Politics
Olson scores victory against Sekula Gibbs
By MIKE TOLSON, Houston Chronicle, 9 April 2008
HOUSTON – Washington political aide Pete Olson claimed a surprisingly easy victory Tuesday over Shelley Sekula Gibbs in the runoff for the Republican candidacy in the 22nd Congressional District.
Former Senate aide wins Houston-area congressional runoff
Waco Tribune-Herald, 9 April 2008
AUSTIN — Clout that comes from working with U.S. senators appeared to help propel congressional candidate Pete Olson to a Republican runoff victory over former Houston City Council member Shelley Sekula Gibbs.
Ex-Senate aide wins Republican runoff for DeLay's old congressional seat
Austin American-Statesman, April 09, 2008
AUSTIN – An ex-Senate aide defeated a former city councilwoman in a runoff election Tuesday as Houston-area Republicans chose a nominee for former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's old congressional seat in District 22.
Olson Wins Texas 22 Runoff
By Hastings Wyman, Southern Political Report April 9, 2008
Former Senate staffer Pete Olson won yesterday’s runoff to choose the Republican nominee to oppose freshman Nick Lampson (D) in Texas’ 22nd District, the bailiwick once represented by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R).
Lewis defeats West
BY DAVID J. LEE, Odessa American, 9 April 2008
ODESSA – Tryon Lewis, barring a Libertarian miracle, is headed to Austin.
Lewis wins runoff against West, vows to support Rep. Craddick
By Kathleen Thurber, Midland Reporter-Telegram, April 9, 200
MIDLAND – After a convincing win in the District 81 state representative primary run-off Tuesday, Judge Tryon Lewis said his work as a representative will start today and it's work he said will include helping re-elect Midlander Tom Craddick to the position of House speaker come January.
Daniel defeats Hobbs in House District 52
By Laylan Copelin, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, April 09, 2008
AUSTIN – Georgetown insurance executive Bryan Daniel bested prosecutor Dee Hobbs of Hutto on Tuesday night in the race to be the Republican nominee to replace retiring Rep. Mike Krusee.
Button wins GOP primary runoff to succeed Hill
By IAN McCANN / The Dallas Morning News, 8 April 2008
DALLAS – Angie Chen Button won an expensive and bruising contest over Randy Dunning in the Republican primary race to succeed retiring state Rep. Fred Hill.
Sheffield wins District 55 nomination
By Justin Cox, Killeen Daily Herald, 9 April 2008
KILLEEN – It wasn't supposed to happen like this.
Lehmberg wins Travis DA race with ease
By Steven Kreytak, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, April 09, 2008
AUSTIN – Riding the endorsement of retiring Ronnie Earle, Rosemary Lehmberg on Tuesday soundly defeated her better-financed opponent to win the Democratic primary runoff for Travis County district attorney.
Democrats hope for gains in Congress, even in Texas
By Gary Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 8 April 2008
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders were optimistic Tuesday that they will expand their majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in November elections, despite tough races in Texas.
Brouhaha over selection of Hidalgo County's at-large delegates rumbles on
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 7 April 2008
PHARR – A member of the Nominations Committee at the recent Hidalgo County Democratic Party County Convention has defended the recommendations the group made for at-large delegates to the State Convention.
Ghost voting must end in Capitol
Dallas Morning News, April 9, 2008
DALLAS – The move toward greater transparency in the state Capitol now enters the weird zone, the one with invisible lawmakers.
Government
Democrats say FAA testimony on airline oversight 'misleading'
Waco Tribune-Herald, 9 April 2008
WASHINGTON — Three House members on Tuesday charged Federal Aviation Administration officials with presenting "misleading" testimony about airline maintenance.
Border fence waivers challenged
By Jeremy Roebuck, McAllen Monitor, 8 April 2008
McALLEN – Fourteen U.S. congressmen publicly criticized Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Tuesday for his decision to bypass more than 30 laws to expedite construction of the border fence.
Reyes backs lawmakers' challenge to border fence
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 04/09/2008
AUSTIN – U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes will join more than a dozen other congressmen in filing a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court later this month challenging federal officials' plans to bypass about 30 laws so they can quickly build the border fence.
Congressmen join legal challenge against Chertoff’s right to waive environmental laws
By Steve Taylor and María González-Escareño, Rio Grande Guardian, 8 April 2008
McALLEN – The chair of the Committee on Homeland Security is joining a legal effort that challenges a law that gives Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff the right to waive environmental laws in order to speed up construction of a border wall.
Tamez: Border congressmen should be demanding Chertoff’s resignation
By María González-Escareño, Rio Grande Guardian, 7 April 2008
LAREDO – A riverfront property owner who had her day in court with the Department of Homeland Security over the border wall is asking members of Congress from South Texas to pay more attention to the issue.
Culberson unhappy with Democrats' legal challenge to Chertoff waiver
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 8 April 2008
McALLEN – Not everybody likes the attempt by 14 Democratic congressmen to challenge to the waiver authority that has allowed Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to speed up construction of a border wall.
Unaccountable charter schools
Wichita Falls Times Record News, April 09, 2008
WICHITA FALLS – Texas’s pock-marked history with public charter schools has another blemish: Taxpayers spent $26 million they didn’t have to.
State should increase prison guard salary
Beaumont Enterprise 04/09/2008
BEAUMONT – Working as a corrections officer is not glamorous. It's important and often rewarding work, but it's not the first career choice for many men and women. So if Texas wants to make sure it has enough qualified prison guards, it will have to offer them competitive salaries.
News
Girl whose call triggered raid complained of being beaten, officials say
By Corrie MacLaggan, Austin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, 4/9/8
The 16-year-old girl whose outcry triggered the largest child welfare operation in state history told a West Texas family violence shelter that she was wife No. 7 of a man who choked her, hit her in the chest and forced himself on her sexually, according to court documents.
More victims, state says after interviewing all sequestered children from YFZ Ranch
By Paul A. Anthony, San Angelo Standard-Times, April 9, 2008
SAN ANGELO – Interviews with hundreds of children removed from a secretive Schleicher County polygamist compound have revealed more alleged victims than just the 16-year-old girl whose phone calls sparked last week's raid, the state's Child Protective Services agency says.
Teen's account: Sect forced girls as young as 13 to marry, bear children
By BILL HANNA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 April 2008
ELDORADO – The 16-year-old girl whose allegation triggered the massive raid against a polygamist compound gave a harrowing account of life inside the secretive outpost, where she was forced to have sex and was beaten regularly, according to court documents released Tuesday.
Grim tale of abuse begins to emerge
By Lisa Sandberg and Jane Elliott, San Antonio Express-News, 9 April 2008
SAN ANGELO — The 16-year-old girl's voice was barely audible as she told a counselor at a family violence shelter of her life of beatings and rape at the hands of her older, "spiritual" husband.
Life on polygamist compound at once old-fashioned, modern
By PAUL MEYER and EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News, 8 April 2008
ELDORADO – As the buses swept children down a two-lane country highway and into another world, mothers calmed their young by singing a hymn of struggle and deliverance:
Ranch's leader calls for public outcry over raid
By BROOKE ADAMS, The Salt Lake Tribune, April 9, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY – Sounding weary and anxious, Merrill Jessop spoke briefly Tuesday about the law enforcement investigation now in its fifth day at the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado.
Texas needs more homeowner insurance competition
By David Hendricks, San Antonio Express-News, 9 April 2008
SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Department of Insurance regulates homeowner insurance too much.
People
Leaked script for 'W' movie draws mixed reviews
By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News, 4/9/8
AUSTIN — There’s a scene in the screenplay of Oliver Stone’s next movie where George W. Bush tells wife Laura that he wishes his father had not been elected president. Not likely.
Dallas indictment of alleged stalker of U.S. Sen. Hutchison
Waco Tribune-Herald, 9 April 2008
DALLAS — A Weatherford man has been indicted for allegedly stalking U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
American dignitary visits Dunmow
Dunmow Broadcast, 08 April 2008
DUNMOW, UK – Dunmow museum welcomed one of America's top dignitaries on Saturday when the Lieutenant Governor of Texas came to visit.