Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

She was actually indicted but the Tarrant County DA's Office dismissed the case after she paid "$1,900 in restitution and [wrote] an apology letter to the owner of the home which was reportedly defaced with toilet paper, food and markers in July 2012 as part of a prank." But the case got a little weird after that when she posted a different "apology letter" to her Facebook page denying responsibility. That made the D.A.'s office -- childishly in my opinion -- angry.

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• Of all the coverage of the Queen's funeral, it's the Corgis waiting on her that really got me.
  
  
  
• These are being paid for by a PAC funded by West Texas oil money from the Christian Nationalists. At least one of them is in Wise County on along 287.   By the way, what exactly is the Alamo reference supposed to mean? 
  
  
  
• The fact that I haven't mentioned this case doesn't mean it's not one of the craziest things I've ever seen.
  
  
  
• The man who was the focus of the Serial podcast was released from prison yesterday. You can now rest assured that if you are wrongfully convicted because of prosecutors withholding evidence, and you are lucky enough to have a national following clamoring for your freedom, then you, too, will only spend 23 years in prison.  He was put in a cage at age 17.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I don't know if these three are related.
• Texas leads the nation in book banning.
  
  
  
• Fort Worth library system had a bomb threat last night.
  
  
  
• Image from 1933 of a Nazis book burning event from Ken Burns current documentary, The U.S. and the Holocaust.
  
  
  
• Probably only interesting to Bridgeport folks: It took me forever to figure out where the new planned residential development in Bridgeport would be (the Messenger tricked me in a story last week by using the word "west of" 16th Street -- it's actually east of 16th Street.) 
• In the graphic below, the yellow portion is only highlighted because that was the topic of rezoning for townhomes which was before the city council. But that's not the big story.
• Look at the other homes which are also part of the bigger development which were revealed in documents submitted to the city council. My top notch graphics department outlined them in blue below. 
• They are going to go in an area which would wipe out the thickest group of trees in Bridgeport. (I know. I grew up playing in them.) And they'll probably extend further east than what is shown since all of that property was sold in one big chunk earlier this year. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• I never thought this got enough coverage. The guy is accused of starting a fire of the billion dollar USS Bonhomme Richard which was docked in San Diego for repairs. It was totally destroyed and and had to scrapped. 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• Not many people know of a federal law which prohibits someone from "receiving" a firearm if under indictment for an offense which has a punishment range of more than one year in prison. Not convicted, mind you. Just under indictment. Yesterday, a Trump judge struck it down. 
  
  
  
• Random scene from Monday Night Football last night.
  
  
  
• Legal nerdy stuff: A law firm respectfully asked that a second year law student at Yale be allowed to handle arguments before the Texas Supreme Court. Friday the court said "no."