Berman Questions Union Fund Payroll Deductions [1]

By ROY MAYNARD, Tyler Morning Telegraph, 3/20/8

State Rep. Leo Berman has requested an attorney general's opinion on whether it's lawful for teachers unions to use payroll deductions to fund political campaigns. The Tyler Republican and chairman of the House Elections Committee says it's a direct challenge to the Texas State Teachers Association Political Action Committee, which tends to contribute to more Democrats than Republicans.

Lawyer says Craddick wanted cash to go to Democratic supporters [2]

By KAREN BROOKS, Dallas Morning News, 20 March 2008

AUSTIN – When House Speaker Tom Craddick gave $250,000 of his own campaign money to a long-dormant political action committee in January, he intended for the money to be funneled into the campaigns of four Democrats who were facing criticism for supporting him, his attorney said Wednesday.

GOP asks for probe into Houston Dem's fundraiser [3]

By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 19 March 2008

AUSTIN – The Republican Party of Texas is calling for an investigation into a December fundraiser for Rep. Hubert Vo hosted by a supporter who may be more used to scrutiny from the fashion police.

Don't count out Texas Democrats [4]

Amarillo Globe-News, 20 March 2008

AMARILLO – Never fear, Texas Democrats. The presidential caucus process that at times looked as if it originated in disenfranchised and disorganized Florida will eventually work out the kinks.

Hearty party? Local Democrats showing some signs of new life [5]

LONGVIEW NEWS-JOURNAL, 19 March 2008

LONGVIEW – Local Democrats had to shift their plans for the Gregg County Democratic Party convention later this month, moving it from the classrooms at Maude Cobb Convention and Activity Center to Lobo Coliseum at Longview High School.

UTB/TSC settles dispute with DHS University, feds reach compromise [6]

By Kevin Sieff, Brownsville Herald, 19 March 2008

BROWNSVILLE – The federal government's lawsuit against the University of Texas-Brownsville/Texas Southmost College over the border fence has been settled - at least for now.

UTB-TSC reach agreement with DHS over access [7]

By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 19 March 2008

BROWNSVILLE – University President Juliet Garcia announced Wednesday that the University of Texas at Brownsville-Texas Southmost College has reached agreement with the Department of Homeland Security over access to the campus.

Feds drop border fence suit against UT-Brownsville [8]

Houston Chronicle, 19 March 2008

BROWNSVILLE – The U.S. government dismissed its border fence condemnation lawsuit against the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College on Wednesday and agreed to explore alternatives to a fence with school officials.

No border wall planned for Laredo, but opponents remain vigilant [9]

By María González-Escareño, Rio Grande Guardian, 18 March 2008

LAREDO – Although recent events indicate there is no funding for the border wall in Webb County, Laredo's No Texas Border Wall coalition says they must be vigilant.

City gets little state cash to secure border [10]

By Louie Gilot, El Paso Times, 20 March 2008

EL PASO – A group of state representatives investigating the use of state money for border security projects were surprised to learn that little has been spent in El Paso.

State panel rejects Latino call for input on curriculum [11]

By GARY SCHARRER, Houston Chronicle, 19 March 2008

AUSTIN – There is neither time nor a reason to slow down a plan to update the English language arts and reading curriculum for public schools, State Board of Education Chairman Don McLeroy said Wednesday after a Texas lawmaker pleaded for input from Hispanic experts.

Texas revisions on standards for English draw criticism [12]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 20 March 2008

AUSTIN – Texas education officials are poised to adopt new English and reading standards despite critics' emotional objections that the needs of millions of Hispanic students have been overlooked.

Battle Against Teaching Evolution in Texas Begins [13]

By Jesse Hyde, Dallas Observer, 20 March 2008

DALLAS – A few weeks before the March 4 Republican primary, a group of candidates gathered at the Shady Valley Golf Club in Arlington for a meet-and-greet luncheon with voters.

Arguments Creationists Make to Counter Evolution [14]

By Jesse Hyde, Dallas Observer, 20 March 2008

DALLAS – Here are some of the arguments that creationists make to counter the theory of evolution, along with their scientific counter arguments:

In the dark: Outsourcing Lufkin's red light camera system slows down access to public information [15]

By ASHLEY COOK, Lufkin Daily News, 19 March 2008

LUFKIN – Outsourcing red light policing to a paperless system means the city of Lufkin has made it more convenient for itself — but harder for the public — when it comes to keeping open records accessible.

Dallas shouldn't stop red-light cameras [16]

Dallas Morning News, 20 March 2008

DALLAS – Perhaps the city of Dallas could use an assist in the realm of public relations.

Clean house—then clean the air [17]

By Eliot Shapleigh, Rio Grande Guardian, 19 March 2008

Last week's announcement by the EPA on tougher air quality standards for smog reveals values of very different state leaders who protect very different interests.

Inquiry looks at FAA's actions after El Paso mechanic was killed fixing Continental plane [18]

By DAVE MICHAELS, Dallas Morning News, 19 March 2008

WASHINGTON – A congressional committee is investigating regulators' decision to grant immunity to Continental Airlines pilots for mistakes that led to an El Paso mechanic being sucked into a jet engine in 2006.

Pedernales Electric Cooperative settlement is the end of the beginning [19]

By John A. Worrall, Austin American-Statesman, 19 March 2008

AUSTIN – On March 10, District Court Judge John Dietz announced that a settlement had been reached in the class-action lawsuit filed by Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC) members against the board and upper management of the PEC.

Windmill debate heats up [20]

By Jaime Powell, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 20 March 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI – Wind energy is a good source of clean, inexhaustible energy, but whether it should be tapped in South Texas remains the center of a fierce debate among developers and environmentalists.

Consider all power sources in the quest to meet the state's energy needs [21]

By Mark Rose, Austin American Statesman, 19 March 2008

AUSTIN – Texas leads the nation in total energy production and consumption.

U. of Texas chancellor may get top post at UC/Regents could act today to name Mark Yudof as president [22]

By Larry Gordon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, 3/20/8

The chancellor of the University of Texas system is the leading candidate to become the next president of the University of California and may be named to that post as soon as today, according to several knowledgeable sources.

TCU moves event honoring the Rev. Jeremiah Wright off campus [23]

By HOLLY YAN, Dallas Morning News, 20 March 2008

DALLAS – An event honoring controversial Chicago pastor Jeremiah Wright at Texas Christian University has been moved off campus because of security issues, TCU announced Wednesday.

Rosenthal case could add $100,000 to taxpayers' bill [24]

By CINDY GEORGE, Houston Chronicle, 19 March 2008

HOUSTON – The potential federal contempt charges against disgraced former District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal could cost Harris County taxpayers an additional $100,000 or so.

Wright and wrong [25]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 March 2008

FORT WORTH – Officials at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University are not backing down from the decision by the Black Church Studies Program to honor the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. at its fourth State of the Black Church Summit on March 28-29.