St. Elmo’s Fire

Texas State Rep. James Talarico who is running for the U.S. Senate said this in the Trib:

“For the next fourteen months, my focus will be on meeting with and listening to Texas families — all across our state — to build the diverse coalition we need to win.”

Here is the entire Talarico read: Democratic Rep. James Talarico announces bid for U.S. Senate | The Texas Tribune.

You have to have confidence. He believes he will beat his Democratic Party primary opponents. I want to hear what he has to say. Let’s see if he connects with voters. Stay tuned for sure.

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Folks know Commentary watches KPRC TV Channel 2 News. Every time they mention a truck ran into an overpass, chances are they are talking about the Houston Avenue Bridge over I-10 down the street and close to Downtown H-Town. See this story from the Chron yesterday:

The Houston Avenue Bridge spanning Interstate 10 was struck again Saturday, the second time in three days, causing traffic jams in a location that’s notorious for bridge strikes.

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, a heavy truck hauling cargo hit the bridge at about 10 p.m., closing multiple lanes and requiring a hazmat team to clean up debris that fell from the cargo. This comes after the bridge was struck in a similar incident on Thursday. 

So far this year, TxDOT has tracked 67 incidents — most of them minor — involving tall vehicles hitting the 60-year-old bridge. 

Major Houston Avenue Bridge crashes have plagued that stretch of highway for years. Halfway through 2020, the bridge was hit four times. Recently, an 18-wheeler crashed into the bridge at night, causing the I-10 lanes to be blocked until the early morning hours in May. 

Here’s what to know about the root causes of the problem and what’s being done about it:

The constant Houston Avenue strikes are being caused by trucks that exceed the bridge’s 14.3-foot clearance on eastbound I-10, TxDOT spokesperson Kristina Hadley said in an email.

Here is the entire story: Why trucks keep crashing into the Houston Avenue Bridge on I-10.

Guess what. An 18-wheeler slammed into the bridge again last night. That is three slams in the past five days.

Plans are in the works to replace the bridge with an underpass in a few years. We will see.

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For those who are fans of the “St. Elmo’s Fire” flick, this is good news. See this from Yahoo News:

Columbia Pictures has announced the theatrical rerelease dates for the newly restored 4K version of 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire. The classic coming-of-age drama was led by Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Judd Nelson, Mare Winningham, and Andrew McCarthy.

“The film follows seven friends, recent college graduates, searching for a place in ‘the real world,’ as they face the issues of career and commitment. Leslie and Alex try to save a crumbling romance,” reads the official synopsis. “Wendy, a shy virgin, hides a love for Billy, a reluctant father/ husband still searching for goals. Kevin is a cynical writer who scorns love until he realizes he’s in love with his best friend’s girl. Kirbo, a law student, obsessively pursues an older woman. The beautiful, neurotic Jules paints a poignant picture of life in the fast lane. Against the backdrop of St. Elmo’s, their local hangout, they save, betray, and love one another as only the closest friends can.”

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, St. Elmo’s Fire will be heading back to select theaters across North America for a one-week limited screening starting on Friday, October 17, 2025.

Here is the entire “St. Elmo’s Fire” read: Beloved Demi Moore Movie Returns to Theaters for 40th Anniversary.

In the featured photo are two 45-record sleeves that I still have in my vinyl collection. Of course, we all know the famous “St. Elmo’s Fire” tune that was written in part by 16-time Grammy winner David Foster. For those who care, Foster’s wife, Katharine McPhee, was about a year old when the flick first came out.

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The Mariners and Rangers won last night. Our lead is now two games in the AL West. We start a three-game series in Toronto this evening. Pins and needles for sure.