The State of Texas: A Texas-sized Super Bowl

What Texas is talking about today No Images? [Click here]( [Explore the Show Home at Boot Ranch!]( [Texas Monthly]( February 6, 2017 QUOTE OF THE DAY “Great sporting events like today’s Super Bowl are highly symbolic, showing that it is possible to build a culture of encounter and a world of peace. By participating in sport, we are able to go beyond our own self-interest and in a healthy way we learn to sacrifice, to grow in fidelity and respect the rules.” —Pope Francis in a recorded video statement before the Super Bowl, according to the [Associated Press](. This papal first was a far more saintly take on the game compared to the exclamations of “holy shit,” which were inevitably uttered by many of his followers during the truly thrilling game. BIG NEWS Showdown In H-Town Houston hosted Super Bowl LI on Sunday, and the big game certainly lived up to the hype. For objective observers and fans of the victorious New England Patriots, it was a great game, maybe even the best ever. But if you happen to be an Atlanta Falcons fan, then it was like getting repeatedly punched in the kidneys by the ghost of Paul Revere. Here’s what you need to know about Super Bowl LI, without the kidney punching: the Patriots pulled off the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history to erase a 25-point deficit and win, [34-28](; it was the first Super Bowl to ever go into overtime; there were a few [protests]( leading up to the game; George H.W. and Barbara Bush did the pre-game [coin toss](; parking near NRG Stadium was [expensive](; Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and TCU legend LaDainian Tomlinson were [announced]( before the game as members of this year’s pro football Hall of Fame class; Tom Brady had a [difficult first half](; the Falcons’ Julio Jones made this [incredible catch]( and the Patriots’ Julian Edelman made this [equally incredible catch](; Lady Gaga [jumped off the roof]( of NRG Stadium during her halftime performance; and a man from Michigan named Tim Ruffini unforgivably [left the game]( with ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, thinking it was over, but [Guy Fieri]( was in attendance through the exciting conclusion. According to the [Houston Chronicle](, 140,000 people came through H-Town for the Super Bowl festivities, including big names like Shaquille O’Neal, Simone Biles, Elton John, Vice President Mike Pence, and John Travolta. Oh, and did we mention Guy Fieri? Because [Guy Fieri was there too](. [Explore the Show Home at Boot Ranch!]( MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS . .. Judge Dread On Friday, a federal judge in Seattle halted President Donald Trump’s executive order that put a travel ban on refugees and people from seven majority-Muslim countries, according to the [Seattle Times](. While U.S. District Judge James Robart’s decision will be felt nationwide, the ban had a particularly big impact [here in Texas](, where many folks were detained at the state’s major airports and [separated from their families](. The decision certainly didn’t win Robart any friends in the White House. Trump took to Twitter to react to the decision, personally attacking Robart and questioning his authority, calling him a “[so-called judge](” and saying he should be blamed “[if something bad happens](.” Robart is a “mainstream conservative” judge with bipartisan appeal, according to the [New York Times](, who was appointed by George W. Bush in 2004 and confirmed in the Senate by a 99-0 vote. This is just the beginning of what will undoubtedly be a fierce court battle, as the White House has promised it will appeal the ruling. Ripple Effect Governor Greg Abbott ramped up his war on immigrant “sanctuaries” this week when he slashed more than $1.5 million in state grant funding from Travis County. The move targeted Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez for her jail policy that is moderately friendly to undocumented immigrants, but the cuts have a much wider reach. The [Austin American-Statesman]( profiled one of the casualties of Abbott’s attack: a court that helps veterans accused of crimes that may have been tied to war trauma. The Travis County Veterans Court connects veterans to services that can help them get their life back on track. Since the court began six years ago, 83 percent of participants have avoided re-arrest, an incredible statistic for a particularly vulnerable population. But Abbott’s cuts will take away 90 percent of the court’s budget. One of the court’s participants, Ronnie Bennett, a 37-year-old former Army sergeant who suffers from PTSD after serving two tours in Iraq—including in Baghdad, Fallujah, Mosul, and Tikrit—had harsh words for Abbott, calling his cuts “beyond disgusting.” Bennett told the Statesman that “it’s life and death, not a political game. [For] a lot of these folks, it is the only access they have to assistance. It is just unacceptable for it to go away for them because of all this.” Big Break On Friday morning, months after 22-year-old Sul Ross State University student Zuzu Verk went missing in Alpine, police found human remains in a shallow grave outside the small West Texas town that they believe belong to Verk, then arrested Verk’s former boyfriend, according to [KOSA](. The uncertainty surrounding Verk’s disappearance in October has weighed heavy on the residents of little Alpine for quite some time, and the discovery of what could be her body plus the arrest of her ex-boyfriend, Robert Fabian, appears to be a major break in the case. “It’s a relief, I know for us and the family,” Brewster County Sheriff Ronnie Dodson told KOSA. “We knew if we ever found her that there would be evidence at that scene that would really help us and sure enough it is.” It’s unclear what specific evidence police found at the scene, but Fabian was charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence by concealing a human corpse. WHAT WE'RE READING Some links are paywalled or subscription-only. An African-American family in Dallas lives what should be the American dream, but still faces racism [Dallas Morning News]( Here’s why so many Texas teachers go unpunished for alleged misconduct [Austin American-Statesman]( It seems like ICE is holding more families in detention on the border [McAllen Monitor]( BoarZilla and HogGate grips Comanche County [The Flash Today]( An Amarillo High School cheerleader made a video of herself doing a cheer of the n-word [Amarillo Globe-News]( POLITICAL PLAY [How Trump’s Travel Ban Has Affected Two Iraqi Families In Texas]( by Leif Reigstad Both are facing uncertain futures. [Direct Energy]( [The Choice is Yours!]( Fifteen years ago, the Texas energy market began a daring experiment – applying the American dream of competition and free enterprise to a sleepy, monolithic electricity market. [Learn More >]( [Explore the Show Home at Boot Ranch!]( MORE FROM TEXAS MONTHLY [The White Shaman Mural]( by Bob Phillips Lower Pecos River, near Del Rio. [Scenes From Super Bowl LI: Talking With Martellus Bennett]( by Matt Mosley The Houston-area native and former Texas A&M star provided some of the most colorful commentary. [The Great Wall of Technology]( by R.G. Ratcliffe Texans may already have paid for part of President Trump’s signature proposal. Enjoy getting your daily fix of Texas Monthly? Spread the word and share it. [Forward to a Friend]( 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](