Cat Tales

Grumpy Texas cat becomes Internet sensation thanks to wedding photo

When Danielle and Justin Foley adopted Coco a little over three years ago, they never expected that she would become a superstar. Yet the Houston calico has become an Internet sensation, thanks to her very unhappy face in the couple's wedding photos.

Overwhelmed by the wedding crowd of 20 in the Foley's Rice Military-area townhome on Fourth of July weekend, Coco hid upstairs for most of the ceremony until it was time for her dinner, which happened to land in the middle of the wedding vows. Seizing the opportunity, Danielle asked Katy-based photographer Luciana Justice to snap a shot of the couple with the cat.

"The most beneficial part of this is being able to give a shout out to the no-kill shelter, Friends for Life, where we got Coco," says bride Danielle Foley.

"After she was done eating, I snatched her up and grabbed Justin," Danielle says. "She was responding to her dislike of the flash and all the people staring at her."

A few days later, Danielle posted a series of photos on her Facebook page and they immediately became popular. One of her Facebook friends commented, "I want to make funny internet memes with your wedding/cat photos. Xo" — and apparently she did.

Two days later, the photos appeared on The Chive under "Daily Morning Awesomeness," as well sites such as Reddit, Huffington Post, Life with Cats and Daily Mail.

Despite being upstaged on her big day, Danielle is amused by her cat's recent stardom, along with the different ways the photos have been spun and the range of comments about the cat's reaction.

It's also helped raise awareness about pet adoption. "The most beneficial part of this is being able to give a shout out to the no-kill shelter, Friends for Life, where we got Coco," Danielle says.

Abandoned by her previous owner, Coco spent two years at the Houston no-kill shelter before the couple adopted her. Though Coco's life had a rough start, she now has fame, so fortune should be just around the corner.

Wonder if she and Grumpy will become friends?

Danielle and Justin Foley pose for a picture with their beloved cat, Coco.

Photo courtesy of © Luciana Justice Photography

Danielle and Justin Foley pose for a picture with their beloved cat, Coco.

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Weed News

Texas AG Ken Paxton sues Dallas over decriminalization of marijuana

Photo courtesy of US Fish & Wildlife

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The City of Dallas has been sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for its efforts to decriminalize marijuana.

According to a release, Paxton has sued the city for adopting a city charter amendment that would decriminalize marijuana-related offenses and prohibit police from enforcing Texas law.

That amendment was Proposition R, or Dallas Freedom Act, which decriminalizes possession of four ounces of marijuana or less. Voters passed the amendment in the November 5 election, with 67 percent voting in favor.

The lawsuit, filed against the Dallas City Council, alleges that Proposition R is unconstitutional and violates Texas drug laws criminalizing any amount of marijuana.

Paxton says that cities can't "pick and choose which state laws to follow." He's proposing a permanent injunction to stop Proposition R from going into effect.

"The City of Dallas has no authority to override Texas drug laws or prohibit the police from enforcing them," says Paxton in a statement. "This is a backdoor attempt to violate the Texas Constitution, and any city that tries to constrain police in this fashion will be met swiftly with a lawsuit by my office.”

Before the recent election, possession of two to four ounces of marijuana could result in a punishment of 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Ground Game Texas, the activist nonprofit that has also helped get marijuana decriminalization on the ballot in elections across Texas, first got the issue on the ballot in July with the necessary 50,000 signatures.

Dallas is not the only city to be sued; Paxton also filed lawsuits against five other cities in Austin, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and San Marcos in January for their ballots and policies decriminalizing marijuana.

Both Austin and San Marcos had a judge overturn their cases, according to a FOX 4 report.

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