, Mayors and Councilmembers, Emergency Management Departments, Sheriff’s Departments, non-profit... Read More

People across the state are doing what they can to keep their families fed, safe and warm—all while experiencing unprecedented blackouts due to an electrical grid that failed when we needed it most.  Many prepared for this historical winter storm by stocking up on food and supplies, while others are struggling to find the basic... Read More

I would like to start off by wishing everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day! This special day, filled with greeting cards, pink and red roses, and romantic dinners is also a reminder of God’s unfailing love and the grace we are given through Him. 1 John 4:16 says, “Whoever lives in love lives in God, and... Read More

This past week, many Americans became fixated on a certain groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to tell them whether it’s going to be a long winter or an early spring. I must confess that since I was a little kid, I wake up on that day each year with great anticipation and excitement about seeing America’s... Read More