Texas House battle over 'ghost workers' continues [1]

By Mike Ward, Austin American-Statesman, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, said he hired Twee Nguyen last fall as his liaison to the burgeoning Asian community in his southeast Houston district, listing her as a full-time employee with full state insurance and benefits, even though she worked only a few hours a week.

'Ghost worker' flap renews speaker's feud with critics [2]

By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – The long-simmering feud between Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick and some members is once again approaching a rolling boil, this time over the practice of hiring "ghost workers" who are classified as full-time employees qualifying for health insurance and pension benefits but are paid wages on par with part-time help.

House may no longer get to hire part time, pay full time [3]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – The Legislature's long-standing practice of hiring full-time employees at part-time hours and pay may be nearing an end just as the issue becomes a political football for state lawmakers.

More Hispanics in Dallas County add voice to elections by registering to vote [4]

By DIANNE SOLÍS, Dallas Morning News, 6 May 2008

DALLAS – Voter registration in the first four months of 2008 among Dallas County residents with Spanish surnames swelled.

More people with Hispanic last names registering to vote [5]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

DALLAS – Voter registration among Dallas County residents with Spanish surnames climbed in the first four months of 2008, records show.

Superdelegate looks to past, chooses Obama [6]

By Sara McDonald, Galveston County Daily News, 7 May 2008

FRIENDSWOOD – John Patrick became enthralled with politics when he watched the Kennedy brothers on television during the turbulent 1960s.

Donors shouldn’t tip scales of justice [7]

Austin American-Statesman, 6 May 2008

AUSTIN – Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor has railed about state courts being corrupted by large campaign contributions to elected judges.

County approves measure that opposes border wall [8]

By Erica Molina Johnson, El Paso Times, 6 May 2008

EL PASO – The county formally opposed the construction of a border wall in a resolution approved by Commissioners Court on Monday.

County won't join lawsuit against DHS over fence [9]

By LAURA B. MARTINEZ, Brownsville Herald, 6 May 2008

BROWNSVILLE – Cameron County will not join a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Secretary Michael Chertoff protesting the construction of the border fence.

Salinas: We will defer to IBWC over height of concrete levee walls [10]

By Joey Gomez, Rio Grande Guardian, 6 May 2008

EDINBURG – If the International Boundary and Water Commission says Hidalgo County cannot build concrete levee walls above the designated height of the levees then the county will not do so, says County Judge J.D. Salinas.

Oil prices help Texas rake in $10.7 billion surplus [11]

By CLAY ROBISON, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – The nation may be on the verge of a recession, but the Texas economy is doing well enough for Comptroller Susan Combs to predict Tuesday that the Legislature will have a $10.7 billion surplus when it convenes in January.

UTHSC to create trauma research center [12]

By Monica Perin, Houston Business Journal, 6 May 2008

HOUSTON – The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received a $5 million grant from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund to create a trauma research center.

New state Web site offers ID theft prevention, recovery tips [13]

By Cindy V. Culp, Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

WACO – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was in Waco on Tuesday to promote a new Web site designed to prevent identity theft and help victims.

Thornberry meets with Pakistan leaders [14]

By Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 7 May 2008

WASHINGTON – The congressman representing Wichita Falls traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan to air concerns about a lawless no-man’s land serving as a terrorist hideout in Pakistan’s tribal areas.

U.S. immigration raids are about to get ugly [15]

By David Hendricks, San Antonio Express-News, 6 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – Letters listing millions of Social Security “no-match” workers are ready to mail to employers.

National ID solves many problems [16]

By Randy Nethaway, Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

WACO – In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a states can demand photo ID for voting.

Voter ID bills are vote suppression [17]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

WACO – Isn’t that the way things work?

Voter ID Laws [18]

Lufkin Daily News, 5 May 2008

LUFKIN – The U.S. Supreme Court last week upheld the constitutionality of voter identification laws, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has said he will try once more to pass such a law when the Legislature meets next year.

Food For Fuel Policy Doesn’t Make Sense [19]

Tyler Morning Telegraph, 7 May 2008

TYLER – Continuing to push the federal ethanol policy — using food for fuel — in the face of food shortages across the state, nation and world should leave a bad taste in the mouths of lawmakers.

Farm bill needs harvesting [20]

Amarillo Globe-News, 7 May 2008

AMARILLO – Panhandle farmers need a farm bill. But as Congress continues to plod along in many other directions, a farm bill remains an unfinished work.

Needle-exchange plan should have clarification [21]

Beaumont Enterprise, 7 May 2008

BEAUMONT – Some Texans may support needle-exchange programs while others may not.

Secrecy can lead to poisoned kids [22]

By Michael A. Smith, Galveston County Daily News, 7 May 2008

GALVESTON – You might suppose people had a fundamental human right to information that could help them avoid serious health threats. According to Galveston County and the state of Texas, however, that’s not the case.

D.A. prepares for criminal side of YFZ Ranch case [23]

By Paul A. Anthony, San Angelo Standard-Times, 7 May 2008

SAN ANGELO – With evidence sorted and the state Attorney General's Office called in to help, the prosecution of the historic YFZ Ranch child-abuse case needs just one thing - a suspect.

Attorney General brought into YFZ Ranch case to help with prosecutions [24]

By Paul A. Anthony, Matt Phinney, San Angelo Standard-Times, 6 May 2008

SAN ANGELO – State District Judge Barbara Walther has approved a motion appointing the Attorney General of Texas as a special prosecutor to assist with any criminal cases that may arise from the state's raid of the YFZ Ranch near Eldorado.

Texas AG office to prosecute polygamist sect cases [25]

By TERRI LANGFORD, Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2008

HOUSTON – A judge at the center of the largest custody battle in U.S. history has approved a request to bring in the Texas Attorney General's office to prosecute any future criminal charges in the case.

AG will prosecute any charges in raid of polygamous sect [26]

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

FORT WORTH – A San Angelo judge has appointed the Texas attorney general's office as a special prosecutor in anticipation of criminal charges stemming from the raid on the West Texas polygamous compound near Eldorado.

State ordered to help prosecute polygamist sect cases [27]

Houston Chronicle, 6 May 2008

SAN ANGELO – The judge who last month ordered 463 children from a polygamist sect into state custody said the state attorney general should help with any criminal cases that may arise from an April raid on the sect's ranch.

More than 70 TYC inmates cause disruption [28]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – More than 70 inmates at a Texas juvenile prison ran from their dorms and climbed into trees or on top of buildings before staff got them all back inside, Texas Youth Commission staff said Tuesday.

Edcouch abolishes 76-year-old segregation law [29]

By Jared Taylor, McAllen Monitor, 5 May 2008

EDCOUCH – For many residents here, history is often lost - albeit not completely forgotten.

Edcouch residents celebrate repeal of segregation ordinance [30]

By Joey Gomez, Rio Grande Guardian, 6 May 2008

EDCOUCH – Cinco de Mayo carried a symbolic gesture for Delta residents as city leaders in Edcouch repealed a long-standing ordinance that codified racial segregation.

Cinco de Mayo an appropriate day to repeal segregation ordinance [31]

By Rubén Hinojosa, Rio Grande Guardian, 5 May 2008

WASHINGTON – On this Cinco de Mayo, it is quite appropriate that the city of Edcouch is repealing a 1931 city ordinance that should have never been approved.

Jan Bullock disappointed by book on late husband [32]

By W. Gardner Selby, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – Nearly nine years after his death, Bob Bullock seems as confounding as ever.

SAWS leader resigns [33]

By Jerry Needham, San Antonio Express-News, 6 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – Acknowledging a difference in management style and future direction for the San Antonio Water System, utility trustees today accepted the resignation of President and Chief Executive Officer David Chardavoyne and approved a separation agreement.

On crutches, Doggett returns to Washington [34]

By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 7 May 2008

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett's schedule on Tuesday, his first full day at the U.S. Capitol in two weeks, included a committee hearing on how much the government pays to provide Medicare recipients with wheelchairs.

Tulsa man sues Lance Armstrong Foundation [35]

Waco Tribune-Herald, 7 May 2008

OKLAHOMA CITY – A Tulsa businessman who uses the words "BARKSTRONG" and "PURRSTRONG" on pet collars has sued the Lance Armstrong Foundation in a trademark dispute.

SAWS CEO is praised shamelessly all the way out the door [36]

By Ken Rodriguez, San Antonio Express-News, 6 May 2008

SAN ANTONIO – As far as business partings go, the announced separation between David Chardavoyne and the San Antonio Water System was clean and upbeat, not a tear nor a drop of blood in sight.

Together, we'll keep Texas moving [37]

By Deirdre Delisi, Austin American-Statesman, 7 May 2008

AUSTIN – Not since President Eisenhower began the interstate highway system more than 50 years ago and Texans embarked on the farm-to-market and ranch-to market road systems in 1949 have Texans been so focused on our roads.