Politics
Candidates to flex financial muscle this week
By Peggy Fikac, San Antonio Express-News, 12 July 2009
AUSTIN — If a candidate's most reliable friend is ready money, as former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm once famously said, this is the week we judge the candidates for governor by those greenback buddies as they release the details of their campaign hauls.
Confirmation spotlight will shine on Cornyn
By Stewart M. Powell, Houston Chronicle, 13 July 2009
WASHINGTON — When confirmation proceedings start today for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, it will be Texas' soon-to-be senior senator who will emerge to persistently press the federal appeals court judge about her 17-year judicial record.
Harris County GOP struggles as it tries to rebuild
By BRADLEY OLSON, Houston Chonicle, 11 July 2009
HOUSTON – The Harris County Republican Party is in arrears amid a dour fundraising climate and an internecine struggle over its chairman, Jared Woodfill, whose leadership numerous local GOP stalwarts have begun to question publicly.
Who do we want for guv? Someone Else. Anyone Else?
By John Kelso, Austin American-Statesman, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – Today I'd like to announce that I've accepted the position of campaign manager for Someone Else, a leading candidate for governor of Texas.
Government
Virtual border system ineffective, out of cash
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry's border Web camera program has run out of money, and in its first full year of operation failed to meet nearly every law enforcement goal.
Texas set to update 1997 social studies curriculum
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN — Biographies of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen F. Austin? Not fit reading material for children in the early grades.
Troubled prison firm's deal for new psychiatric hospital raises questions
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – A private prison company's history of filthy conditions, sexual abuse, suicides and riots in some of its Texas lockups isn't stopping the state from paying it $7.5 million to run a new psychiatric hospital near Houston.
Texas officials wary of prison company contract
AP, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – A private prison company with a history of problems in Texas has caught the attention of state officials with a $7.5 million contract to run a new psychiatric hospital near Houston.
Texas Borrowing to Pay Unemployment Benefits
By Shelley Kofler, KERA, 9 July 2009
DALLAS – Texas expects the federal government to confirm next week that it's providing a federal loan to cover the state's rising unemployment benefits.
Perry's border Web camera program misses goals
AP, Waco Tribune-Herald, 13 July 2009
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry's border Web camera program is out of money after a first year that fell far short of the goals for arrests and reports of illegal crossings.
Steroids not big problem for schools
By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 12 July 2009
AUSTIN - Some Texas high school athletes continue to use steroids but not in large numbers.
Steroid testing
AP, Odessa American, 10 July 2009
AUSTIN – Another 16,000 steroids tests of Texas public high school athletes caught eight cheaters.
Texas high school elective credit change
BY COURTNEY MURPHY, SHERMAN-DENISON HERALD DEMOCRAT, 11 July 2009
SHERMAN – Students at Texas high schools will notice a slight change in curriculum requirements this fall, as Texas lawmakers passed the House Bill 3 Graduation Plan in May, allowing high school students to take more electives and fewer required courses.
TxDOT now on road to reform
By Enrique Rangel, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 12 July 2009
AUSTIN - During the recent special session of the Legislature some senators complained that the Texas Department of Transportation had a long history of not consulting with them when planning or undertaking road projects in their districts.
State database ID's uninsured drivers
By RYAN HOLEYWELL, McAllen Monitor, 12 July 2009
McALLEN — It’s a scene that many Texans find all too familiar.
Bill gives disabled vets a tax break
By Hayley Kappes, Killeen Daily Herald, 11 July 2009
KILLEEN – Veterans living with service-related physical and mental disabilities are now eligible for total homestead property tax exemptions through a state tax code amendment.
Nichols Says Stimulus Made For Difficult Recent Session
By ADAM RUSSELL, Tyler Morning Telegraph, 10 July 2009
TYLER – "Y'all are safe now (that the legislative session is over)," Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, jokingly told local Republicans who gathered Thursday evening to mingle, discuss conservative agendas and listen to him speak about the state's direction and the recent legislative sessions.
Sheffield says Trans-Texas Corridor dead
By Carroll Wilson, Temple Daily Telegram, 12 July 2009
TEMPLE – The Trans-Texas Corridor and its offspring along Interstate 35 are dead, Temple’s state representative said last week.
Perry: Legislature backed "first defenders"
By Mark Lisheron, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry thanked the Texas Municipal Police Association at its annual convention lunch Friday at the Sheraton Hotel and applauded the Legislature for bills to help law enforcement officers do their jobs better.
Navigating the rules on official state labels
By Ken Herman, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12 July 2009
AUSTIN – When it comes to designating any place in Texas as the official anything, there are rules and laws to follow.
Legislature: Taking someone else's glory
By Enrique Rangel, Amarillo Globe-News, 13 July 2009
AMARILLO – This was the year state Rep. John Smithee was expected to file a bill that would have helped Texas avoid an insurance crisis if a devastating hurricane like Katrina hit the coast.
Education 'experts' slam César Chavez
San Angelo Standard-Times, 12 July 2009
SAN ANGELO – Nothing seems shocking anymore in the relentless battles over social issues on the State Board of Education.
Nowhere but up
Houston Chonicle, 11 July 2009
HOUSTON – Despite the contention of state insurance regulators that double-digit homeowners policy increases are unjustified, Allstate Texas Lloyds plans to institute rate hikes in Southeast Texas to renew policies starting late next month.
Zero tolerance must mean zero
San Antonio Express-News, 11 July 2009
SAN ANTONIO – The Legislature passed long-needed reforms for Texas state schools for the mentally disabled.
Overdue Texas rail strategy should snare federal dollars
Dallas Morning News, 10 July 2009
DALLAS – Texas has major catching-up to do in the race against other states for federal money to advance intercity passenger rail projects, including high-speed rail.
Unhealthy decision
Houston Chonicle, 11 July 2009
HOUSTON – Count ours among the swelling chorus of voices rising in objection to state education policy-makers' recent decision to remove health curriculum from the list of requirements to graduate from high school in Texas.
State unwise to drop health class requirement
By Michael Morris, Brazosport Facts, 12 July 2009
BRAZOSPORT – High school health classes have a somewhat dubious reputation, seen as the course given to sports coaches to give them something to do in between drawing up plays.
News
U.S., Mexico gangs connected
By Dane Schiller, San Antonio Express-News, 12 July 2009
SAN ANTONIO – In one photo, FBI fugitive Raul Madrigal is soaking in a giant bubble bath at an upscale Mexican hotel.
U.S. denying sanctuary to Mexicans fleeing drug war
By Todd Bensman, San Antonio Express-News, 12 July 2009
SAN ANTONIO – In the heat of an August day last year, 10 masked cartel gunmen roared aboard SUVs onto a street in a working-class neighborhood of Juarez, Mexico. Four people soon lay dead amid spent AK-47 shell casings.
For Texas hospitals that break the law, the fines are light
By DARREN BARBEE, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2009
FORT WORTH – At 8:02 on the evening of Sept. 23, a patient was admitted to Methodist Dallas Medical Center complaining of weakness and repeated bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.
Open Beaches act faces legal challenge
By Leigh Jones, Galveston County Daily News, 12 July 2009
GALVESTON – Fifty years ago this week, state lawmakers adopted legislation giving the public free access to all Texas beaches.
Texas sees 11.2 percent drop in June sales tax collections
By ANDREA AHLES, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2009
FORT WORTH – Texans pulled back on buying and spending in June, as the state reported an 11.2 percent drop in sales tax revenues for the month, by far the largest decline this year.
Dallas, other cities see sales tax revenues drop
By THEODORE KIM, Dallas Morning News, 11 July 2009
DALLAS – Dallas had predicted a multimillion-dollar drop in sales tax collections this spring. The numbers came in even worse.
Perryman sees stage set for economic recovery
By Mella McEwen, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 11 July 2009
ODESSA – In addition to discussing healthcare reform with doctor of nursing practice students at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Ray Perryman discussed several non-health issues.
Some doubt A&M faces financial crisis
By MATTHEW WATKINS, Bryan-College Station Eagle, 12 July 2009
COLLEGE STATION – The day after Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano's June resignation, members of the campus community packed a special meeting of the A&M System Board of Regents expecting to hear a discussion about the governance of their school.
Austin's clean energy program costing more, selling less
By Marty Toohey, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12 July 2009
AUSTIN – For the past decade, Austin's ambition to become the world's clean-energy capital has been best exemplified by one effort: GreenChoice, a program that sells electricity generated entirely from renewable sources such as wind.
Brockovich consultants plan out next 90 days of investigation
By Kathleen Thurber, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 11 July 2009
MIDLAND – Though it's to early to speculate when lawsuits might be filed, an environmental investigator with Erin Brockovich said Friday the group is continuing to expand its investigation, gathering data on where hexavalent chromium found in county water came from and cataloguing health problems residents have that may be related to the toxin.
Passenger rail service to D/FW Airport has a long way to go
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2009
FORT WORTH – Officials of the Fort Worth Transportation Authority and Dallas Area Rapid Transit had a pleasant meeting Wednesday.
People
Perry names ed board chief
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN — Gail Lowe still sees herself as a follower, but starting next week she'll be sitting in the leadership chair as Gov. Rick Perry on Friday named her to head the 15-member State Board of Education.
Newspaper publisher appointed to lead State Board of Education
By SHIRLEY JINKINS, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2009
FORT WORTH – Gov. Rick Perry has named Gail Lowe of Lampasas to chair the State Board of Education, ending a week of speculation among media and members of the board itself that outspoken conservative Cynthia Noland Dunbar of Richmond would be named to the post.
Lampasas Republican named to lead the State Board of Education
By TERRENCE STUTZ, Dallas Morning News, 11 July 2009
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry on Friday appointed Republican Gail Lowe of Lampasas as the new chairwoman of the State Board of Education, keeping the leadership post in the hands of the board's social conservative bloc.
Stanford properties may be headed for auction
By Nancy Sarnoff, Houston Chronicle, 11 July 2009
HOUSTON — Stanford Financial Group's posh headquarters building across from the Galleria mall, an airplane hangar in Sugar Land and two luxury condominiums near downtown soon may be headed for the auction block.
Ex-UT System regent, former Austin councilman dies
AP, San Antonio Expres-News, 10 July 2009
AUSTIN – Lowell H. Lebermann Jr., a former University of Texas System regent and ex-Austin city councilman, has died.
Mistakes were made - but not this time, Hance says
By Ken Herman, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 13 July 2009
AUSTIN – Here's how I opened my chat with Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance about the hiring of ex-A.G. Alberto Gonzales to teach political science at Guns Up U.:
Alberto Gonzales lands a job
Denton Record-Chronicle, 11 July 2009
DENTON – Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has glommed onto a one-year gig at Texas Tech University, where he will help recruit Hispanic students and also will teach an undergraduate political science course called “Contemporary Issues in the Executive Branch.”
