GOP delegates here lodge complaints on convention [1]

By Denise Malan, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 1 May 2008

CORPUS CHRISTI – A group of delegates unhappy with the way the Nueces County Republican Convention was run say they have filed formal complaints with the state party.

Flores: Craddick has been great for the Valley [2]

By Joey Gomez, Rio Grande Guardian, 30 April 2008

McALLEN – Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick has made history by visiting the Rio Grande Valley and taking the initiative so the region can succeed, said state Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview, on the campus of South Texas College on Wednesday.

Craddick charms local Republicans [3]

By Sara Perkins, McAllen Monitor, 1 May 2008

PHARR – Tom Craddick doesn't always expect a warm reception.

It's Time to Talk [4]

Lufkin Daily News, 1 May 2008

LUFKIN – When Gov. Rick Perry last week asked the federal government to reduce its mandate for higher percentages of ethanol in gasoline he joined a national conversation about ethanol that this country needs to have.

Texas lawmakers vow to press for expansion of health insurance for children [5]

By R.A. DYER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Noting that Texas leads the nation in uninsured children, key lawmakers joined with healthcare advocates Tuesday in calling for an expansion of the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid.

5,000 more El Paso children sign up for health plan [6]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Thousands more children in El Paso and statewide have gotten health insurance in recent months, and health-care advocates and lawmakers said Tuesday that they had a plan to ensure hundreds of thousands more get insured.

Inspector General: Conflict of interest on NASA review board [7]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 30 April 2008

WASHINGTON – A board set up to review construction of the spaceship to return astronauts to the moon is loaded with employees of the very contractors they are supposed to scrutinize, breaking federal law, a government watchdog says.

State rules isle lead landlords stay unnamed [8]

By Leigh Jones, Galveston County Daily News, 1 May 2008

GALVESTON – The Texas Attorney General’s office is siding with the Galveston County Health District in its decision not to release the names of property owners whose residences were at one time occupied by lead poisoned children.

Gas price debate heats up, but will it matter? [9]

By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 April 2008

WASHINGTON – President Bush dismissed a request from the two Texans in the U.S. Senate and 13 of their Republican colleagues Tuesday that his administration try to lower gas prices by stopping the flow of oil into the country's emergency stockpile.

State considers tighter rules for teen drivers [10]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 1 May 2008

AUSTIN – Texas should require teens to prove they can safely drive a car before giving them licenses, and should increase accountability standards for driver safety courses, parents and teen driving safety advocates told lawmakers Wednesday.

Texas schools testing ways to ease TAKS anxiety [11]

By STACI HUPP, Dallas Morning News, 30 April 2008

DALLAS – A quiet campaign is afoot in Texas schools to scrap a key part of the state accountability test: the pressure.

Tom Leppert and Royce West: In defense of congressional earmarking [12]

By Tom Leppert and Royce West, Dallas Morning News, 1 May 2008

DALLAS – Since 2001, Congress has appropriated more than $183 million for the Trinity River Corridor Project, which many in Dallas agree is the most important public works endeavor in our city's history.

Bishop Peña: The word 'expedite' should not be part of border wall dialogue [13]

By Raymundo J. Peña, Rio Grande Guardian, 1 May 2008

EDINBURG – Good morning Mr. Chairman and good morning to all the members of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans. I thank you for this opportunity to speak to you regarding this very important issue and I welcome you to our beautiful state of Texas and our home in the Rio Grande Valley.

CPS: 41 children taken from sect compound had bone fractures [14]

By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – At least 41 children taken from the polygamist compound in West Texas had suffered bone fractures, some of them multiple times, which suggested a pattern of child abuse, the head of the state’s Child Protective Services told a legislative panel Wednesday morning.

Child welfare official testifies about YFZ Ranch kids at Texas Senate hearing [15]

By ROBERT T. GARRETT, Dallas Morning News, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Dozens of youngsters swept by the state from a polygamist sect suffered broken or fractured bones in the past, some when children were "very young," Texas' top protective services official said today.

Official: History of injuries found in polygamist sect children [16]

By LISA SANDBERG and TERRI LANGFORD, San Antonio Express-News and Houston Chronicle, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Dozens of children seized from a West Texas polygamist sect had broken or fractured bones in the past and some of the boys may have been sexually abused, state officials said today.

State officials: Sect children's broken bones 'cause for concern' [17]

By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 1 May 2008

AUSTIN – State child welfare workers want to know why 41 of the children removed from a polygamous sect's ranch near Eldorado have had broken bones in the past.

Mother defends sect's ways, says kids in captivity [18]

By Sean Thomas, Amarillo Globe-News, 1 May 2008

AMARILLO – "I have four in captivity," she said flatly.

Experts: Polygamy difficult to prosecute [19]

By Kathleen Thurber, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 1 May 2008

MIDLAND – Experts say polygamy charges difficult to prosecute By Kathleen Thurber Staff Writer Having more than one wife is illegal in the state of Texas.

State investigates sexual abuse of boys [20]

San Angelo Standard-Times, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Texas officials told legislators today that they're investigating the possible sexual abuse of some young boys taken from a polygamist sect's ranch, as well as broken bones among other children.

Study suggests bias in death penalty cases [21]

By ALLAN TURNER, Houston Chronicle, 1 May 2008

HOUSTON – A new study on how race affects the way death penalty cases are handled in Harris County, the so-called "capital of capital punishment," finds that black offenders are more likely than whites to be placed on trial for their lives, even when their crimes are relatively less heinous.

Texas sees largest gain in Hispanic population [22]

By Anna M. Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 April 2008

FORT WORTH – Look around, Texans. Soon the rest of the U.S. will look like us – in terms of population, at least.

Hispanic population increase is challenge for U.S., state [23]

By Diana Washington Valdez, El Paso Times, 1 May 2008

EL PASO – Sixteen states each have more than half a million Hispanics, contributing to the one-year increase nationally of 1.4 million, and Texas has the second-largest number of that minority group.

Census: Texas adds almost 2 million Hispanics since 2000 [24]

By JIM GETZ, Dallas Morning News, 1 May 2008

DALLAS – The percentage of Hispanics in Texas and the nation grew again last year, continuing a trend that has endured throughout the decade, new statistics show.

Does Hispanic growth equal influence? [25]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 1 May 2008

WASHINGTON – The number of Hispanics in the United States rose by 1.4 million over a year's time to 45.5 million as of last July, continuing rapid growth that could increase their influence.

Report states Midland benefits from lawsuit reform [26]

By Courtney Bacalso, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 1 May 2008

MIDLAND – Since 1995, the state of Texas has been at the forefront of lawsuit reform aimed at preventing abusive tort cases. And its successes have benefited Midland by the creation of 1,624 jobs and $340 million in annual spending, according to a report released Wednesday.

Texas Lawsuit Reforms Boost State's Economy [27]

Tyler Morning Telegraph

TYLER – The merits of lawsuit reforms have been thoroughly debated and now a new report by nationally recognized economist Ray Perryman offers supporters and defenders of reforms impressive measures of their impact.

American 'exploring opportunities' with British Airways, Continental [28]

By TREBOR BANSTETTER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2008

FORT WORTH – American Airlines confirmed that it is "exploring opportunities for cooperating" with Continental Airlines and British Airways, talks which may result in an alliance among the three airlines.

BA looks at ways to cooperate with American, Continental [29]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 30 April 2008

LONDON – British Airways PLC said on Wednesday that it is considering ways of cooperating with American Airlines Inc. and Continental Airlines Inc.

Slick news State drilling permits up [30]

Wichita Falls Times Record News, 1 May 2008

WICHITA FALLS – The Railroad Commission of Texas reported 1,926 drilling permits in February, up from 1,400 during the same month last year.

Desalination project [31]

Odessa American, 30 April 2008

ODESSA – Texas Water Development Board officials have approved up to $300,000 for the city of Seminole's groundwater desalination project.

A screenwriter's dream, or nightmare, plays out in West Texas [32]

By W. Gardner Selby, Austin American-Statesman, 1 May 2008

AUSTIN – Somewhere, no doubt, a screenwriter is watching the child-abuse investigation that started in West Texas.

Texas errs on the side of caution [33]

By Ty Meighan, Abilene Reporter-News, 1 May 2008

SAN ANGELO – For the past three weeks, a debate has rippled through the nation about the raid on a polygamist sect near Eldorado.

Grand jury indicts justice's wife on arson charge [34]

By BRIAN ROGERS, Houston Chronicle, 30 April 2008

HOUSTON – For the second time, a Harris County grand jury indicted the wife of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina, alleging she burned down the couple's Spring home and damaged two neighbors' homes in a fire last year.

Texas Supreme Court justice's wife re-indicted in house fire [35]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 30 April 2008

HOUSTON – The wife of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina was indicted for a second time this year on Wednesday on charges connected to a fire that destroyed the couple's suburban Houston home last summer.

Barriers hurdled, new chief takes helm of roads agency [36]

By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 1 May 2008

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry's appointment of Deirdre Delisi to head the Texas Transportation Commission, finally made official Wednesday, had been knocking around the Capitol for months, hung up by objections from state Sens. John Carona and Kirk Watson.

Perry's picks for Texas Transportation Commission highlight commitment to toll roads [37]

By MICHAEL LINDENBERGER, Dallas Morning News, 30 April 2008

DALLAS – A week after Gov. Rick Perry said in a speech that he’ll fight to keep toll roads at the center of any plans to solve Texas’ transportation needs, he proved it by naming his former chief of staff to lead the Texas Transportation Commission.

Perry's transportation picks trouble San Antonio officials [38]

By PEGGY FIKAC and PATRICK DRISCOLL, San Antonio Express-News, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today named his former chief of staff and a North Texas tollway official to the state Transportation Commission, filling the vacancy left by Ric Williamson's death and replacing San Antonio member Hope Andrade.

Perry appoints transportation commissioners [39]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 30 April 2008

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry appointed former aide Deirdre Delisi of Austin to chair the Texas Transportation Commission and named tollway official William Meadows, of Fort Worth, to another seat on the panel Wednesday.

4 condemned Texas prisoners lose appeals [40]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 30 April 2008

HOUSTON – Four condemned prisoners lost appeals Wednesday before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, including a man identified as a leader of a gang authorities said was responsible for killing six men in a robbery-shooting spree in the Rio Grande Valley.

Waco nearly booked solid for Bush wedding – and plenty else [41]

By Mike Copeland, Waco Tribune-Herald, 1 May 2008

WACO – The weekend of May 10 was already shaping up as a busy one before Jenna Bush announced she would be getting married that Saturday.

Crawford low-key about 'last dance' with Bush family wedding [42]

By Erin Quinn, Waco Tribune-Herald, 1 May 2008

CRAWFORD – To say this tiny town made famous by President Bush is all abuzz with excitement for his daughter’s May 10 ranch wedding would be a vast exaggeration. It’s just not.

Eastern District of Texas gets new U.S. Attorney [43]

By JESSICA SAVAGE, Lufkin Daily News, 30 April 2008

LUFKIN – The U.S. Senate has confirmed the presidential appointment of Rebecca Gregory as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

New U.S. Attorney appointed for Texas' Eastern District [44]

Sherman-Denison Herald Democrat, 29 March 2008

DENISON – The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed Becky Gregory, most recently a partner at Dallas-based law firm Curran Tomko Tarski LLP, as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

Road warrior [45]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 May 2008

FORT WORTH – Gov. Rick Perry has made an excellent choice in naming Bill Meadows of Fort Worth to the Texas Transportation Commission.