The State of Texas: How the editor of a small East Texas newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize

Plus, Governor Abbott defends a salon owner who violated stay-at-home orders, and H-E-B is accused of price-gouging eggs in a federal lawsuit. [View in browser]( [Give a Little Optimism ](  [Texas Monthly][Texas Monthly](    The State of Texas   May 7, 2020 In today's State of Texas: How the editor of a small East Texas newspaper won the Pulitzer Prize, Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton defend a salon owner who violated stay-at-home orders, and H-E-B is accused of price-gouging eggs in a federal lawsuit. –Leif Reigstad  Editor's Pick   news [How the Editor of a Small East Texas Newspaper Won a Pulitzer Prize]( Palestine writer Jeff Gerritt's no-holds-barred editorials shined a spotlight on the record number of people dying in Texas jails. [Read Story]( By michael hardy Quote of the Day "They took everything. I was so shocked. We couldn't even open the next day. We were running around like a circus trying to get bread and products to open up because we didn't want to let them win." —Samuel Ransom, owner of 225 Urban Smoke, a BBQ joint in San Antonio, after discovering that burglars had [stolen]( all of the restaurant's food overnight.  The State of Texas  Abbott, Patrick, Paxton defend jailed salon owner The day after a Dallas salon owner, Shelley Luther, was sentenced to a week in jail and fined for refusing to stop violating orders to close her business during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of Texas's top conservative leaders came to her defense, according to the [Dallas Morning News](. Luther had reopened her salon April 24 in violation of the county and state's stay-at-home order, then tore up a cease-and-desist letter she received from County Judge Clay Jenkins. Governor Greg Abbott called the jail sentence "excessive" on Wednesday, while Attorney General Ken Paxton called for the salon owner's immediate release from jail. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick called the sentence an overreach, and offered to pay the woman's $7,000 fine. A district judge offered to drop the jail sentence if Luther apologized and promised not to violate the order again, but she refused. H-E-B accused of price-gouging in federal lawsuit Three Texas-based grocery stores were among more than a dozen businesses across the country that were named in a federal lawsuit, alleging price-gouging of eggs during the pandemic. The lawsuit was filed in Austin last week by a group of five shoppers who claim H-E-B nearly tripled the price of eggs after Governor Abbott declared a state of disaster on March 13. According to the [Austin American-Statesman]( the plaintiffs aren't sure which of the dozens of businesses named in the suit participated in the alleged scheme, so they decided to sue them all. The other two Texas companies named in the suit are Brookshire's Grocery Company and Lowe's Markets Incorporated. Sheriff receiving death threats after arresting protesters Ector County sheriff Mike Griffis said Wednesday that he has received death threats after a tense showdown this weekend with armed protesters that ended in multiple arrests. About twenty people—some of them wearing body armor and holding rifles—had gathered outside Big Daddy Zane's bar in West Odessa on Sunday, apparently protesting against Governor Abbott's orders that bars remain closed. Six protesters were arrested on felony weapons charges Monday, and Gabrielle Ellison, the owner of the bar, was charged with violating emergency orders. "I’m getting calls from all over the country threatening to shoot me," Griffis told [KWES](. "I mean it’s just been crazy." SPONSORED [Give A Little Optimism]( Time is running out! Don't miss your chance to nominate a Texan to receive a free optimism care package complete with self-care goodies, gift cards, and other fun swag, courtesy of the Texas Optimism Project. [Learn More](    podcasts [Mattress Mack Believes Houston Can Pull Together and Persevere. Again.]( The high-profile philanthropist and furniture retailer says the time is right for Texas to carefully reopen for business. By andy langer    food & drink [A New Texas Wine Supports Hospitality Workers in Need]( All proceeds from the sale of the Wanderer Series Relief Project cinsault go to the Southern Smoke Foundation. By JESSICA DUPUY    politics [The Best and The Bums: Who's Doing Good and Who's Not in These Crazy Times?]( From Mattress Mack to that Austin guy who pushed a park ranger into the lake, the pandemic is bringing out the best and worst in people. 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