“In these divisive times, we saw entire towns in the Bible Belt coming out for these monks — having no idea of what Buddhism is — but being uplifted and moved by it. … That’s inspirational.” — Mark Duykers, a retired mechanical engineer, talking about the 19 monks who walked 2,300 miles from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025, and recently arrived in Washington D.C. (Tuesday, Associated Press)
“We’ve had some productive conversations over the last couple of weeks with the chair of DART, and we hope that we have a structure of an agreement. … But a lot has to happen.” — Plano Mayor John Muns, talking about negotiations between Dallas Area Rapid Transit leaders and its member cities. (Tuesday, The Dallas Morning News)
“These national security trials are ultimately serving a political goal of extinguishing dissent and sending a message to anyone who dares to criticize the Chinese Communist Party.” — Elaine Pearson of Human Rights Watch, talking about the 20-year prison sentence handed down by a Hong Kong court on 78-year-old publisher and democracy activist Jimmy Lai. (Tuesday, The New York Times)
“I want to be very, very clear that this should’ve never happened. … You cannot restrict airspace over a major city without coordinating with the city, the airport, the hospitals, the community leadership. … That failure to communicate is unacceptable.” — El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson, in a news conference reacting to the Federal Aviation Administration decision to close El Paso’s airspace after the Defense Department decided to test anti-drone technology. (Wednesday, The New York Times)
Opinion
“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come.” — A statement on Instagram from actor James Van Der Beek’s family. Van Der Beek, known for the coming-of-age drama “Dawson’s Creek,” died this week at age 48. (Wednesday, The Associated Press)
“As a result of our efforts here, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals.” — Tom Homan, the White House border czar announcing the end of immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.
“They left us with deep damage, generational trauma. … They left us with economic ruin in some cases.” — Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, reacting to Homan’s announcement. (Thursday, The New York Times)
“Take the vaccine, please. We have a solution for our problem. Not all illnesses are equally dangerous, and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses. But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for].” — Mehmet Oz, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (Feb. 8, CNN)
“It was an escape. It was a mythical place that ends up well, and that’s what I needed — to live in a myth that ends well.” — Phyllis Glazer, 77, a Dallas woman who built a Hobbit home in Preston Hollow. (Tuesday, The Dallas Morning News)
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