The State of Texas: Bullet train from Dallas to Houston takes big step forward

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [Starwood Preferred Guest]( [Texas Monthly]( December 19, 2017 QUOTE OF THE DAY "We at Le Bilboquet feel betrayed and sad. Restaurant business is about creating a hospitable environment for all, a non-partisan, non-politicized, nondiscriminatory and respectful environment. The fact that guests decided to use our restaurant as a platform to promote, disrespect, and spread hatred goes against everything we stand for." —Stephan Courseau, owner of the Dallas restaurant Le Bilboquet, in a Facebook post, according to the [Dallas Observer](. Courseau wrote the message after Donald Trump Jr. [posted a picture]( with Senator Ted Cruz at a private party at the restaurant. In the photo, Trump held a cookie cake decorated with Barack Obama's face made out of frosting. BIG NEWS Speeding Ahead Texas is one step closer to having a bullet train connecting Dallas and Houston. The long-delayed project, which would carry Texans between the two cities in 90 minutes, cleared a major hurdle after the Federal Rail Administration released a draft environmental impact statement identifying a route between the two major cities and potential passenger station locations along the way, according to the [San Antonio Express-News](. The analysis took four years to complete. Now begins a consultation and land acquisition process, and a public comment period will run through late February before the FRA makes a final statement. “This is the biggest milestone to date that we’ve crossed so far,” Tim Keith, president of Texas Central Partners—the company developing the project—told the Express-News. “This is actually the beginning of a document that will allow us to build the bullet train.” The project is expected to cost $12 billion, and it should have a midway station in the Brazos Valley near College Station. If the project flies through the coming federal approval processes, construction could begin as early as late 2018 or early 2019, with an expected completion in 2023. [Starwood Preferred Guest]( TOP STORIES FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [Chelsea Manning and Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova Talk Trump, Putin, and Resistance]( by Michael Hardy A summit on art and activism at Houston’s Day for Night festival pulled no punches. [For Lagordiloca, Live-Streaming Crime Scenes is Just a Night's Work]( by Leif Reigstad Priscilla Villarreal doesn’t work for the local news in Laredo—but for her 80,000 Facebook followers, that doesn’t matter. [Julián Castro's Road to the White House Begins in Arizona]( by R.G. Ratcliffe The former San Antonio mayor speaks with Phoenix Democrats while eyeing a run for president. MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS... Streaking Rockets The Houston Rockets' winning streak continued on Monday night when they beat the Utah Jazz 120-99 for a fourteenth victory in a row, according to [KHOU](. They're the hottest and best team in the league, with a phenomenal 25-4 record. The team has been typically prolific on offense, scoring 115 points per game—behind only the Golden State Warriors—with James Harden's league-leading 31.3 points per game. But arguably more impressive has been the team's uncharacteristically stingy defense. The Rockets are allowing opponents to score nearly six fewer points per game than last season. If Houston continues to play this way, then James Harden will likely earn his first NBA MVP award, and the Rockets could emerge from a crowded field as favorites to win the NBA championship. Elliott's Return Ezekiel Elliott's six-game suspension stemming from domestic violence allegations is over, and the star running back can return to action for the Dallas Cowboys against the Seattle Seahawks on Christmas Eve. The Cowboys are in the thick of a playoff race and could certainly use Elliott's talent, but he hasn't played since November 5 and could be rusty. After Elliott met with head coach Jason Garrett and running backs coach Gary Brown on Monday, Garrett was noncommittal on how he planned to bring Elliott back into the fold for the team's final two games of the regular season. "Just have to wait and see," Garrett said, according to [ESPN](. "Got to see how he is [Tuesday], got to see how he practices as the week goes on." Angry Rex Secretary of State Rex Tillerson didn't take kindly to a reporter's question about rumors that the Wichita Falls native is going to resign, according to [Business Insider](. During a joint appearance at the State Department with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, a reporter asked Tillerson, "have you already submitted a letter of resignation with an effective date in January?" There has been a steady wave of rumors and reports speculating about Tillerson's exit almost since his confirmation in January, and he's had a rocky tenure, clashing with President Donald Trump and facing upheaval and resistance within his own department. But Tillerson didn't appreciate the reporter's effort to clarify his cloudy future in Foggy Bottom. "That's ridiculous," Tillerson responded to the reporter. "It’s a ridiculous question." He then abruptly left the podium and ended the press conference. WHAT WE'RE READING Some links are paywalled or subscription-only. Investigators are trying to track guns that were stolen during Harvey [Houston Chronicle]( Texas's own Slingin' Sammy Baugh lived his last days as a reclusive cowboy [WBUR]( The agriculture commissioner race is getting heated [Texas Public Radio]( Mattress Mack gave a houseful of furniture to a Houston family [Houston Chronicle]( Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels donated his $94 million mansion to charity [ESPN]( TRAVELING TEXAN [15 Rentals Ideal for a Texas Winter Retreat]( by Lauren Smith Ford Getaway options across the state include a yurt, a one-room cabin, a historic cottage, and a grand lakeside estate. [Insider's Guide to San Antonio]( [Insider's Guide to San Antonio]( Supported by [Kissing Tree]( Mike Casey moved to San Antonio in 1972 and didn't plan on staying—but he’s been there ever since. Discover the city through the eyes of this stylish Texan as part of our video series, "Tastemakers: A Local’s Guide to Our Favorite Cities." [Watch Now >]( [Starwood Preferred Guest]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [The Dallas Police Department is the Latest to Allow Officers to Grow Beards]( by Dan Solomon The new policy is a bit of a chin-scratcher. [Tri Tip Grill]( by Daniel Vaughn At the Dallas Cowboys’ Star complex, the barbecue comes from California. [Petrified Design Defines "Texan Modern"]( by Lauren Smith Ford The Austin furniture duo applies clean, contemporary lines to carefully sourced material with real character. [Subscribe to Texas Monthly and Save!]( Subscribe to Texas Monthly [SUBSCRIBE]( [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 cancel your subscription to this and other Texas Monthly newsletters at any time. Please see our Privacy Policy. 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