News

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is making $44 million in grant funding available to eligible hospitals that serve rural communities.

Convicted murderer Carlisle Rivera, also known as “Pop,” was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his participation in a murder-forhire plot directed by the Government of Iran targeting Masih Alinejad, a journalist, author, and human rights activist. Rivera previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murderfor- hire and one count of conspiracy to commit stalking before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman for the Southern District of New York, who imposed today’s sentence.

AUSTIN – Governor Greg Abbott announced that a Texas Semiconductor Innovation Fund (TSIF) grant of more than $1,000,000 has been extended to LTD Material LLC for the construction of a new 88,000-squarefoot manufacturing and research facility in Austin that will expand production capacity for high-purity quartz parts essential to wafer fabrication and semiconductor manufacturing. The project is expected to create 40 jobs and represents more than $25 million in capital investment.

AUSTIN —For the past 24 years, countless volunteers band together in February to search the Texas coastline for abandoned crab traps. The abandoned traps can foul shrimpers’ nets, snag anglers’ lines, and create unsightly views. In addition, lost or abandoned fishing gear, such as nets, traps and pots continue to catch and kill marine life (called “ghost fishing”). To date, volunteers and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff have hauled off nearly 45,000 of these derelict traps, saving an estimated 740,500 blue crabs.

University Automotive Group is proud to announce the acquisition of University Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, a Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership located in Sealy, Texas. This strategic expansion marks another milestone for the growing Texas-based automotive group.

Growing up in Pennsylvania, one of my yearly attractions was Punxsutawney Phil. According to the legend, Punxsutawney Phil could predict the future. If he sees his shadow and returns to his hole, it means he has predicted six more weeks of winter-like weather. If Phil doesn’t see his shadow, he has predicted an early spring. I don’t know who came up with this story, but it started on February 2, 1887. It’s hard to believe people would get advice from some animal. But then again, we often take advice from politicians.

Last time, we began to unpack Friedrich Nietzsche’s “God is dead” philosophy by looking at his assertion that there is no objective (absolute) truth or moral values, and that could only happen with the death of God and the abandonment of Christian values. But there is more to the story than that.

Disclaimer: Arrests and court records are public information, and the press has the right to publish them under the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is important to note that an arrest should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law

Be advised that the city of Sealy Health Inspector has inspected the following establishments for food preparation, kitchen cleanliness, and sanitary conditions: 1. Sealy Country Store #2 (117 N Meyer) – 1/23/26 – 1. All expired food must be removed from the shelves. All inventory 6” off floor. All dented cans must be removed from the shelves. Soak soda nozzles every night. Products on shelves must be wiped down. Storage room in store area must be cleaned out and inventory 6” off floor. The bathroom light needs to be fixed and covered. The freezer in the kitchen must be cleaned inside. The vent hood should be cleaned every 6 months and labeled. Outdoor large deep freezers must be removed because of the rust, broken seals and broken inside of freezer. The game room floor needs to be repaired. Must remove all boxes from the game room. No animals in the store. Store Closed Grade – 0 Sealy Country Store #2 – 1/26/26 – Must have food handlers within two weeks. The store has reopened. Grade - 98 2. Jack in the Box (2367 Hwy 36 S) – 1/23/2026 – 1. The sink by register must be fixed. Food handlers updated. Will go back to re-inspect on 2/6/26 Grade – 95 3. Dollar General (1518 Meyer St) – 1/23/26 – 1. Shelves must be cleaned. All expired food and drinks must be removed from the shelves. Remove all dented cans. Men’s restroom must have ceiling tiles. Women’s restroom must be cleaned along with removing the fan and racks and fixing the light and light covered. Must remove the bucket and boxes in front of the water fountain, plus water fountain must be fixed. The broken sunglasses shelves must be removed. Grade – 93 4. Starr Max (5058 NW I’10 Frontage Rd) – 1/27/26 – 1. All equipment where the coffee is must be wiped down and cleaned. All soda nozzels in store area and kitchen must be soaked every night. All shelves must be wiped down and cleaned. Microwaves in store and kichen area must be cleaned. All expired food must be removed from shelves. All dented can goods must be removed from shelves and coolers. Fire extingushers must be checked. Bottom of coolers must be cleaned. All products must be wiped down. Must have food handlers within 2 weeks. All inventory 6” off the floor. Grade – 86 5. Bill’s (333 Fowlkes St) – 1/27/26 – 1.All shelves must be wiped down and cleaned. All expired food including cold food must be removed from shelves. All dented can goods must be removed from shelves. Re-inspection in one week. Grade – 88 6. Ernesto’s (2350 Hwy 36 S) – 1/28/26 – 1. Soda machine and nozzels must be cleaned. Freezer needs to be replaced. Sink in kitchen needs to be fixed. Floor at the dishwashing area needs to be fixed. Light switch panel in kitchen needs to be replaced. Area by the back door needs to be cleaned and clear. Must have 3 feet area around the hot water heater. Storage area needs to be cleaned. Store Closed – 0 Ernesto’s – 1/28/26 – 1. Get light switch panel replaced. Floor by dishwashing area needs to be fixed. Store has been reopened. Grade – 98 7. Herrera’s (1701 Hwy 90 W #B) – 1/28/26 – 1. Soda nozzels needs to be cleaned. Grade – 99 8. Top China Buffet (242 Moody St) – 1/28/26 – 1. Mens and Womens bathrooms must be cleaned. Bathroom stalls need to be repaired. Soda nozzels & machine must be cleaned. Ice machine on the outside must be cleaned. Must remove clutter in the dining area. Storage area must be cleaned. Grade - 89