'A Story of Courage and Hope'

Gabrielle Giffords/Mark Kelly memoir set to be a blockbuster holiday book

Looks like at least one inspirational story will be hitting bookshelves just in time for the holiday season.

On Wednesday, Scribner Publishing announced that the joint memoir from Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, retired Houston-based astronaut Mark Kelly, would be released on Nov. 15.

The book, titled Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, is described as a "deeply personal account" of their lives together, chronicling Giffords' rise in politics, the January shooting in Tucson that killed six and seriously wounded the congresswomen, and her recovery in Houston. It will also cover Kelly's career from a combat pilot in Desert Storm to helming the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. The cover depicts the couple embracing before their wedding in Arizona in 2007.

Kelly had said he would be taking the lead on the book, with Giffords contributing more as her progress continued, but Scribner spokesman Brian Belfiglio told the Associated Press that Giffords "has been fully engaged with the collaborative writing process of the book at every step."

Jeffrey Zaslow, who partnered with Randy Pausch on The Last Lecture, has also been tapped to work on the memoir, so it's safe to expect something both moving and inspirational.

Will you be buying the memoir?

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana