Credit: Photo by Richard Whittaker

The rumor spread quickly around the press desk on the Senate floor: Free Amy’s Ice Cream in the Capitol extension.

Yes, it was true. As part of their lobby day, the Texas State Technical College system had laid on free ice cream for legislators, staff, and anyone that happened to be wandering through the lege this afternoon. It made a definite change from the normal tented barbecues on the Capitol grounds or boxed lunches.

The halls of the extension were quickly filled with staffers carrying stacks of containers of ice cream back to their offices. Chairman Mark Strama, D-Austin, was in a rush to a meeting and so one of his staff volunteered to bring him some. Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, queued politely with everyone else for his cup. At this time, there is no confirmation of whether either legislator had sprinkles or any form of crush-in.

This article appears in March 20 • 2009.

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The Chronicle's first Culture Desk editor, Richard has reported on Austin's growing film production and appreciation scene for over a decade. A graduate of the universities of York, Stirling, and UT-Austin, a Rotten Tomatoes certified critic, and eight-time Best of Austin winner, he's currently at work on two books and a play.