Are you giving the site time to grow on you?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We didn't have enough to do, so we decided to launch a new site on the same day the trial of Victoria's police chief started. Just kidding about not having enough to do. We scheduled this launch many months ago ...

Will you join us at noon Wednesday in DeLeon Plaza?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

My favorite Thomas Jefferson quote: "Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." In his Gettysburg Address, Abraham ...

What if you could watch a Victoria spelling bee in China?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

You probably missed Tuesday night's live broadcast of the Crossroads regional spelling bee. We had only a handful of viewers, but the possibilities excited me nonetheless. Along with being impressed with the contestants' skill at spelling words at which I ...

Taking you into the world of an illegal immigrant

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We'd like to call your attention Sunday to another installment in our special series called "The Fatal Funnel." This month's installment provides a rare glimpse into the life of an illegal immigrant. Given our commitment to exhaustively exploring this issue ...

What is a better deal than a newspaper?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I sometimes feel like a street preacher, sermonizing about the value of newspapers. I'm back at my pulpit today after the Advocate announced its first rate increase in five  years. No one wants to see a price increase, but a ...

Did you witness Victoria police shooting?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

We have a reporter and photojournalist checking into the overnight shooting involving Victoria police officers. We will have a full report in Monday's edition. If you have knowledge of the incident, please call the newsroom at 361-580-NEWS or email me ...

Looking at photos on a quiet rainy Saturday

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I'm not inspired to blog on this lazy Saturday, so I thought I'd share a few photos I took recently with my iPhone. I start with what I consider the perfect combination: Longleaf coffee and the Victoria Advocate. Hope you're ...

Are we still having fun?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I appreciated greatly Henry Wolff's departing thought as he retired his column Sunday after 44 years of writing for the Victoria Advocate. Writing for a newspaper -- or any other medium -- is supposed to be fun, Henry reminded us. ...

How important is the freedom of information to you?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I have the honor of serving on the board of directors of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. I'll be attending my first annual board retreat Wednesday and Thursday in Austin. As you'll see from the foundation's Web site, ...

Do you want your government watched closely?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

I testify Monday before a Texas House of Representatives committee considering the proposed Free Flow of Information Act. I posted previously about why Texas needs to join the 36 other states and the District of Columbia that have a shield ...

Where do you turn for breaking news in the Crossroads?

By ChrisCobler in Your Advocate: an editor's blog

Even though I was out of town most of Saturday, I was able via my iPhone and Victoria Advocate.com to follow closely the news of the grass fires burning in Victoria and Jackson counties. Thanks to the marvel of technology, ...