Politics
Records show past tax issues for Sheffield
by Fred Afflerbach - Temple Daily Telegram Staff Writer, 3/22/8
Court documents and public records reveal numerous tax liens and lawsuits filed by the Internal Revenue Service, the state of Texas and Bell County against state District 55 Republican candidate Ralph Sheffield and business partners. The liens and lawsuits span three decades, from the mid-1980s through 2003.
Amid re-election bid, McCaul vows to drop earmarks
By BENNETT ROTH, Houston Chronicle, 24 March 2008
WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, apparently facing a stiff challenge for re-election in November, said Monday that he would no longer request controversial spending projects known as earmarks.
Dems look to reunite, focus on November
By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 March 2008
AUSTIN – After a highly charged primary election season that exposed some fault lines in the ranks of Texas House Democrats, party leaders hope to begin mending the rifts tonight in a venue acceptable to politicians of all stripes: a fundraising party.
Ex-candidates are giving back to those who gave
By Anna M. Tinsley and Jeff Claassen, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 March 2008
FORT WORTH – Some North Texans don't have to file their tax returns to get big refund checks in the mail.
DA looking into voting problems
By John Tompkins, Brazosport Facts, 25 March 2008
ANGLETON – Officials are looking into the possibility that more than 100 voters took two bites at the apple by voting in both the Republican and Democratic primaries on March 4, which is a criminal offense.
Government
Legislator blasts fire standards for foster homes
By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 24 March 2008
AUSTIN – A state lawmaker Monday criticized fire safety inspectors for enforcing stricter standards for families who take in abused or neglected children than are required for private homes.
Border Patrol wants military veterans
By HERNÁN ROZEMBERG, San Antonio Express-News, 24 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – The message is plastered on huge billboards.
Border cam still looks like a waste of money
San Antonio Express-News, 24 March 2008
SAN ANTONIO – During his re-election campaign in 2006, Gov. Rick Perry outlined a $5 million proposal to put hundreds of cameras on the border.
News
Job details will be added to Texas sex offender registry
By DIANE JENNINGS, Dallas Morning News, 24 March 2008
DALLAS – Job titles and places of employment are being added to the Texas sex offender registry – though the new information won't be available online for several months.
Justices won't hear Texas inmate's case
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 March 2008
HOUSTON – The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to review the case of a Houston-area man condemned for raping and strangling a 7-year-old neighborhood girl more than a decade ago.
UT tuition plan OK for now
Dallas Morning News, 25 March 2008
DALLAS – The University of Texas is like the old E.F. Hutton brokerage firm. When the state's biggest university system speaks, parents and educators listen.
People
Granger recovering after surgery
By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 March 2008
FORT WORTH – U.S. Rep. Kay Granger is recovering after having surgery Friday for recurring lower abdominal pain.
UT's Yudof drops hints about UC job
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 25 March 2008
AUSTIN – Mark Yudof, chancellor of the University of Texas System, stopped short Monday of explicitly confirming that he would be departing to lead the University of California System.
Observers have early ideas about UT's next leader
By HOLLY K. HACKER, Dallas Morning News, 25 March 2008
DALLAS – The job description for the next chancellor of the University of Texas System hasn't been written yet, but former regent Robert Estrada has some ideas.