AUSTIN— Recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that six of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the United States from 2022 to 2023 were in Texas. According to the Texas Tribune, Kaufman County, just east of Dallas, led the list with a 7.6% increase in new residents that brought its population to more than 185,000. Census data shows that Rockwall and Liberty counties closed out the top three, with growth rates of 6.5% and 5.7%, respectively.

Spring officially makes its entry this week, but the Texaswildflowersceneisway ahead of the game this year. If you get the chance in the next three weeks, hit the highwaysandbepreparedfor quite the show that bluebonnets have in store for you.

In the March 6 and March 13 columns were guidelines for choosing fruit trees for our USDA Hardiness zones 7 and 8. In today’s column are guidelines for training stone fruit trees.

HANABA MUNN WELCH Focus on hams and zoots Look in the closet of a mild-mannered amateur radio operator, and you’re not likely to find a zoot suit. Zoot guys and hams are essentially non-overlapping subcultures that rarely get mentioned in the same breath.

It’s that time. An added day to keep the Gregorian Calendar happy so that all is well in mathematics of the Earth’s rotation around the sun (which is exactly 365.25 days).

Early voting in the March 5 primary election ends Friday with a host of candidates on the ballot in both parties, including president, U.S. Senate, all 38 Texas U.S. representatives, all 150 Texas House representatives, and down to local races for district attorney, sheriff and other positions.

Little Dribblers basketball has several things happening at once. Kids are being told to look, pass, shoot, dribble, jump, grab and steal.

Please notify the News-Courier about your upcoming events. Emailed submissions to knox@wtx.news are preferred.

AUSTIN— A federal judge is expected to rule quickly on the constitutionality of a Texas law about to go into effectthatinstitutesnewstate penalties for illegal border crossings. During a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge David Ezra said he had concerns that other states would follow Texas’ lead in creating their own immigration laws – a power given exclusively to the federal government under the U.S. Constitution.

Believe in yourself, and presto — somebody will figure out a way to prey on your ego. Hold that thought.