Liberally Lean From The Land Of Dairy Queen: 7/19/26

7.24.2026

Wise County: They Are Here

ICE, with the full support and assistance of the local Sheriff's Office, has officially come to Wise County. It was acknowledge by the sheriff late yesterday via a press release.

Sightings of ICE officials have been reported all over social media. Typically the federal agents will be driving unmarked dark Nissan Pathfinders. They are equipped with red and blue lights, but you would never know it until they turn them on.

Once apprehended, individuals are often taken to the Women's Building at the Fairgrounds in Decatur. From there they are shipped to a detention center in the metroplex.

And if you are one of those "Mass Deportation Now" fans, let me introduce you to Wise County resident Rosendo Lira, a local concrete contractor who for years has laid many a foundation in and around the county. Mr. Lira has just been snatched up by ICE. One of his daughters, Synthia, told his story on Facebook . He was taken on Wednesday, the day before her sister, Bella, was set to have her quinceanera:

This isn't rounding up the "worst of the worst." You have been lied to. And you should be livid about it.

What I learned from watching the Republican National Convention.

A 5.0 earthquake near Amarillo this morning.
Brent Crude Oil just crossed $100 a barrel moments ago.
"LITTLE ELM, Texas - A USPS worker died after collapsing in Little Elm earlier this week, but it's unclear if his death was related to the scorching temperatures across North Texas."
"The affidavits allege a deputy learned probationers had reported Washington was charging them money or food in exchange for turning in community service hours they never worked." She has a GoFundMe type of fundraiser for legal expenses.
This "feud" is all over a courthouse renovation project. Story. Bonus: The County Judge likes to say "golly gee" a lot.
Conspiracy theorists rejoice. Story.
Oh, my. From Fox 4:
We're doomed.
Trumpisms:

Speaking on behalf of the dead.
All the talking points are now about Communism but who knew they wanted to do that?.
Pinky Herman? And he said it twice. Video.

The Business Second™. The company has a total of 144 employees but is worth $40 billion.
Messenger - Above the Fold

This location didn't survive, and Pancho's Mexican Buffet is now down to two restaurants, one in Fort Worth and one in Arlington.

Ken Paxton was in Fort Worth yesterday for a "law and order" campaign event with a bunch of sheriffs (I think the Wise County Sheriff was up there), but he fled once questions about his ethical issues came up. Video. (That's his female press handler up front trying to run interference for him.)
An investigative report by the Dallas Morning News goes pretty hard. Gift link.
And does anyone believe it is "just" $37.5 billion so far?
Ukraine struck the equivalent of Amazon in Russia last night which gave rise to this dramatic photo. I don't know the impact it will have long-term, but that's quite the visual.
Remind me again of where the 9/11 hijackers were from.
This isn't good and, once Trump hears about it, he'll talk about it non-stop.
"Hey, only 18 dead soldiers! We're doing great!" might not be a winning message.
We're doomed.
The trailer is now available on YouTube. Apparently the "jump scare" that occurs shortly into it had its intended effect.
Random college football note: "James Madison at Liberty on Sept. 15, 2040 is now the furthest contracted football game on record."

And then it happened.

This is a wild story. There was grainy footage of the alleged murderer back in 2012, but now DNA has linked a current real estate agent to the killing.
Oh, my.
Flock license plate readers location finder.

Decatur

Boyd
"The Department of Public Safety said Mark Stevens, 70, was riding a 2002 Harley Davidson on FM 174 about 11:35 a.m. when it drifted off the road and struck a fence."
Two different stories:

In downtown Manhattan yesterday morning. Video.
So not only was the New York Times correct in its reporting about the lack of security of the new Air Force One, but we've learned Trump's attempt to punish the investigative reporters extended to their families.
The Pentagon hasn't had a press briefing in two and half months. For a while there, Pete Hegseth loved to get in front of the cameras and cosplay about how well the war was going. Now we learn they've been withholding information.
If there was ever a man who could get compromised by the Russians in a hotel room during a visit to Moscow, he's the guy.
Supreme Court decides to take up the issue of civil forfeiture again.
This is a mess. The State, in the middle of a criminal trial, appealed a judge's ruling, and it took a year for the appellate court to make a decision. Throughout the appeal, the jury was "on call" to return to court at any time. Once the appellate court ruled against the State, they just gave up and dismissed the case. The judge then paid each juror for the year of service.

And the criminal case was actually against officials in Williamson County on an allegation of "tampering" with video footage of Cops-like TV show cameramen who rode along with deputies. This happened yesterday: