A long-awaited state report concludes most pregnancy-related deaths in Texas in 2019 were preventable and disproportionately affected Black women. The report, issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Committee, indicated deaths were mainly attributable to hemorrhage, mental health conditions and blood clots.

My most recent Musings, entitled “When Socks Cost 10 Cents”, was a copy of one written in 1991 about Crouch’s, a longtime local dry goods store that is now too-long gone. I realized when I finished that it talked about the father, William Senior, and brothers Charles and William Junior, but there was little mention of the rest of the family. For at least seven decades, they were all a big part of life here, so I’m writing about them today. I have backtracked a bit, because I often learn that folks missed some columns, and I don’t want anyone to jump in here and not be able to follow.

A report submitted to state leaders ahead of the 88th legislative session’s opening in January urges lawmakers to develop “an innovative new model” to fund community colleges. The Texas Commission on Community College Finance, established last year by the Legislature and consisting of 12 lawmakers, business leaders and community college leaders, offered three sets of recommendations for supporting the state’s strategic plan for higher education: • Reward community colleges for positive student outcomes • Increase affordability and financial aid • Increase capacity at colleges to meet changing workforce needs “We need a funding model for our 50 community college districts that is bold, strategic and fully aligned with our emerging workforce needs,” said Woody Hunt, a member of the commission and longtime business leader.

Recently while I was deep in old newspapers again, I found a Madisonville Meteor article worth sharing, from July 17, 1991. It reached much farther back and was entitled “Crouch family has history of service”. As I often do, I’m sharing it wordfor- word, unless I say otherwise.