Anybody kicking the habit?
Anyone going to the Great American Smokeout 2009? I'd like to know your story. If you are going to try and quit smoking, please reply to this blog, contact me at 361-580-6504 or send an e-mail with your contact information ...

Have a health question you want answered?
I'm still looking for any health questions readers in the Crossroads may have. These questions will be answered for the Good Living section, which comes out on Wednesday, I will be starting a new feature called, "House Call with health ...

Have a health question you want answered?
For the Good Living section, which comes out on Wednesday, I will be starting a new feature called, "House Call with health reporter J.R. Ortega." I will post a blog on Friday morning asking you for health-related questions. I will ...

Submit your flood photos.
Did you take photos of flooding in DeWitt County or other counties in the Crossroads? Submit those photos on the Victoria Advocate Web site under Your Photos or e-mail the photos to newsroom@vicad.com. Thank you in advance for your photo ...

Flood photos.
Please keep sending in your user submitted photos into our Your Photos web section. If you are having trouble sending the photos onto Your Photos, please send them to newsroom@vicad.com or jrortega@vicad.com. Thank you.

Strong thoughts on Obama's health care proposal?
I'm still trying to find an everyday source who can see both sides of Obama's health care proposal and provide their thoughts on the issue. Please, give me call at 361-580-6504 or e-mail me and jrortega@vicad.com

Growing healthy.
I'm hoping to grow in the health beat here at the Victoria Advocate and I need your help. I would like our readers to send me via e-mail or through this blog, what you would like to see take flight ...

Flu vaccine? H1N1 vaccine?
I'm working on a pro/con story for next week looking at who is thinking about getting the H1N1 vaccine when it's available. If you are thinking about getting it or not thinking about getting it and have an opinion and ...

Health Care in France
I am looking to research and work on an extensive piece about health care and was interested in knowing if any of our readers know of someone who lives in France and has a good understanding of their country's system. ...

Water does a body good.
So I'm back on my "only water" bit again. I've been on it for the past week (I had tried earlier but fell into temptation). Many people don't know that I use to be a water-drinking, vegetable-eating guy. Yes, I ...