- Today is the day in the Tanner Horner trial. The jury will hear closing arguments and begin their deliberations on life of death.
- There are two questions that will be submitted to the jury. To receive a sentence of death there . . .
- Needs to be a unanimous "yes" on this one: "Whether there is a probability that the defendant would commit criminal acts of violence that would constitute a continuing threat to society" and
- Needs to be a unanimous "no" on this one: "Whether, taking into consideration all of the evidence, including the circumstances of the offense, the defendant's character and background, and the personal moral culpability of the defendant, there is a sufficient mitigating circumstance or circumstances to warrant that a sentence of life imprisonment without parole rather than a death sentence be imposed."
- Witnesses from yesterday.
- The last witness for the defense was this lady. She finally said something that every one on their experts should have repeated. That being: Horner committed a "horrible murder" but her testimony wasn't about that at all. “This is only [my] explanation of who this defendant is, so that whoever decides his fate understands him as completely as possible, but this is absolutely not an excuse.” That means she's there about the second question, above, that the jury will answer.
- The State, in rebuttal, called this high ranking prison official to describe what "life in prison" is like. More specifically, the State used him to show that Horner could still be "a continuing threat to society" even if that society was the general prison population.
- Another State rebuttal witness was Horner's cousin who testified he was sexually assaulted by Horner when he was 10 years of age and Horner was 13. Where did it happen? Right off the Casino Beach area at Lake Worth.
- This was the final rebuttal witness of the State. I really didn't think much of him. He kind of gave me the vibes of the defense expert in A Time To Kill played by M. Emmet Walsh
- My prediction: I bet there will be a death sentence but it might take a few hours. Even if they were unanimous on the first vote, they are still going "to talk about it" for a while to at least give the appearance of tough deliberations. Still, a verdict by the end of the day wouldn't surprise me at all.
- Oh, my.
- We don't know a single detail other than what is in the headline.
- Heavy emphasis on "temporarily."
- Paxton/Cornyn poll from the University of Houston. This one is going to be close.
- War update: Iran firing upon U.S. ships, hitting a South Korean vessel, and launching missiles into Dubai doesn't exactly sound like a "ceasefire." Only two ships got through the Strait yesterday.
- From this morning Pentagon press conference:
- From yesterday:
- She pled to something called "wet reckless" driving under California Vehicle Code § 23103.5. It's not considered a DWI conviction, but if she commits DWI in the next 10 years, it can be used for enhancement to make the punishment worse.
- All 253 outfits worn at the Met Gala last night.
5.05.2026
Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts
5.04.2026
Random Monday Morning Thoughts
On the eve of the Indiana primary, Cruz couldn't take it any longer.
- The Tanner Horner case resumes today, and there's a chance we could have a verdict this week.
- In the meantime, you can tour Horner's former home here. (I had no idea it was right next to Casino Beach on Lake Worth, the site where a chain of events began ultimately leading to the death penalty for Wise County's most notorious killer, Ricky Lee Green.)
- Other than city council and school board elections this weekend, bonds were also on the ballot. After several failed attempts, Decatur ISD had there $137 million bond packaged passed. In similar elections, Pilot Point ISD's $295 million bond and Sanger ISD's $68 million bond were voted down.
- The Patriot Mobile PAC may finally be dead. All three of their incumbent candidates in Grapevine were given the boot.
- Flashback 2022:
- I'm not sure I understand this story at all.
- There's a lot going on in this story. Gift link.
- That was a bold move.
- Early Friday, a small plane crashed in Wimberly killing five on board from Amarillo: Seren Wilson 19; Brooke Skypala, 45; Stacy Hedrick, 51; Justin “Glen” Appling, 37; and Hayden Dillard, 39.
- Presented without comment.
- The Fifth Circuit doesn't even need a courtroom. We already know how they will rule the second a case is filed with it.
- Kid Rock flew to Virginia late last month and took a joy ride on an Apache helicopter with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Now we know why: It was all for a concert video which was shown for the first time in Dallas this weekend. Video.
- The Business Second™. There is no way this is going to happen.
- Small sampling of Trump crazy stuff from the weekend:
- The most dangerous post was this one where he's giving every indication he will throw the midterm elections into chaos. It's coming.
- This one was just weird.
- Not only is he a constant liar, he's a horrible liar.
- We are doing this now?
- For the life of me, I don't understand the attraction of the Savannah Bananas at all.
- Don't look now, but Decatur's Bryce Elder has started seven games for the Atlanta Braves and has a 1.88 ERA.
5.01.2026
It's Friday -- Let's Get Out of Here
WATCH: Slingshot ride breaks loose at fair in Spain, injuring 4 people pic.twitter.com/EP6qC32hUt
— BNO News Live (@BNODesk) April 25, 2026
This might be the most Florida Man video on the internet. Barefoot on asphalt, casually wrestling an alligator with his bare hands, picking it up, and walks off while carrying it. Incredible pic.twitter.com/Wm8EhlWCky
— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) April 25, 2026
Ninja dog.. 😅 pic.twitter.com/zE7lru9qrI
— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) May 1, 2026
The biggest winner of the draft is this old dog who got his spot on the couch back.
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) April 25, 2026
pic.twitter.com/hxnVxLg1yd
Random Friday Morning Thoughts
- Horner trial:
- There were a couple of more defense experts to testify yesterday, but they didn't really add a whole lot. But, unlike some of the others they were at least very stoic.
- Horner's grandmother testified later in the day (face obscured in the streaming feed.) The most shocking revelation came out during cross-examination when she said that she had texted Horner on the day after Athena went missing telling him to be on the look out for her. She had seen the story on the news. Horner replied that he would.
- The New York Post actually pulled out some quotes I don't think I've seen.
- There will be no testimony today.
- Random Decatur ISD school board election question: What are the rules for filing campaign reports? Link. (Thanks to faithful reader tip.)
- The execution in Texas went off as scheduled last night, but the headlines are a little different than normal:
- Fort Worth road rage?: "The two drivers exited the [I-35] freeway at the Meacham Boulevard exit, and 'some type of incident' occurred at the next traffic light, police said." The shooter was the one who called 911. (Some photos from the scene are here.)
- Not related but maybe relevant from yesterday:
- The government released a "new" video of the would-be assassin from Saturday night claiming it shows Cole Allan firing his weapon. Man, I don't see it.
- But what is amazing is that one of the many law enforcement officers weren't killed by one officer firing four times pretty wildly. And in watching from the reaction, I'm not sure the guy in the middle standing against the wall was not hit.
- Bad news for Wise County Rep. Andy Hopper who has been heavily funded by the West Texas oilmens' PACs over the last few years.
- Fox News isn't going to have anyone left.
- Story.
- Lauren Whitener Clock: 6 years and 302 days.
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