Any time a person intentionally strikes a law enforcement officer we take it very seriously. It's a felony. It's a very brazen act. It's not tolerated.

If anything, you're further separating the entities. We know that a lot of law-enforcement officials believe it would be better instead to bring them together.

The panel is a 16-person group that includes law enforcement offices, Child Protective Services, affected family members and former users, to name a few. They will be there to answer community questions.

I think a 10-day cooling off period would be a good start. I don't think a law should be passed without a waiting period that gives representatives time to think about what they are voting for and to get feedback from their constituents.

Charter schools, as a matter of law, have always been exempted from the accountability system, and the 65 percent requirement is part of the financial accountability system. We don't know that there is an administrative way around it, but certainly if there is a way that Gov. Perry administratively can achieve that, he certainly will do that.

I have always heard wonderful things about Pauline. She loved, loved, loved daylilies and other plants. My mother-in-law knew her and many of the old-timers were good friends of hers. Most had flowers named after them.