Recount upholds GOP primary winner [1]

By Roger Croteau, San Antonio Express-News, 26 March 2008

SAN ANTONIO – A recount in the House District 73 Republican primary was finished Wednesday and confirmed that Doug Miller has unseated incumbent Nathan Macias.

Miller’s winning margin cut to 17 votes [2]

By Mitzie Stelte, New Braunfels Herald Zeitung, 3/27/8

The unofficial recount results in the Dist. 73 state representative race indicate that Doug Miller will be the Republican nominee on the ballot in November; Miller now leads incumbent Nathan Macias by a 17-vote margin. A canvass will occur within a day or two to confirm recount results.

Popular Conservative Texas House Candidate Dunning Has Some Republicans Worried [3]

By Jesse Hyde, Dallas Observer, 27 March 2008

DALLAS – In person, there is nothing scary about Randall Dunning.

Sheffield rebuts tax attack [4]

By Justin Cox, Killeen Daily Herald, 3/27/8

TEMPLE – Republican District 55 Texas House candidate Ralph Sheffield on Wednesday rebutted accusations made by rival Martha Tyroch during a recent TV commercial. Sheffield and Tyroch will battle in a runoff election April 8.

Mauro foresees no 'massive challenge' over caucuses by Clinton campaign [5]

By JAY ROOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – Weeks after Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign criticized the Texas caucus process and raised the possibility of a legal challenge, top advisers on Wednesday praised organizers and predicted a better-than-expected delegate count in coming days.

Dems get 150 challenges over precinct caucuses [6]

By AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 March 2008

FORT WORTH – The Texas Democratic Party has received more than 150 challenges to the results of the March 4 precinct caucuses that took place around Tarrant County, said Tarrant County Democratic Chairman Art Brender.

The party's not over for Texas caucus goers [7]

By R.G. RATCLIFFE, Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – Enthusiastic new voters swamped the Democratic caucuses earlier this month.

'Texas Two-Step' stumbles on [8]

By Tracy Idell Hamilton, San Antonio Express-News, 27 March 2008

SAN ANTONIO – Texas Democrats continue to convulse their way through the process that will determine how many delegates Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton each will win in their presidential bids.

District 22 candidates spar over spending [9]

By ALAN BERNSTEIN, Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

HOUSTON – The Republican candidates seeking to run against Democratic U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson criticized each other Wednesday about their approaches to spending government money.

Mayor: Does consultant have conflict of interest? [10]

BY DAVID TEWES, VICTORIA ADVOCATE, 26 March 2008

VICTORIA – Victoria’s mayor is concerned that a power company executive is also working for a powerful ranching family that might oppose a proposed nuclear plant.

Honest, Texas Democrats don't know which presidential candidate won the state yet [11]

By W Gardner Selby, Austin American-Statesman, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – It's hard to believe.

Early and often [12]

Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

HOUSTON – Vote early and often, the joke goes, but for 1,148 Harris County voters, it wasn't a joke.

Pedernales co-op, lawmakers to face off today [13]

By Claudia Grisales, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – When Pedernales Electric Cooperative officials arrive at the Capitol this morning for a legislative hearing spurred by excesses at the Johnson City-based co-op, they will be armed with evidence that management has turned over a new leaf with a spate of recent reforms.

Texas English teachers fight board-mandated reading lists [14]

By TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – Scores of English teachers urged the State Board of Education on Wednesday to reject proposed curriculum standards that would spell out what literary works their students should read, insisting they are best suited to make those decisions.

Critics lambaste education board on English curriculum [15]

By GARY SCHARRER, Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – A preliminary vote on a new English and reading curriculum is expected today after scores of teachers, language experts and civil rights leaders blasted it Wednesday at a public hearing before the State Board of Education.

Texas Bible course standards raising concerns [16]

By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – Religious freedom advocates want the State Board of Education to slow down the adoption of Bible course curriculum standards, which they say provide little guidance on how to teach the course within the constraints of the U.S. Constitution.

Phone fee may shrink [17]

By Kirk Ladendorf, AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – Texas telephone customers will probably see a lower state surcharge on their monthly phone bills if the Public Utility Commission signs off on a tentative agreement announced Wednesday by several communications companies.

As extra red-light cams went up, tickets went down [18]

By MATT STILES, Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

HOUSTON – Red-light camera citations have decreased steadily since Houston police boosted their monitoring at intersections six months ago, newly released records show.

Perry still backs sale of lottery [19]

By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – Although Gov. Rick Perry's proposal to turn the Texas lottery over to a private contractor fizzled out last year, he still supports the idea because he thinks it could generate billions of additional dollars for health or education programs, his spokesman said Wednesday.

Commissioners asked to form “391 Commission” against I-69/TTC [20]

BY ROSEMARY SMITH, Navasota Examiner, 26 March 2008

NAVASOTA – Though some may believe the I-69 Trans Texas Corridor will not be constructed, due to overwhelming opposition and various remarks by TxDOT representatives, a newly formed local group called “Grimes County Get Organized” asked Commissioners on Monday to consider forming a Commission group based on Local Government Code 391; to ensure the currently proposed construction plan through the county is officially stopped.

Bill To Help Landowners Understand Their Rights [21]

Tyler Morning Telegraph, 27 March 2008

TYLER – Concern about "rights" often is expressed these days and in Texas, private property rights have always been important.

Don't just tell Texans they can't smoke - give them the tools to quit [22]

Dr. Marianne Fazen, Austin American-Statesman, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – Commendably, the Texas Legislature hasn't given up the fight to make Texas a smoke-free state.

Medellin v. Texas [23]

Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

HOUSTON – The U.S. Constitution states that "all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby ... "

Judge opens needed dialogue on border fence [24]

Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 27 March 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI – A federal judge in Brownsville, Andrew S. Hanen, has inserted what has been missing in the standoff between Lower Rio Grande Valley landowners and the Department of Homeland Security over construction of a border fence: a little restraint and some reason from both sides.

Texas Lottery: Privatization makes sense, could aid Tiguas [25]

El Paso Times, 27 March 2008

EL PASO – Last year, Texas Gov. Rick Perry proposed selling the Texas Lottery to a private company.

University of Texas approves tuition hikes for schools [26]

By HOLLY K. HACKER / The Dallas Morning News, 26 March 2008

DALLAS – Tuition and fees will cost undergraduates at University of Texas campuses an average of 5 percent to 13 percent more next year, as approved Wednesday by the UT System regents.

UT regents approve tuition increases [27]

By MELISSA LUDWIG San Antonio Express-News, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – University of Texas regents voted Wednesday to raise tuition and fees at all of its 15 universities and medical institutions over the next two years.

Tyler Campus Part Of UT Tuition Hike [28]

Tyler Morning Telegraph, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – College tuition is going up in Texas. Again.

University of Texas system increases tuition again at all 9 campuses [29]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – The cost of education in the University of Texas system is going up again.

Regents approve UTB-TSC tuition increase [30]

By GARY LONG/The Brownsville Herald, 27 March 2008

BROWNSVILLE – The cost of an education at UTB-TSC is going up.

UTEP tuition to jump [31]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – Tuition at UTEP will increase $300 during the next two years after the University of Texas System regents on Wednesday approved the school's proposal to raise rates.

UTPB tuition increases [32]

BY ELAINE MARSILIO, Odessa American, 26 March 2008

ODESSA – The UT System Board of Regents approved Wednesday a $10 per-semester-credit-hour tuition increase for fall 2008 and fall 2009 at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

UT regents select Brackenridge tract planning firm [33]

By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – University of Texas System regents unanimously chose a New York City planning firm Wednesday to develop two master plans for the 345-acre Brackenridge tract in West Austin.

Slowdown doesn't keep Dallas-Fort Worth from nation's top spot in population growth [34]

By JIM GETZ / The Dallas Morning News, 27 March 2008

DALLAS – Population growth in the Dallas-Fort Worth region has slowed, but the area still added more people in 2006-07 than any other metropolitan area in the country, according to new U.S. Census Bureau statistics.

Texas cities on top in population growth [35]

By SUSAN CARROLL, Houston Chronicle, 27 March 2008

HOUSTON – The Houston metropolitan area ranked fourth in the nation for overall population growth between 2006 and 2007, according to new census data — an increase demographers attributed largely to the region's economy.

Arlington looks to eliminate drugs from tap water [36]

By JEFF MOSIER / The Dallas Morning News, 26 March 2008

DALLAS – Mayor Robert Cluck said Arlington plans to collaborate with other cities on ways to eliminate trace amounts of pharmaceuticals in tap water.

American Airlines' flight cancellations rise to 300 [37]

Dallas Morning News, 26 March 2008

DALLAS – American Airlines said it canceled about 300 flights, including about 80 from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, on Wednesday morning to perform inspections on its McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft.

The cost of higher education [38]

Amarillo Globe-News, 27 March 2008

AMARILLO – Here's a shocker: The price of a college education in Amarillo is going up.

TSU's Slade avoids prison with plea deal [39]

By BRIAN ROGERS and MATTHEW TRESAUGUE, Houston Chronicle, 26 March 2008

HOUSTON – A scandal that began in 2006 when a TSU regent complimented Priscilla Slade's choice of home furnishings ended Wednesday with a deal that lets the ousted leader of Texas' largest historically black university avoid prison in exchange for paying back $127,672.18.

Texas AG may be investigating ex-Senate staffer [40]

By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News, 27 March 2008

AUSTIN – The Texas attorney general's office is apparently investigating a veteran Senate staffer accused of impersonating a House member to sway a South Texas sheriff's race.

Obama's pastor Jeremiah Wright will not attend North Texas events [41]

By SAM HODGES / The Dallas Morning News, 26 March 2008

DALLAS – Jeremiah Wright, longtime pastor of presidential candidate Barack Obama, has cancelled plans to attend weekend events in Dallas.

Rev. Jeremiah Wright cancels Texas events [42]

Austin American-Statesman, 27 March 2008

DALLAS – The Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth will go ahead with its plans to honor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright this weekend, even though Barack Obama's controversial former pastor decided to skip the ceremony.

Judge drops parts of law firm lawsuit/Celis, others face fewer allegations in Zapata County [43]

By Denise Malan (Contact), Corpus Christ Caller Times, 3/26/8

Parts of a Zapata County lawsuit against law firm operator Mauricio Celis have been dismissed. District Judge David Peeples signed an order Monday dropping Celis, his firm CGT Law Group International, former partner Chris Pinedo and Owen & Associates law firm from parts of the suit, in which a McAllen law firm disputed attorneys fees with Celis.

UT leader excels at hustling [44]

Laredo Morning Times, 26 March 2008

AUSTIN – Squeezing a state legislature for more higher education money during a multibillion dollar state budget shortfall will be old hat for Mark Yudof, the presumptive next president of the University of California.

University of Texas chancellor expected to get California job [45]

Dallas Morning News, 27 March 2008

DALLAS – The University of California System is expected to name UT System Chancellor Mark Yudof to be its next leader today.