Good morning, Kerr County!
How about this weather? The good news is it's not supposed to be over 100 degrees today. The bad news is that there's no end to the 90-plus days we've experienced. The latest 10-day forecast (Weather Channel, Weather Underground and National Weather Service) suggests temperatures over 90. That means 30 consecutive days of 90 degrees or hotter dating back to the end of May. Since May 1, we've experienced 35 of the last 43 days with temps over 90. There's a slight chance of rain on Saturday — slight. There's a minimal chance of thunderstorms.
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Here's a broader look at the recent heat:
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Today's newsletter is sponsored by:
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On today's The Lead Live!
We will recap a jam-packed weekend, including the finale of the Kerrville Folk Festival, and we'll get a preview of activities this week from the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau! Texas Hill Country Advisors Gilberto Paiz and Andrew Gay will update us on the economy. There seem to be warning signs everywhere, but should we be concerned? Just some of the warning signs:
- Gas prices are heading to $5, and energy costs were the biggest driver of inflationary pressure.
- However, the Gallup Poll found that Americans are in a generally bad mood — about a lot of stuff, including the economy.
- "Gallup's Economic Confidence Index is among the lowest measured since the end of the Great Recession in 2009," Gallup wrote. "It is particularly low in contrast to the much more economically positive years just before the pandemic. Correlation is no proof of causation — but it seems reasonable to assume that worry about inflation is a significant part of these dampened economic perceptions."
Chalk Fest gets a preview
  Carolina Amberson works on her chalk painting on Saturday at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. |
With the Kerrville Chalk Festival just a few months away, think maybe a cooler day in October, the organization held a workshop to introduce newcomers to the craft.
Some of those newcomers were the mother-daughter pair of Carolina and Liliana Amberson, who drove up from San Antonio to learn about the skills needed to paint on a sidewalk.
"It's really the texture," said Carolina Amberson, who was painting bees. Her daughter, Liliana, 13, compared it to working with a rougher grade of paper, but still challenging.
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Teaching the class was Henry Darnell, a Dallas street painter, who made the trip to provide some hands-on demonstrations.
"People don't understand it's more of a performance," Darnell said.
About 30 artists worked in front of the Kerr Arts Cultural Center, and the performance part of people leaning over your shoulder, the traffic and the heat all played a role in the day's events.
Kerrville's Olivia Scott works on her painting. |
Olivia Scott, a recent Kerrville resident, was exploring the craft for the first time, but judging by her effort, she might be someone we could see at future chalk festivals.
Dalton Dover was trying his hand at the art for the first time and felt good about the work he put in on a flower.
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The Kerrville Chalk Festival is Oct. 15-16, 2022. Each year an art or education nonprofit is featured. For more information about the benefits of becoming a sponsor, volunteering, or participating as an artist, email info@KerrvilleChalk.org, or call Katharine Boyette at (830)895-5222. Visit and “follow” the Kerrville Chalk Festival Facebook page for updates. For more information, please visit kerrvillechalk.org or kacckerrville.com
It was some weekend for events
Cody's Car Show!
For the sixth year, the family of Cody Blain Adams hosted the Cody's Car Show, a scholarship fundraiser. The annual event drew some of the best looking cars around — something Adams, a car enthusiast would have appreciated. Adams was killed by a drunk driver and his family has enthusiastically held the car show at the Hill Country Youth Event Center since his death.
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Kerrville Skate Contest heats up
While this was a contest aimed at youth, those who came to participate were mostly over the age of 17. Of course, most of those were disqualified from winning anything because they wouldn't wear a helmet, but it didn't distract from some of the tricks. Here's a look:
If The Lead was judging, we'd probably give the best overall skills to Zhen Brewer, competing in the 9-to-12 age bracket, because he put on an impressive show. |
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Stone Talamantes gets some air during a warmup skate. |
Sen. John Cornyn leads the deal on gun compromise
Tasked with working with Democrats to reach a gun-control deal, Texas Sen. John Cornyn led an effort with Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy to reach an agreement.
The agreement certainly won't make everyone happy, but it breaks a decades-long stalemate on gun control. Liberals won't like it because it doesn't go far enough, while conservatives are likely to hate it by saying it goes too far.
However, Cornyn appears to have the Republican votes to get it done.
"Today, we are announcing a commonsense, bipartisan proposal to protect America's children, keep our schools safe, and reduce the threat of violence across our country," read a joint statement from the 20 Senators who came up with the plan. "Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities."
Those joining Cornyn are Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), along with Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Cory Booker (D- N.J.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Angus King (I-Maine), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.).
Here's what the deal looks like:
Support for State Crisis Intervention Orders
- Provides resources to states and tribes to create and administer laws that help ensure deadly weapons are kept out of the hands of individuals whom a court has determined to be a significant danger to themselves or others, consistent with state and federal due process and constitutional protections.
Investment in Children and Family Mental Health Services
- National expansion of community behavioral health center model; major investments to increase access to mental health and suicide prevention programs; and other support services available in the community, including crisis and trauma intervention and recovery.
Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
- Convicted domestic violence abusers and individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders are included in NICS, including those who have or have had a continuing relationship of a romantic or intimate nature.
Funding for School-Based Mental Health and Supportive Services
- Invests in programs to expand mental health and supportive services in schools, including: early identification and intervention programs and school based mental health and wrap-around services.
Funding for School Safety Resources
- Invests in programs to help institute safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools, support school violence prevention efforts and provide training to school personnel and students.
Clarification of Definition of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer
- Cracks down on criminals who illegally evade licensing requirements.
Telehealth Investments
- Invests in programs that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for youth and families in crisis via telehealth.
Under 21 Enhanced Review Process
- For buyers under 21 years of age, requires an investigative period to review juvenile and mental health records, including checks with state databases and local law enforcement.
Penalties for Straw Purchasing
- Cracks down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns.
