Texas Monthly

Dr. Tandy Freeman is a fixture at rodeo events across the country. A Dallas-based orthopedic surgeon, he is the medical director for the Professional Bull Riders organization as well as for Justin Sportsmedicine Team, a group that has served rodeos since 1980. At 66, Freeman has been working with rodeo athletes for more than three decades. In that time he has missed fewer than twenty PBR competitions, of the more than two hundred that take place each year. He is likely the longest-practicing doctor in a field like no other. Read more here: https://txmnth.ly/3Tgugbu ??: Brian Finke ??: Lauren Larson

The crusted peaks of the Christmas Mountains have stood for about 42 million years, the Terlingua Ranch Lodge for about 50. You’ll find them both at the end of a winding sixteen-mile road that cuts through some of the 190,000 acres of the Terlingua Ranch, with its hundreds of cinder block houses, rustic adobes, shacks, sheds, tents, and trailers. This is where the desert rats live, escaping civilization. The lodge, which offers 32 guest rooms across eight cabins, boasts the only pool for miles around—a sparkling blue rectangle surrounded by ocotillo, yucca, boulders, and mountains. Stay there long enough and you’ll be lost beneath the stars blinking impossibly bright. Read more about the oasis here: https://txmnth.ly/3XrTFkR ??: Chad Wadsworth

In the story on its website announcing the debut of Texas, Michelin said that in addition to “upscale dining” venues, it would be sampling “award-winning barbecue, locally sourced seafood and steaks, and savory Tex-Mex.” We polled the anonymous restaurant reviewers who contribute to our Dining Guide, as well as barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn and taco editor José R. Ralat, for their predictions for Michelin nods—mainly for stars, but also for the other categories. Read more here: https://txmnth.ly/4gfhiV0 ??:?Texas Monthly

The Texas Tribune Festival is making its return to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7! On Saturday, Sept. 7, join The Texas Tribune and Texas Monthly at Open Congress, a one-of-a-kind, full-day free street fest featuring big?conversations with political icons; top-notch programming from Texas brands,?leaders and personalities; fun interactive experiences from TribFest partners and?supporters and so much more. Featured TM writers and editors include: -Forrest Wilder, senior editor -J.B. Sauceda, Texas Country Reporter host -Andy Langer, entertainment writer-at-large -Alexandra Samuels, politics senior editor -Michael Hall, executive editor -José R. Ralat, two-time James Beard Award-winning taco editor -Kimya Kavehkar, food and drink senior editor Explore our panel schedule and dive into exciting conversations with us. See you?there! https://txmnth.ly/4dNUavc

Bzz! Bzz! ?? Texas has been undergoing a massive bee boom. Texans like Art Holbrook have figured out a way to have their property taxes plummet—all the way down to $8. The trick? He'd simply put bees on his land. This may sound like a cheat code, but it’s all perfectly legal. In 1978, voters passed a state constitutional amendment to help farmers with large acreages but thin profits stay afloat in a tide of rising taxes. So the Legislature directed county appraisal districts to value farm and ranch properties at lower rates compared to other properties in the state. Since taxes are generally based on a property’s value, the law has resulted in massive tax relief for farmers and ranchers over the last forty years. These “special valuations” have been widely used by traditional agricultural producers—those who run cattle or grow hay, for instance—but in 2012, the Legislature afforded them to landowners involved in beekeeping too. Read more about the sweet, sweet tax break here: https://txmnth.ly/47d1uOu ??: Justin Clemons

We’re excited to join forces with the City of Grand Prairie to bring some of our premier events to the heart of DFW! They include the official Texas Country Reporter Festival, a new North Texas BBQ event, and a much-anticipated taco festival. Read our announcement for more: https://lnkd.in/gSGCbTbb

Happy #NationalWhataburgerDay, y’all. ?? On this day, 74 years ago, the first Whataburger opened in Corpus Christi. A momentous occasion that, decades down the line, provided us with the greatest challenge ever: seven days, 21 meals, and only Whata on the menu. https://txmnth.ly/4fDEZpL We sat down with our news and politics editor Ben Rowen over one of his favorite menu items, and dug into what he learned during his journey, what he didn't and whether he feels like he's truly earned the cowboy hat we discouraged him from wearing in the video. You can watch it on our Instagram: https://txmnth.ly/3AhBVzC

From her home in Galveston and her menopause clinic in nearby Friendswood, 56-year-old ob-gyn Dr. Mary Claire Haver, MD has emerged as a leading voice for women struggling to be taken seriously by doctors quick to dismiss symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, joint pain, and brain fog. Haver helps fill the void by offering medical information in thousands of approachable videos on social media—it’s not unusual to see her in pajamas at home. Read more about Haver, her groundbreaking work, her new book "The New Menopause," and how she handles misinformation:?https://txmnth.ly/3Wkw5os ??: Mary Kang

As our population booms, Texas grows hotter and drier. How might we stop the squandering of our dwindling water supply? Each story in this package examines who is wasting this vital resource and explores what can be done to conserve it. Read the full story in our August issue or online:?https://txmnth.ly/3A8dRiE

Investigation: A revision of the Texas Senate's employee policy was supposed to address the misconduct exposed by the Me Too movement. In practice, however, the policy protects the institution, not the women who work there. During a nearly yearlong investigation, our reporters interviewed current and former elected officials, legislative staffers, interns, and lobbyists, to learn about allegations and a culture that continues to enable misconduct. Read all about it: https://txmnth.ly/45ZbESt