Sad news for those who enjoy intelligent discussion -- even if they don't agree.
It looks like The Texas Observer, the progressive magazine that has been covering politics in the Lone Star State since 1954 is shutting down.
The Texas Tribune broke the story Sunday, saying the Observer will cease publication on Friday and lay off its 17-person staff.
For decades the Observer has taken on the Texas power structure. It kept the spotlight -- and the resulting heat -- on conservative Democrats from the into the 80s just as it did Republicans when they started gaining sway with voters.
A good many well-known Texas writers spent time on staff, including the legendary Molly Ivins, who headed up the magazine in the early 70s
The Tribune reported that the magazine's staff is desperately trying to save it through a fundraising drive. We wish them luck.
It doesn't matter which side of the political spectrum you are on.The more information out there, the better. The more perspectives out there, the better. Especially the ones you disagree with or even make you mad. Because no one ever learned much in an echo chamber.
The Observer provided that. It could be challenging, it could be annoyingly smug, it could even be infuriating. But Texas will be a poorer state without it.