The State of Texas: Take a tour through Austin's weirdest homes

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [Texas Tech University]( [Texas Monthly]( February 14, 2018 QUOTE OF THE DAY "There's nothing about slavery that I would want any child, regardless of color, to have to relive." —Leander resident Tonya Jennings, whose twelve-year-old daughter brought home [a school assignment]( that asked her to "Draw a picture of yourself as a slave in the center of the page." The assignment was part of the school's attempt to help students understand the reasons for Texas's involvement in the Civil War. As part of the one-hundred-point project, students could earn as much as thirty points for "Neatness/Creativity." THE LATEST [A First Look at Austin’s Weirdest Homes]([ ]( BY LAUREN SMITH FORD A new book out later this month showcases some of the city’s most outrageous, wacky, and whimsical dwellings. [Read Story]( [Texas Tech University]( OUR TOP STORIES [The Empire Strikes Back, Texas Republican Style]( Abbott and Patrick are bringing the power of incumbency to bear against a Rebellion of educators, business leaders and moderate Republicans. [Read Story]( [The Johnny Manziel Redemption Tour Is Officially Underway]( The former A&M star appeared on Good Morning America on Monday to ask for a second chance. [Read Story]( [Spring Break Itinerary: The Best of West Texas]( What to do, where to eat, and more if you’re heading to Fort Davis, Marfa, Marathon, and/or Big Bend this season. [Read Story]( MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS... The Eighth Wonder of the World is Back! Three months after the Houston Astros won their first World Series, the team's former home has chalked up a major victory, too. Yesterday, Harris County commissioners [voted unanimously to approve]( spending $105 million to turn the long-abandoned Astrodome into an event space and convention center, complete with a new parking garage that would contain 1,400 parking spots. Reaction on Twitter seemed to be largely negative, which is perhaps no surprise, given that back in 2013 Houston voters rejected a bond referendum to spend $217 million on a similar plan. (The new, more frugal plan would draw on parking revenue, hotel occupancy taxes, and county general funds.) Though some people [were giddy]( about the return of the Eighth Wonder of the World, others thought much of the money should be spent instead on [Hurricane Harvey recovery](. Four years ago, Mimi Swartz [wrote about various plans]( to repurpose the Astrodome. Denton Turning Green; Georgetown Reportedly Not Turning Green With Envy For the past few years the Austin suburb of Georgetown has been something of a darling to environmentalists for its decision to get all of its energy from renewable resources. Though the town will no doubt continue to draw hosannas from the green crowd, it's about to be displaced as Texas's leading Earth Day municipal poster child. [The Denton City Council voted last week]( to commit to buying all of its energy from renewable resources by 2020, which will make it the largest city in the United States to do so. “We want to make sure we are doing what we can for the environment, but it is also good business because of the market that we are in right now,” said Mayor Chris Watts. There are, apparently, no hurt feelings on Georgetown's part; the two cities' staffs have been in contact about Denton's plan for a while now. We reported on [Georgetown's plan to go green]( three years ago. Harvey Money Makes Landfall Governor Greg Abbott [told an audience]( of local officials in Hurricane Harvey-ravaged Rockport yesterday that some long-awaited federal relief money will be made available right away to local communities. The state is supposed to receive $1 billion in aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency no later than the August anniversary of Harvey's landfall. Half of that money is available now, to cover such things as storm surge protection projects; constructing floodwalls, seawalls, and jetties; and buying out flooded structures. “We’re very thankful to Congress for providing us the funding that they have, but don’t think for a minute that we are done with regard to our requests to Congress," said Abbott, who is better known for his attacks on Washington, D.C. than for his gratitude. Last summer we produced [an instant oral history]( of Hurricane Harvey. FOOD & DRINK [The Texas Winemaker Who Helped Put Willamette Valley on the Map]( BY MICHAEL HOINSKI Rollin Soles spent his college days hanging out with Robert Earl Keen and Lyle Lovett. Here’s how he became one of Oregon’s most prominent winemakers. [Read Story]( [Tastemakers: Austin]( [Tastemakers: Austin]( Supported by [Kissing Tree]( For the third installment of our video series,“Tastemakers: A Local’s Guide to Our Favorite Cities,” we go along for a ride in professional BMX rider Aaron Ross's 1985 Porsche 911 Carrera as he spends a fun-and food-filled day in his hometown, from hitting golf balls to enjoying his favorite grilled cheese. [Watch now]( [Texas Tech University]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [The Most Expensive BBQ Sauce in Texas]( BY DANIEL VAUGHN [A Texas Televangelist Says You Don’t Need a Flu Shot if You’ve Got Jesus]( BY LEIF REIGSTAD [The National Podcast of Texas, Episode 6]( BY MONTE WILLIAMS [The Texanist: Isn’t the Summer Heat Great? Or is That Just Me?]( BY DAVID COURTNEY [Subscribe to Texas Monthly and Save!]( Get the best of Texas with Texas Monthly. [SUBSCRIBE TODAY]( [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. [Like]( [Tweet]( [Forward]( [Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe](