A huge congratulations to Sarah Blaskovich on winning the prestigious Excellence in Journalism Award from the Texas Restaurant Association. I love to read Sarah’s great restaurant reviews and news reports. I always look forward to her articles.
She is a breath of fresh air. The Dallas Morning News is so lucky to have such a talent on board!
2 World Cup experiences — I left my three Dallas Stadium World Cup games with three thank-you’s:
1. The collection of workers and volunteers who made my experiences ones to remember. They showed the power of diverse people coming together for a greater mission. Thank you to the World Cup organizing team for delivering on your mission.
2. The open arms with which Americans welcomed fans from all corners of the world shows “we the people” are not as afraid of others as some of our leaders try to convince us we should be. Thanks to my fellow Americans for being so hospitable to our international friends.
3. The open arms with which international fans engaged with Americans and enjoyed the American experience shows they are not as afraid of America as their leaders try to convince them they should be. Thanks to my fellow global citizens for having the courage and curiosity to come explore our wonderful country.
Soccer is described as the “beautiful game.” Those who experienced the 2026 World Cup now understand why. It’s bigger than sports. It brings the world’s peoples together in ways that seemingly none of the world’s leaders can.
3 Financial literacy courses– Three cheers to Texas for passing and enacting House Bill 27 that makes personal financial literacy a required part of high school graduation requirements. Beginning this fall, high school students will be required to take financial literacy courses.
Financial literacy at a young age should be fundamental as reading and writing. Students should also leave school understanding how to budget, save, manage credit, avoid unnecessary debt, and make informed financial decisions. The consequences of not understanding personal finance are far-reaching. Debt cycles, little or no emergency resilience, poor decision-making, vulnerability to scams and predators and limited long-term planning are just some of the outcomes that can follow. Too many adults are left to learn costly financial lessons through trial and error.
Practical financial knowledge will help prepare the next generation to build stronger habits, make wiser choices and achieve greater financial stability throughout adulthood.
The benefits are obvious. Still, one question remains: since financial literacy is essential to lifelong success, why did it take so long for HB 27 to become law?