If It Ain't Broke, Don't Nix It

It's tax-free shopping on energy-efficient appliances this Memorial Day weekend— what a waste?

What are you doing for the Memorial Day respite? Are you planning on sitting around on your bum, bored out of your gourd?

We have an idea for you. Why not go shopping?

No, not that kind of shopping. While REI has its massive anniversary sale, scorn the car campers and spend your disposable income on something truly lasting — appliances.

Yes, that's right. Appliances.

Let the hearty rejoicing commence!

From Saturday through 11:59 p.m. Monday (this holiday weekend only, folks), Texans can buy energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators (under $2,000), dishwashers, washing machines and the like without contributing to the state tax coffers. That's an 8.25 percent savings from what you'd usually pay. On an $1,000 appliance purchase, you'd save $82.25 that would usually be added in sales tax for example.

The measure is being touted as a "double savings opportunity," according to Senator Troy Fraser. "Not only will Texans be able to purchase Energy Star products tax-free, they will also see savings each month on their energy bills."

With which we counter, "What Texans?"

Texans who want to upgrade their existing, perfectly functional dishwashers and dehumidifiers? Texans who want three-quarter degree settings on their programmable thermostats so Muffy and Buffy's body temperatures don't skyrocket to 102.75 degrees?

It may not be patriotic, but we're skeptical just the same.

What do you think? Do these tax-free weekends assist average homeowners in buying environmentally-friendly wares? Or are they merely helping the rich and shameless upgrade their undesired goods?

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Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”