Two panels of community journalists gave programs concerning how their staffs covered disasters impacting Texas in 2017.
In the program entitled “Come Hell or High Water,” Canadian Record Publisher Laurie Ezzell-Brown discussed covering ice storms and wildfires in the Texas Panhandle and Port Aransas South Jetty Publisher Mary Judson discussed how she used a disaster plan to keep her family newspaper running while directing coverage of the devastation.

Q: I have some candidates wanting to communicate with registered voters through direct mail. I can get the list from the county. But Election Code Sec. 18.009, Unlawful Use of Information on Registration List, states: (a) A person commits an offense if the person uses information in connection with advertising or promoting commercial products or services that the person knows was obtained under Section 18.008. (b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. Does this specifically exclude commercial products or services but not political advertising?

We live in truly crazy and sophomoric times.
I don’t care who you voted for in the last presidential election; I don’t care where you fall on the political spectrum. At the national level, it’s become a big mudslinging match with all sides involved, including some of our Beltway news media brethren.
All too often, people have allowed their ideology to overwhelm their intellect – and their tempers to run roughshod over reason and accommodation.
And if you’re like me, you’ve noticed some of that mud has splattered on us hometown newspapers.

FLORESVILLE, TX—It was shaping up to be another quiet, ordinary Sunday in November for Wilson County News Editor Nannette Kilbey-Smith.
She was attempting to scrub the skunk smell off her dog when she noticed that her phone was clamoring for her attention. Several people had been trying to reach her, asking if she’d heard about what was going on at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs. Local residents had been posting on Facebook about an active shooter—and casualties were high.

Congress has passed federal income tax reform legislation with no mention of an advertising tax. Newspaper publishers  and others who depend on advertising for their livelihood can breathe a sigh of relief.

Ann Roznovsky
WACO – Ann Roznovsky, who had a six-decade affiliation with the Waco Tribune-Herald and whose contributions to local civic, cultural and business organizations prompted the city of Waco in 1996 and 2008 to set aside days in her honor, died at her home Dec. 16, following a battle with cancer. She was 81. 
A celebration of Roznovsky’s life was held Dec. 21 at First United Methodist Church of Woodway in Waco. 

Promotions and new staff additions at Texas newspapers.

Kaley Branch, Mark Goodson, Wade Wilson
The Gatesville Messenger

As outlined last month, community newspapers once again have an inflationary price increase under the 2006 postal reform act, passed with the National Newspaper Association’s help, and with several newspaper rule improvements.

All I want for Christmas is. . . . 
Well, I already have my two front teeth. So I’ll just reiterate my perennial request for more public officials who truly understand and abide by the notion of transparency when doing the public’s business.
Somehow, I’m getting a sinking feeling that Santa is gonna stiff me again.

Q: Our general law city council does not meet on a weekly or even a monthly basis. So I asked the city secretary how bills get approved for payment. I was told that each councilperson comes to city hall and looks through the bills and gives the okay. I think the council should meet, as a body, in an open meeting, even if it’s just to approve the bills. I wrote a letter to the city administrator and to the mayor regarding this trend of not meeting. What do you think about it?