Politics
Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back
Texas Observer, 21 March 2008
The presidential road show has rolled out of Texas—after its first full run in 20 years—but the politicking hasn’t.
‘I Feel Badly About Just Quitting’
By Sarah Elkins, Newsweek, 20 March 2008
John McCain may have clinched the Republican nomination on March 4, but for Ron Paul and his 800,000-strong army of supporters, the GOP primary isn't over ... at least not yet.
Texas Democratic caucus delegates ready for next step Saturday.
By Kate Alexander, W. Gardner Selby, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 23 March 2008
AUSTIN – James Akers of Dripping Springs has set his sights high as a first-time delegate to his local Democratic Party convention on Saturday.
Leo predicts 'Viva Clinton' clubs will start up along the border this fall
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 23 March 2008
LA JOYA – A top Democratic strategist in the Rio Grande Valley predicts that “Viva Clinton” clubs will spring up along the border if Hillary Clinton becomes the party’s presidential nominee.
State Dems look ahead
By Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 24 March 2008
WASHINGTON – The Democrat aiming to topple U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer earned more than $240,000 in consulting fees, as well as investment income of at least $66,000 in the last 14 months, his financial disclosure statement showed.
Craddick, Estes plan fundraiser for Margo
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 22 March 2008
AUSTIN – House Speaker Tom Craddick and state Sen. Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls, will host a fundraiser for Republican Dee Margo next week in Austin, the Texas House candidate said Friday.
Hutchison Praises Tax Cuts
By GREG JUNEK, Tyler Morning Telegraph, 21 March 2008
TYLER – Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison on Thursday told Tyler business leaders she believes that making President Bush's tax cuts permanent would help show that the country will have long-term economic stability.
Bought to You by Bob Perry
Texas Observer, 21 March 2008
If you’re running for re-election, it’s generally a bad idea to walk around drunk or brandish a gun in public or kiss other people’s wives. Borris Miles, a first-term Democratic state rep from Houston, managed to do all three in the same night.
Dems need to learn lesson from fiasco
San Angelo Standard-Times, 23 March 2008
SAN ANGELO – Pundits had a field day criticizing the so-called "Texas two-step" voting process before, during and after the March 4 Texas Democratic primary.
Government
Texas' vehicle voucher program to stop until new funds pumped in
By TERRY BOX, Dallas Morning News, 22 March 2008
DALLAS – Texas' ambitious program to get old polluting cars and trucks off the road – one of the largest in the U.S. – may soon roll to a temporary halt.
Voucher program to remove polluting cars might be halted
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 March 2008
DALLAS – The state's program to remove old polluting vehicles from the roads may soon have to be temporarily halted, officials said.
Government files evidence in border fence suit
By LYNN BREZOSKY, San Antonio Express-news, 21 March 2008
BROWNSVILLE – Just in time for a federal judge's deadline, the government on Friday filed what representatives said is proof that attempts were made to negotiate with a landowner to acquire land needed for the border fence.
Border congressmen want more money for ‘critical’ levee repairs
By María González-Escareño, Rio Grande Guardian, 21 March 2008
LAREDO – Members of the Texas border region’s congressional delegation have signed on to request funding for the International Boundary and Water Commission to make the most “critical repairs” in the border levee system.
Texas reaps $2.2 billion in earmarks
By BENNETT ROTH and PATRICK BRENDEL, Houston Chronicle, 23 March 2008
WASHINGTON – Texas corralled $2.2 billion in special projects from the federal government this year, including $294,000 for a Houston zoo program and $22 million for an Army gymnasium near El Paso.
Texas struggles to retain caseworkers
By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 23 March 2008
AUSTIN – First thing Thursday morning, a dozen new state caseworkers arrived at a North Austin office building for a training class on enrolling Texans in the food stamp and Medicaid programs.
S. Texas to get 3 interstate legs
By JACKIE LEATHERMAN, McAllen Monitor, 22 March 2008
McALLEN – South Texas is not only going to get its first interstate - it's going to get three branches of one.
Sex offender employment information to go online
By TRACI SHURLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 March 2008
FORT WORTH – This year, visitors to the Texas Department of Public Safety's Web site can find out where the state's registered sex offenders are working and can sign up for a notification system for their home ZIP code.
Mexico opens cattle with Canada, but not U.S.
San Angelo Standard-Times, 23 March 2008
BALLINGER - A good neighbor policy has to work both ways to be successful, but Mexico is not playing the game when it comes to cattle trade with the United States - yet they have resumed trade with Canada, says Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, so we have closed the gates on the Texas Export facilities.
Traffic camera citations plentiful
By APRIL AVISON, Bryan-College Station Eagle, 23 March 2008
COLLEGE STATION – In the first month of College Station's red-light camera program, a vendor has issued more than $112,000 worth of citations.
More resources coming to South Texas to battle cattle fever ticks
By María González-Escareño, Rio Grande Guardian, 21 March 2008
LAREDO – South Texas cattlemen will soon receive more resources to help control the increased outbreak of cattle fever ticks that could be detrimental to the cattle ranching economy.
Hinojosa: FEMA is a failed agency
By Joey Gomez, Rio Grande Guardian, 21 March 2008
SAN MANUEL – With the recent massive wildfires in mind, state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is the latest example of Washington, D.C., turning its back on Americans in South Texas.
Texas' pipeline to youth prison
Dallas Morning News, 24 March 2008
DALLAS – When a teenager waves a gun in your face and steals your wallet, it's hard to think empathetically about a time when he was just a little boy with dreams of being an astronaut or firefighter. For you, he's a criminal who belongs behind bars.
Wanted: more well inspections
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 March 2008
FORT WORTH – Concerns about public safety and potential groundwater pollution associated with natural gas drilling have magnified amid an urban drilling boom in Tarrant County and surrounding counties in North Central Texas.
Of sufficient merit
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 March 2008
FORT WORTH – Arlington school district trustees have yet to make a formal decision whether to participate in the state grant performance program, but it appears they are inclined to turn down merit bonuses of about $3.1 million.
News
Bexar County awaits AG opinion on needle-exchange program
By KAREN BROOKS, Dallas Morning News, 23 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – Bill Day uses his shoe to brush aside a couple of used needles littering the ground near a concrete arroyo in a seedy west side neighborhood.
Nuke waste dump operator pays fines for self-reported violations
Austin American-Statesman, 22 March 2008
AUSTIN – A Dallas company operating a radioactive waste storage and disposal site in West Texas said Friday that it has agreed to pay the state $151,000 in penalties for violations in 2005 and 2006.
State committee meeting next month to discuss wind energy in West Texas
By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 24 March 2008
AUSTIN – For more than a century, Texas has been the national leader on energy production thanks to its giant oil and natural gas fields.
People
Dallas pastor Haynes a finalist for NAACP presidency
By SAM HODGES, Dallas Morning News, 23 March 2008
DALLAS – The pastor of a southern Dallas megachurch confirmed Sunday that he's a finalist to be president and chief executive of the NAACP.
Toll road heat may come to seem mild
By Patrick Driscoll, San Antonio Express-News, 23 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – On his first day working for the state highway department, David Casteel was assigned to scoop up dead animals.
Midland accountant blew lid off House fundraiser scandal
By TODD J. GILLMAN, Dallas Morning News, 22 March 2008
WASHINGTON – Lawyers are a dime a dozen in the halls of Congress.
If he leaves UT, what's next?
By Janet Elliott, San Antonio Express-News, 21 March 2008
AUSTIN – The next chancellor of the University of Texas System will need a broad view to confront issues of cost and access to higher education, several lawmakers said Friday.
Yudof has served UT System well
Austin American-Statesman, 21 March 2008
AUSTIN – Mark Yudof is being wooed to the sprawling University of California System because he boasts a resume that few other university system leaders can match.
