The State of Texas: These Texas chefs are breaking records

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [Discover Texas at its best - Boot Ranch]( [Texas Monthly]( February 28, 2019 QUOTE OF THE DAY "Do you affirm as a hospital corpsman in the United States Navy that you will support, comfort and cure warriors and their families, active duty and retired? ... That you take this obligation freely, without any promise of treats or tummy rubs?" —The personalized oath of Sully H.W. Bush, former service dog to late President George H.W. Bush. [Sully received a new assignment on Wednesday]( with the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where he’ll increase the well-being of veterans and their family members at the facility. THE LATEST [Texas Chefs and Restaurants Get Record Number of James Beard Semifinalist Nods ]( PATRICIA SHARPE Among the surprises: The Original Ninfa’s in Houston makes its first appearance as a contender for Outstanding Restaurant. [Read more.]( QUIZ 1. Buc-ee’s culinary director Jim Mills recommended [this "luscious" dessert]( as the perfect complement to barbecue: __________ 2. During her Houston Rodeo performance, Kacey Musgraves [paid tribute to Selena,]( the "Queen of __________,” with her performance of "Como La Flor." 3. __________ U.S. House Republicans joined the Democrats to pass Joaquín Castro’s resolution, which would [block President Trump’s national emergency declaration.]( 4. University of Sheffield lecturer Tom Stafford said [the typo “Forth Worth”]( is an example of a __________ error. 5. Criminal charges were [dismissed against Schlitterbahn officials]( on Friday for the death of a ten-year-old boy, though the park already reached a __________ settlement with the family involved. Look here every Thursday for our weekly news quiz—and check back on Friday for the answers! OUR TOP STORIES [The Houston Astros are the Best Bet in Major League Baseball]( But what are the odds that they’ll make noise come October? [Read more.]( [The Romance of the Rail in West Texas]( The railway and Marfa are forever intertwined. [Read more.]( [Is the House Vote Against Trump’s Emergency Declaration Joaquín Castro’s Breakout Moment?]( The House has passed legislation authored by the San Antonio Democrat to take on President Trump in a constitutional battle. [Read more.]( THE STATE OF TEXAS These Texas Reps are voicing their doubts about Michael Cohen’s congressional testimony On Wednesday, President Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen appeared before the U.S. Committee on Government Oversight and Reform. During his testimony, [Cohen was questioned by junior members of the Texas congressional delegation](—Michael Cloud of Victoria and Chip Roy of Austin. Both congressmen suggested that Cohen was angry that he had been passed over for a senior position in the Trump administration, which Cohen denied. Roy, former chief of staff to Ted Cruz, pointed out inconsistencies in some of Cohen’s past comments and argued that the hearing was a distraction. “Real Americans in my district and across the country wanted the president to be president, not in any way because he’s perfect, but rather because they are sick and tired of this hellhole,” he said. "They supported the president because they are sick and tired of the games we are seeing here today." The state's highest criminal court struck down a key piece of the Open Meetings Act The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled on Wednesday that [a significant section of the state’s Open Meetings Act is “unconstitutionally vague.”]( As it’s currently written, the act makes it illegal for members of a government body to gather in groups smaller than a quorum in order to conduct business in secret. The court’s decision means it’s no longer a crime for government officials to violate that provision, which means it’s now up to the Legislature to decide whether to revise it. The decision was a blow to open-government advocates like Joe Larsen, a board member of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, who worried about the consequences of the decision. “The court struck a knife into the heart of the Open Meetings Act,” he said. “It’s the real world where the consequences are going to be backroom deals hidden from the public.” This bill could pave the way for an official "Selena Day" This week, state representative Ana-Maria Ramos of Richardson introduced House Bill 2492, which [would designate April 16 as “Selena Quintanilla-Pérez Day.”]( The bill still needs to be voted out of its house committee before it continues through the legislative process. If passed, the first statewide Selena celebration would take place in 2020. Following Quintanilla-Pérez's murder in 1995, then-Governor George W. Bush declared her April birthday “Selena Day,” but this legislation would make it an official yearly holiday. The singer broke barriers for women in the Tejano genre, earning 67 awards including one Grammy over the course of her thirteen-year career. THE CULTURE [Kacey Musgraves Covering Selena at the Houston Rodeo Is an Iconic Moment in Texas Music History ]( DAN SOLOMON The hottest singer in country music paid tribute to her Texas roots with a cover of Como La Flor. [Read more.]( [The Bull x The Horns]( [The Bull x The Horns: A New Advice Column]( What's standing between you and your best self? The Texas Optimism Project, sponsored by Frost Bank, is partnering with KUTX 98.9's Two Guys on Your Head podcasters Art Markman and Bob Duke to launch an advice column about taking control over the stress in our lives. Send us your questions about life, career, and everything in between and we'll spotlight how the power of perspective can change everything. [Read More]( [Discover Texas at its best - Boot Ranch]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [When Does an Accident Become a Crime? ]( MICHAEL HALL [With Tecovas, Bootstrapper Paul Hedrick Hits His Stride ]( TOM FOSTER [Pat’s Pick: San Antonio’s Savor Passes Every Test]( PATRICIA SHARPE [Subscribe to Texas Monthly and save!]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Website]( Texas Monthly PO Box 1569 Austin, TX 78767 Texas Monthly has sent you this alert because you signed up to receive it either online at texasmonthly.com, at the website of one of our business partners, or when you filled out a reader response card. You may opt-out from Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. If you would like to manage which Texas Monthly Editorial newsletters you are receiving, click Preferences, below. 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