Random Thursday Morning Thoughts

• The new hot Fox 4 employee is quickly moving up the ranks. I'm guessing Lauren Przybyl will continue from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 
  
• An elderly Texas pastor received probation in Tarrant County for child porn. But I thought we were past the days of ridiculous signs: "James Rankin, 79, also was ordered by Judge Mollee B. Westfall to post a sign at his Hurst home that says, 'A person on probation for a child sex offense lives here.'” Why not just reject the plea bargain if you think he is such a threat?
• There was a lot that went on during that "Evangelical Dinner" the other night. And here's a reminder that churches are tax exempt: 
  
• A linebacker for the Cleveland Browns has been charged with . . . wait for it . . . Insider Trading. That's a first. And it might give rise to an interesting episode of Hard Knocks next week. (He was immediately cut.)
• The Balch Springs police officer received 15 years in prison last evening -- he'll have to serve at least half before becoming eligible for parole. A Notice of Appeal has been file, but I'd think long and hard about that. He could have received up to 99 years/Life, and I'm not feeling real good about a Not Guilty or Probation if he were to get a second chance. 
• Sarah Palin is not invited to John McCain's funeral. That "rising star" flamed out very dramatically.
• The Astrodome got off to a rough start:
  
  
• The McLennan County D.A.'s office has been a mess ever since the Twin Peaks Biker Fiasco, and they aren't slowing down. The office cut a probation deal in a sexual assault case with a expelled Baylor frat boy without telling the alleged victim. She read about it in the paper. A firestorm has now broken out. (There's a Fort Worth lawyer involved and the victim has retained a blast from the past: Vic Feazell.)
• He attacked one-half of the team that brought down Nixon in Watergate? You kidding me? 
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• The DPS Regional Director for District 1 (which includes Wise County) is open. 
• The Republican nominee for governor of Florida has already stepped in it. And he managed to throw in that his opponent was "articulate" before he fired off the "monkey" comment. (I heard more about this on right wing radio than I did the main stream media.)
  
  
• The Texas Republicans need to get a new social media person. Yesterday they took a shot at Beto for a very old DWI arrest that he never tried to hide. I'm sure this attack will appeal to all Texans. It certainly crushed George W's political career.  
  
• An Uber driver (and off duty cop) shot and killed a guy who was approaching him aggressively on the roadway after stopping. It's probably a justifiable shooting but the local Sheriff sure had a bold statement: ""Here's a message for the hotheads of the community: don't do that stuff," Judd said. "Good people carry guns. And they will shoot you a lot. Graveyard dead. Leave people alone. It's a new day in the state of Florida and the United States."