Michael Smith

1 week ago | galvnews.com | Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

An example of what some might count among the many singular oddities that, taken in total, form the aggregate oddity called Galveston is the fact one of the world’s largest and most prestigious private collections of art and artifacts about Texas and the American West is housed here.

2 weeks ago | galvnews.com | Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

News this week that a firm headquartered in Québec wants to resume full-on shipbuilding at Gulf Copper Drydock & Rig Repair’s Pelican Island facilities is laden with opportunity for the regional economy, along with a little irony, or maybe just incongruity. Davie, an international shipbuilder, Wednesday announced plans to purchase assets in Galveston and Port Arthur from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corp., which operates Gulf Copper Dry Dock & Rig Repair at 2920 Todd Road on Pelican Island.

2 weeks ago | galvnews.com | Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

It’s easy to underestimate how much trouble diapers can be for some families. Anybody who ever has cared for an infant knows the entry-level trouble, of course. The trouble goes far deeper than the burdens that meet the eye, however. The modern societal requirement to use disposable diapers can keep parents of modest means from working, keep children from learning, undermine their health and help drive crimes that burden retailers, taxpayers and the poor.

2 weeks ago | galvnews.com | Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

Apparently Bolivar Peninsula business operators and residents agree the strong presence and strict rules the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office’s rolled out during Jeep Weekend in mid-May had more up sides than downs. About 100 of them crowded into Jose’s Cantina last week to conduct a postmortem on a crowd-control method that included a rigid traffic control plan, outright bans on numerous activities including parking one 6-mile stretch of beach and DWI check points.

3 weeks ago | galvnews.com | Michael Smith |Michaël Smith

Texas City voters should tune into the discussion about how the commissioners they elected can influence the government’s agenda — its official schedule of business. We framed the issue in an article Friday something like this — how might the commissioners have more influence over what appears on meetings for deliberation and possible action? That was euphemistic.