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Heavy rains throughTexas last week caused flooding, particularly in the Dallas area, prompting Gov. GregAbbott to issue a disaster declaration for 23 affected counties. Texans who were affected by the rain, which dumped more than 10 inches in Dallas, are encouraged to file insurance claims with their providers and to complete the voluntary Self Reporting Damage Survey issued by the Texas Department of Emergency Management by visiting damage.tdem.texas. gov. The survey helps the state identify damage across Texas to gain an understanding of what areas were affected during the recent severe weather.

I just read a piece in the Dallas Morning News about the death of Jim Trelease, who nobody has ever heard of, yet discovered the most effective method of improving the status of education yet known. We spend Quinta trillions on education yet seem to not be able to move the needle on improvement.

As Texas gets at least a temporary reprieve this week from the heat, with a nice round of rain blanketing much of the state, the Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting January will bring significant snowfall to the state.