Poll showing close race for Cornyn is quickly questioned [1]

By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – A national polling firm puts Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Rick Noriega within striking distance of incumbent Republican John Cornyn, which is giving renewed hope to the underfunded challenger while leaving some observers questioning whether the numbers should be trusted.

House Democrats blast Craddick, saying he knew about 'ghost workers' [2]

By Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – As some Texas House members began changing their payroll practices amid an investigation into allegations of ghost employees, others on Monday criticized House Speaker Tom Craddick and other top officials for "trying to start a bonfire" on a practice they approved.

Paul considers alternative uses for leftover cash [3]

Midland Reporter-Telegram, 6 May 2008

MIDLAND – Rep. Ron Paul, R.-Texas, was a fund-raising champion when it came to getting money for his unsuccessful run for the presidency, but in the end he got more money than votes and didn't even place a dent on the Republican voting map.

AG's ruling quashes Bexar County needle-exchange program [4]

By KAREN BROOKS, Dallas Morning News, 5 May 2008

AUSTIN – The only government-funded needle exchange program in Texas was quashed before it could even begin, after Attorney General Greg Abbott said today that the law wasn’t clear enough for a new Bexar County pilot program to move forward.

AG opinion sidelines Bexar County needle-swap plan [5]

By DON FINLEY AND ELIZABETH ALLEN, San Antonio Express-News, 6 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – In the wake of a long-awaited opinion issued Monday by Attorney General Greg Abbott, Bexar County officials will not move forward with what would have been the first legally sanctioned syringe-exchange program for drug addicts in Texas.

Needle-exchange program hits roadblock [6]

By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – State lawmakers who want to allow needle-exchange programs in Texas vowed to try again in 2009 after an attorney general opinion issued Monday cleared the way for a case against three activists in Bexar County who passed out clean syringes.

OK to prosecute needle-exchange participants [7]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – People who possess drug paraphernalia as part of a needle-exchange program can be prosecuted, the Texas Attorney General's Office said Monday, clearing the way for a case involving three activists who passed out clean syringes to move forward.

Harris County may send more inmates out of state/Officials ask to ship them to Louisiana to ease jail overcrowding [8]

By LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON, Houston Chronicle, 5/6/8

With the Harris County Jail already filled to the brim and an influx of inmates expected this summer, the sheriff's department is asking Commissioners Court for permission to send another 1,130 more inmates to Louisiana facilities.

Funding is set on levee-fence for Hidalgo [9]

By Lynn Brezosky, San Antonio Express-News, 5 May 2008

BROWNSVILLE – A plan to have a border fence double as a flood wall in Hidalgo County has been finalized thanks to a Department of Homeland Security grant announced Monday allowing the federal government to pick up most of the project's cost.

Local border wall to cost $113.9 million [10]

By Jackie Leatherman and Jeremy Roebuck, McAllen Monitor, 5 May 2008

EDINBURG – The border wall levee project in Hidalgo County now has a price tag: $113.9 million.

Hidalgo County finalizes levee-border fence agreement with federal government [11]

Dallas Morning News, 5 May 2008

McALLEN – Hidalgo County has finalized its agreement with the federal government to build a combination of levee and border fence along 22 miles of existing levees along the Rio Grande.

Deal combines border fence, levees in Hidalgo County [12]

Houston Chronicle, 5 May 2008

McALLEN – The federal government and a South Texas county have finalized an agreement to build a combination of levees and border fence, a project aimed at addressing national security concerns and local flood control needs at the same time.

Legislature could get involved with West Texas sale [13]

By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 5 May 2008

AUSTIN – For now, the Christmas Mountains probably will remain under the control of Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, until the issues of guns and hunting are resolved to his liking — or lawmakers get involved.

Patterson accuses land donor of being on 'jihad' [14]

By R.A. DYER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has accused a philanthropic group that donated the pristine Christmas Mountains to the state for conservation purposes of being on a "jihad" relating to his handling of the tract.

State wants hunting OK'd in Christmas Mountains takeover [15]

By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – The Christmas Mountains near Big Bend National Park will remain state land until, or unless, federal officials who want to take over the rugged parcel agree to allow firearms and hunting, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson told lawmakers Monday.

Private firms cleared to help Texans applying for food stamps [16]

By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6 May 2008

WASHINGTON – A move in Congress to limit the role of private firms in doling out food stamps is dead for now, allowing Texas to move forward with its privatization plans.

Strip clubs ask high court to halt fee collection [17]

By Janet Elliott, San Antonio Express-News, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – An association representing strip clubs asked the Texas Supreme Court on Monday to stop the state from collecting a new fee that a trial court has ruled unconstitutional.

Viable farm bill vital for this region [18]

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 6 May 2008

LUBBOCK – Passage of a viable farm bill is essential not only to the economic well-being of Lubbock and West Texas, but also to our nation. America's agriculture industry can't be allowed to go the way of energy, where the country is now fully dependent on oil imports.

William McKenzie: Texas-Oklahoma water deal makes sense [19]

William McKenzie, Dallas Morning News, 6 May 2008

DALLAS – If you're looking for one of those trends that could tell us how we will live in the future, pay attention to the goings on next Monday in a Denver courthouse. North Texans in particular have skin on the line, as a federal appellate court's ruling will influence where Dallas-Fort Worth, the nation's fastest-growing metro area, gets its water.

Some of $12 billion surplus should go towards South Texas veterans [20]

By Treto Garza, Rio Grande Guardian, 5 May 2008

Wow! Money, money, money. It's there and ready to be distributed.

FLDS probe DOD may look into polygamist contracts [21]

By Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 6 May 2008

WASHINGTON – The congressman representing Wichita Falls said he’s not opposed to a congressional probe into a defense contractor with ties to the polygamist sect raided last month in West Texas.

Official: Too many Texans uninsured [22]

By JANET PHELPS, Bryan-College Station Eagle, 5 May 2008

COLLEGE STATION – One in four Texans lacks health insurance, a state health care official told a local group last week.

Harris County judge sets execution date [23]

By DAVE MONTGOMERY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 May 2008

WASHINGTON – A Harris County judge Monday set an Aug. 5 execution date for Jose Ernesto Medellin, the central figure in an international dispute over U.S. treaty obligations. Attorneys for Medellin, a Mexican citizen, said they will turn to Congress to stop the execution.

Mexican citizen given execution date for gang rape, murder [24]

Dallas Morning News, 6 May 2008

HOUSTON – A Mexican-born Texas prisoner whose death sentence set off an international dispute and a U.S. Supreme Court rebuke of the White House received an execution date Monday.

Bush wedding to be a very private affair [25]

Bryan-College Station Eagle, 5 May 2008

CRAWFORD – Saturday's wedding of 26-year-old Jenna Bush, one of President and Laura Bush's twin daughters, will not be televised.

Jenna Bush to say 'I do' at Texas ranch on Saturday [26]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 May 2008

WASHINGTON – Talk about hush-hush wedding planning.

South Texan seen as casualty in revamped highway panel [27]

By Juan Castillo, San Antonio Express-News, 5 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – A week after being replaced by a person characterized by one state senator as a "political hack," former Texas Transportation Commission Chairwoman Hope Andrade broke her silence Monday and took the high road.

U.S. Customs agent arrested on fake travel permit charges [28]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 May 2008

LAREDO – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent arrested on charges alleging that he sold a fake travel permit to a Mexican national made his first court appearance Monday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.