Politics
Biden says he helped persuade Specter to switch
By ALAN BERNSTEIN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 28 April 2009
HOUSTON – Vice President Joe Biden’s visit to Houston on Tuesday turned out more celebratory than he expected.
Biden's local stop a mix of advocacy, politics
By W. Gardner Selby, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN – Vice President Joe Biden paid fresh respects Tuesday to a local center that fields urgent calls about domestic violence and teen dating abuse; raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Democratic National Committee; and huddled privately with a clutch of activists.
Voting rights case at high court Wednesday
By MARK SHERMAN, AP, Waco Tribune-Herald, 29 April 2009
WASHINGTON — Congress' decision to extend a key provision of the Voting Rights Act for 25 years is at the core of a case being argued before the Supreme Court.
Perry practices the politics of division
By Matt Mackowiak, Austin American-Statesman, 28 April 2009
AUSTIN – Texas has as singular and unique a history as any of the 50 states and it's evident in our deeply felt independent streak.
Government
Efforts to consolidate, close Texas state schools for disabled fail
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
AUSTIN – Efforts to start consolidating state schools for the mentally disabled in favor of community-based services crumbled Tuesday as lawmakers in both chambers agreed they would be unable to pass such sweeping legislation.
Lawmakers abandon push to close state schools
By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN – Bowing to political reality, Texas lawmakers who had proposed shuttering some of the state's institutions for people with mental disabilities say they're abandoning that push.
Bills provides journalists limited protection
By Janet Elliott, Houston Chronicle, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN — A bill providing limited protection for journalists asked to testify or disclose confidential sources won approval from the Texas Senate Tuesday and should soon be on the governor's desk.
Journalists' shield law heads to Perry
By Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN - Legislation that could keep journalists from having to disclose confidential sources sailed through the Texas Senate on Tuesday afternoon on a voice vote.
Texas Senate passes long-sought shield law for journalists
By JACKIE STONE, AP, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN — A long-debated journalistic shield law won Senate approval Tuesday, leaving the governor’s signature as the final test after the House signs off on some minor changes in the legislation.
House blitzes through bills
By Ken Herman, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN – When things are slow in the Texas House, they are paint-drying, grass-growing slow, as in the first few months of the current legislative session when no bills were approved on the floor.
With time growing short, debate over Texas smoking ban heats up
By ALEX BRANCH, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN — Supporters and opponents of a statewide smoking ban squared off Tuesday over whether the proposed law is a vital public-health safeguard or an affront to the rights of business and property owners.
Arlington representative's bill would broaden health screening for Texas newborns
By DAVE MONTGOMERY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN — After their infant son Greyson began showing developmental problems, Bill and Nicole Morris spent more than $20,000 on physicians and medical tests desperately trying to learn out what was wrong.
Bill would require newly constructed private pools to conform to more stringent standards
By Kathleen Thurber, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 28 April 2009
MIDLAND – Homeowners with pools or spas may have to spend a little extra when getting ready for swimming season next year if a bill filed in the Texas Legislature is approved this session.
Senate panel backs BexarMet election bill
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN — Bexar Metropolitan Water District customers would vote in November whether to abolish the beleaguered utility under legislation unanimously approved Tuesday by the Senate Natural Resources Committee.
Bill another sign of far-flung Ike fatigue
By Heber Taylor, Galveston County Daily News, 29 April 2009
GALVESTON – Those who suffered in Hurricane Ike have received a lot of sympathy from other parts of the state. But there are signs that sympathy has limits.
Smart money spent on CHIP
Waco Tribune-Herald, 29 April 2009
WACO – Imagine a city the size of Dallas without health insurance.
House school bill's low standards defy logic
Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
DALLAS – After getting socked with complaints about their school bills, Texas House and Senate education leaders have improved some ways they would have the state hold schools accountable.
Exonerees deserve better compensation
Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
DALLAS – There's probably no adequate way to compensate people who serve prison time for crimes they didn't commit.
Pension board needs bite behind its bark
Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
DALLAS – Sometimes what isn't in a bill matters as much as what is.
Cities should decide on cams
Amarillo Globe-News, 29 April 2009
AMARILLO – A South Plains legislator is intent on imposing state control over local communities. He should not succeed.
News
CDC: Swine flu claims 1st victim in US
AP, Austin American-Statesman, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN - The CDC says swine flu has killed a 23-month-old child in Texas. It's the first U.S. death in the current outbreak.
Texas health chief says state treating swine flu as pandemic
AP, Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
AUSTIN – The head of Texas' health department told lawmakers on Tuesday that state officials are treating the outbreak as a pandemic, despite its mild effects on Americans who have been infected.
Scope of swine flu outbreak expands in Dallas-Fort Worth area
By SHERRY JACOBSON, Dallas Morning News, 28 April 2009
DALLAS – The dimensions of Dallas County's swine flu outbreak grew Tuesday with three new probable cases, a second school closing and more suspicious illnesses under investigation.
Suspected swine flu cases jump to 20 in Nueces Co.
By Mike Baird, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 28 April 2009
CORPUS CHRISTI — Swine flu concerns from parents are making hospital rounds faster than the actual virus.
MATAMOROS PHARMACISTS STRUGGLE WITH DEMAND; RESTAURANTS HURTING
By Aaron Nelsen, Brownsville Herald, 28 April 2009
BROWNSVILLE – The lunch hour rush at the Chinese restaurant Santa Fe in downtown Matamoros peaked at two people.
Village near hog farm under scrutiny
By Dudley Althaus and Lise Olsen, Houston Chronicle, 29 April 2009
MEXICO CITY — A village near a massive corporate hog farm partly owned by the largest U.S. pork producer is one of three possible sources of this nation’s swine flu outbreak, the Mexican government’s top epidemiologist confirmed Tuesday.
5th Circuit: Strict Scrutiny Applies to Restrictions on Officials' Speech
By Mary Alice Robbins, Texas Lawyer, 27 April 2009
A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held April 24 that elected officials, when carrying out their official duties, have the same free speech rights as other citizens.
Nuke plan may cost $22 billion
By Anton Caputo, San Antonio Express-News, 29 April 2009
SAN ANTONIO – CPS Energy continues its silence on the price of nuclear expansion plans, but a new study to be unveiled today estimates that building two more reactors in Bay City could cost $20 billion to $22 billion.
People
Don't impeach Keller
Austin American-Statesman, 29 April 2009
AUSTIN – As bad a job as Sharon Keller is doing as presiding judge of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the Texas Legislature should not impeach and convict her to remove her from office.
Texas Voters: We ♥ Free Renewables
By Russell Gold, Wall Street Journal, 28 April 2009
NEW YORK – A new poll of Texans found strong support for renewable fuels, even in this state that still lionizes Spindletop and has built two world-class university systems with petro-dollars.
