WHEN A CYBERATTACK disrupted the Colonial Pipeline fuel supply to areas in the South and East, friends and family in those areas faced the prospect of long lines for a dwindling supply at gas stations. Meanwhile, in rural northern Wisconsin, I was standing in line at my local farm and home store. After a year of shortages, regular-mouth Ball quart canning jars were back in stock. While trivial in comparison, I was pretty happy to bag my limit of jars (three cases per customer). While I waited to pay, the man behind me in line started counting the people waiting for the two open checkout lanes.

MAYBE YOUR JOB is like this, too: The Texas Legislature does most of its work on deadline. And here we are, with two weeks to go in the regular legislative session, and many of the big things that appeared on the to-do list back in January remain unfinished.

Helen Olivia Ward was born March 27 to Bryce and Haley Ward, weighed 7 lb 7 oz, and was 19 inches long. Walter (almost 4) and Willis (almost 2) are loving “baby sister.” I’m not sure they realize she has a real name. Grandparents are Steve and Linda Rader of Canadian and Ronnie and Sue Ward of Newcastle, Oklahoma. Great-Grandmother is Esther Rader of Canadian.

After Haeleigh Thompson’s heartfelt nomination, Christy White was announced as the Mrs. Baird’s Teachers on the Rise winner for May 2021. Every month, the Teachers on the Rise Award is given to a teacher, nominated by a student letter, who goes above and beyond.