Free Republic

Despite nine candidates on the ballot, Republican Michael Cloud drew enough support to win Saturday's special election to fill former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold's seat, sparing the GOP a runoff in the 27th District. With all percent of precincts reporting, Cloud was leading Democrat Eric Holguin 55 percent to 32 percent, according to unofficial returns. Cloud, a former chairman of the Victoria County GOP, needed to finish above 50 percent to avert a runoff later this summer.

A deal could be in the works that might entice Kansas City Southern railroad to bypass Victoria. “I hate to put odds on it happening,” Victoria Mayor Will Armstrong said. “We’d like to work with them, but we want some more information.” Kansas City Southern, which is rebuilding the out-of-service line between Victoria and Rosenberg, asked the city for help in acquiring a construction yard, Armstrong said. The city responded by saying it would consider doing that in exchange for the railroad bypass south of Victoria so trains would not have to go through the heart of the city. Armstrong...

The future of an interstate planned to run through Victoria appears murkier than ever. Harris County, a key point along the proposed Interstate 69 route, pulled out of the I-69 Alliance in mid-May. In an article in the May 15 Houston Chronicle, Bill Murphy and Rad Sallee wrote that Harris County pulled out of the I-69 Alliance after county commissioners decided too much was spent annually in membership costs. The county hopes that a bill in legislation right now is passed, because it would give them access to build a toll road as part of the Trans-Texas Corridor parallel to...