Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

This was a graphic for the state money Decatur ISD received in 2013. Here's the most recent data I could find on enrollment.

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• The vote went down as expected. The debt ceiling is always raised.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Let's check in on one of the objectors to raising the debt ceiling.
• Act I.
  
  
  
• Act II. Yep, she really missed the vote.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• A Flashback for the Encore: She loves Ronny Jackson and guns, too.
  
  
  
• We've got a new AG yesterday to replace Ken Paxton . . . 
  
  
  
• . . . but it's a little funny that the First Attorney General fired off a memo on Saturday night immediately after the impeachment vote to tell the office that, by law, he was in charge now. I knew he was a short-timer when he added that Texas “has had no better elected official than Ken Paxton defending citizen’s rights, fighting for justice, and preserving freedom.” Grab the spotlight while you can, buddy. Now step aside. 
  
  
  
• Oh, my. Story.  Video.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I'm still sorting all the relevant laws that were just passed. This one would apply to Wise County. "The money will help bring the minimum salary up to $75,000 for the county sheriff, $45,000 for constables and certain deputies, and $40,000 for jailers."
  
  
  
• Five years after one officer failed to act while a mass shooting occurred at Parkland High School in Florida, his criminal trial has started. Related: No criminal charges have been filed as a result of the Uvalde response. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Republican primary news.
• Collecting Ron DeSantis campaign photos might become a hobby of mine.
  
  
  
• Trump is not well, is he?
  
  
  
• On, no!! The Cheez-It Bowl is becoming the Pop-Tarts Bowl. I want both. Name 'em all after loveable junk food!
  
  
  
  
  
  
• This is turning into an amazing story. And he's almost too good, too fast.  He makes $720,000 this year but if he can keep this up (and that's a big if), he's set to make a fortune.  But his arbitration year, which will be a a huge pay day and is a pre-requisite before becoming a true free agent, isn't until 2027. (Although there are some complicated rules where that can be moved up a year or two.)
  
  
  
• Legal nerdy stuff:  I completely missed a Texas criminal justice fiasco back in April. There were huge headlines last year after four administrators at a Christian school in Midland were arrested for failure to report child abuse. Well, the cases actually went to trial last month, but the DA ended up dismissing the case right in the middle of trial after she accused a detective of lying. But it pretty much sounds like what she really took issue with was the detective's claim that it was the DA's office, not her, that wanted the arrests to me made in the first place. It almost as if they all wanted to distance from a case that wasn't that great to start with. It's a massive cluster worthy of a documentary. Here's a great summary which includes pdfs and a bunch of elected officials scrambling to CYA. Also see here for a deep dive. Fort Worth lawyer Frank Sellers was the lead defense lawyer.  (Thanks emailer.)

  

  Reputations ruined.

  
  

  

  Midland County D.A. Laura Nodolf 

  
  
• Messenger: Above the Fold