Updated w/ new PHOTOS: Hurricane Blog from northeast Victoria

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

11:05 p.m. Dust storm? My wife and I walked to our backyard, just east of the sandy, grated proposed site of a future VISD high school, and we looked north to what looked like a blurry, cloudy sky. As winds are ...

Updated: After Claudette, did your power go out for more than a week?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

I'm doing a story on lessons power companies learned after Hurricane Claudette -- and plans in place to ensure we won't be without power for too long if Ike knocks down lines. One power company spokesman told me that his company had power ...

Post your Hurricane Ike photos, stories and tips here

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

As you brace for Ike, we want to follow your preparations and potential evacuations. Please share your stories and photos here each step of the way. This blog will be online and updated regularly until after Ike moves beyond South ...

Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

We had an interesting discussion during a newsroom meeting today about publishing stories on the anniversary of tragedies such as Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11. One editor thought publishing such stories year after year becomes predictable and thus uninteresting to readers. ...

Could Gustav change an election outcome?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

As Hurricane Gustav barrels toward New Orleans, GOP organizers in Minnesota say the party's national convention will continue but at a somber pace. Republicans in Minnesota to celebrate Sen. John McCain's nomination want to scale back the convention's tone out ...

Friday Night Lights: Stories from the sidelines

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Friday night high school football is back. And each week -- in addition to our regular sports coverage -- the Victoria Advocate will feature a person, club, tailgate, tradition or other gridiron staple. Football, no doubt, is exciting. But what ...

Is South Texas ready for a black president?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

The question may seem inane and uninformed. But it begs to be asked: Is South Texas ready for a black president? Local supporters of Sen. Barack Obama say the U.S. and South Texas are ready to look beyond race when choosing ...

Is it OK for pastors to make millions of dollars?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

When Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria made headlines for a controversial court appearance, the circus reminded me of a question I've had for sometime: Is it wrong when pastors become uber-financially wealthy? The Osteens, who minister at Houston's Lakewood Church, ...

Victoria's Team: Dallas Cowboys or Houston Texans?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

This debate could get ugly. As a lifelong Cowboys fan who has lived in about 15 states, I know firsthand that others either love the Cowboys or passionately hate 'em. But how do Victorians feel? Coy Slavik, Advocate sports editor, ...

Going to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games?

By GabeSemenza in Crowdsourcing

Are you in Beijing, going to Beijing or know anyone who is? We are looking for any local connection to this summer's Olympic Games. The opening ceremonies begin Friday. For a full Olympic schedule, click here. If you have a ...