(Drue Wagner)

Strangest State: Airplane Etiquette, Australian Octopi, and an Itinerant Police Chief

Only in Texas

April 12, 2024, 12:00 PM, CDT

A version of this story ran in the March / April 2024 issue.

<figure data-wp-context="{"imageId":"67823f2c15195"}" data-wp-interactive="core/image" class="wp-block-image alignwide size-full wp-lightbox-container"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="2475" height="3225" data-wp-class--hide="state.isContentHidden" data-wp-class--show="state.isContentVisible" data-wp-init="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox" data-wp-on-async--load="callbacks.setButtonStyles" data-wp-on-async-window--resize="callbacks.setButtonStyles" src="https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3.png" alt="A cartoon illustration of Molly Ivins says, “Howdy, y’all. Texas sure can be the Strangest State. Let’s see what happened since our last issue.”

The IRS hands a tax form to the Marfa Invitational's art installation.

A passenger on a crowded plane farts loudly as passengers look on in disgust

Art Acevedo rides on top of a bucking horse as he leaves town

An octopus holds on to cash, jewelry, drugs and sits near a cracked safe.

The last panel returns to the smiling Molly Ivins in a blue blouse. “Well folks, that’s some strange news isn’t it? If you see something happening around town, give us a shout!”" class="wp-image-210061" srcset="https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3.png 2475w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-360x469.png 360w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-759x989.png 759w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-150x195.png 150w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-768x1001.png 768w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-100x130.png 100w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-365x475.png 365w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-243x317.png 243w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-1179x1536.png 1179w, https://www.texasobserver.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/StrangestState_March24_3-1572x2048.png 1572w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2475px) 100vw, 2475px" /><button
			class="lightbox-trigger"
			type="button"
			aria-haspopup="dialog"
			aria-label="Enlarge image: A cartoon illustration of Molly Ivins says, “Howdy, y’all. Texas sure can be the Strangest State. Let’s see what happened since our last issue.”

The IRS hands a tax form to the Marfa Invitational's art installation.

A passenger on a crowded plane farts loudly as passengers look on in disgust

Art Acevedo rides on top of a bucking horse as he leaves town

An octopus holds on to cash, jewelry, drugs and sits near a cracked safe.

The last panel returns to the smiling Molly Ivins in a blue blouse. “Well folks, that’s some strange news isn’t it? If you see something happening around town, give us a shout!”"
			data-wp-init="callbacks.initTriggerButton"
			data-wp-on-async--click="actions.showLightbox"
			data-wp-style--right="state.imageButtonRight"
			data-wp-style--top="state.imageButtonTop"
		>
			<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="12" height="12" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 12 12">
				<path fill="#fff" d="M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z" />
			</svg>
		</button><figcaption class="wp-caption-text"> (Drue Wagner)</figcaption></figure>

Republish this article for free

All of the Texas Observer’s articles are available for free syndication for news sources under the following conditions:

Articles must link back to the original article and contain the following attribution at the top of the story: “This article was originally published by the Texas Observer, a nonprofit investigative news outlet and magazine. Sign up for their weekly newsletter, or follow them on Facebook and X.”
Articles preferably include Texas Observer alongside author byline (first name last name/Texas Observer).
Articles cannot be rewritten, edited, or changed beyond alignments with house style books.
Photos, illustrations, and other art may be available for syndication but must be confirmed. (AP images are not available.) Email [email protected] with questions.
Please tag the Texas Observer in social media posts promoting the republished story.
Please notify us by email that the article will be republished at [email protected].

You May Also Like

Texas’ War on Drug Users

Lost in Austin: Climate Change, Displacement, and Race in the Texas Capital

Stories from Deep in the Heart