Politics
White, Perry lock down governor bids
By R.G. RATCLIFFE and BRADLEY OLSON, Houston Chronicle, 3 December 2009
Mayor Bill White will formally enter the race for governor today, instantly becoming the Democrats' best hope of winning a statewide office in seven years.
Casey: Bill White can win, but it won't be easy
By RICK CASEY, Houston Chronicle, 3 December 2009
It's official. Bill White is running for governor.
Ogden lured back to Senate to wrangle budget
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4 December 2009
Texas' looming budget crunch has lured state Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, back into the race for the seat he planned to relinquish.
Perry files for reelection
Austin American-Statesman, 4 December 2009
America is at a crossroads, and Texas is poised to lead the country forward through the tough times, Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday as he filed his candidacy for re-election next year.
Hopeful Texas Democrats roll out statewide slate of candidates
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, The Dallas Morning News, 4 December 2009
AUSTIN – Texas Democrats, outgunned for 15 years, today began presenting their slate of statewide candidates amid renewed hopes – though they still face daunting odds.
Potential election foes Hutchison, White unite in fight for Texas plant
By TODD J. GILLMAN, The Dallas Morning News, 4 December 2009
WASHINGTON – As the governor was railing yet again against Washington and filing Thursday to run for a third term, two potential rivals – one from each party – joined forces to fight for a $3 billion Army contract and 3,000 jobs at a Houston-area plant that builds combat trucks.
Senate casts first votes to overhaul health care
By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR, Associated Press, 3 December 2009
WASHINGTON — In its first vote on health care overhaul, the Senate Thursday narrowly approved an amendment to safeguard coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests for women under a revamped system.
25 candidates file bids for March 2 primary, seek public office
By Zahira Torres, El Paso Times, 4 December 2009
AUSTIN -- The first day of the filing season drew a familiar slew of candidates who had already announced intentions to seek public office.
Perry files to run for third term
By R.G. Ratcliffe and Bradley Olson, Houston Chronicle, 4 December 2009
Gov. Rick Perry already holds the record for longest-serving governor in state history, but Thursday he filed to paperwork to officially become a Republican candidate for an unprecedented third term.
Campaign season under way
By Guillermo X. Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 3 December 2009
Wasting no time, top Bexar County officials on Thursday filed for re-election, the first day candidates could formally declare their political intent.
Dozens of candidates turn out to claim spots on next year's primary ballot
BY ANNA M. TINSLEY AND AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 December 2009
Texas’ 2010 election season officially kicked off Thursday, with first-time candidates and seasoned officeholders alike submitting their names for offices ranging from district attorney to governor to U.S. representative.
2010 primary filing begins
By Kelley Shannon, The Associated Press, 4 December 2009
AUSTIN - Republican Gov. Rick Perry filed for re-election Thursday to an unprecedented third term as candidates seeking office in 2010 started making their election plans official.
Candidate filing begins for March primaries
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ, The Brownsville Herald, 3 December 2009
The March primary filing date for candidates in both the Democratic and Republican parties began Thursday.
And They're Off!
by Ross Ramsey, The Texas Tribune, 4 December 2009
If you're checking off the boxes for gubernatorial candidates, Thursday belonged to Gov. Rick Perry, who filed for reelection before noon on the first day he was allowed to do so.
Government
Obama seeks advice on creation of jobs
By Gary Martin, San Antonio Express-News, 4 December 2009
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama convened a White House jobs summit Thursday and urged public and private leaders to do more with limited federal help to “get the biggest bang for our buck” in promoting economic recovery.
Energy efficiency eyed for job creation
BY TOM RAUM, The Associated Press, 3 December
WASHINGTON — At a White House jobs forum Thursday, President Barack Obama promised to take "every responsible step to accelerate job creation," including some ideas that he said could be put into action quickly.
House votes to extend estate tax
BY STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, The Associated Press, 3 December 2009
WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to indefinitely extend a 45 percent inheritance tax on estates larger than $3.5 million, canceling a one-year repeal of the tax set to begin next month.
The Doctor is In ... Eventually
by Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune, 4 December 2009
State health officials are considering lifting a requirement that Texas emergency rooms have a physician on-site at all times — as long as a doctor can get there within 30 minutes
Medical school is ultimate goal, UT System official says
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4 December 2009
A plan to expand medical education and research in Austin through a partnership involving the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and the Seton Family of Hospitals is an important step toward establishing a medical school, a senior UT System official said Thursday.
News
Cell phones not immune to 'robocalls'
By Lori Hawkins, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4 December 2009
Gwen Rowling is accustomed to getting automated calls on her land line, but two automated calls from U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith to her cell phone this week caught her by surprise.
Texas executes man who raped, killed 11-year-old
MICHAEL GRACZYK, Associated Press, 3 December 2009
HUNTSVILLE - A 44-year-old man was executed Thursday evening for raping and murdering an 11-year-old girl, despite pleas from his attorneys he was too mentally impaired to qualify for capital punishment.
Execution closes book on 1997 slaying of Granbury girl
BY MELODY MCDONALD, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 December 2009
Schwana Patterson wanted to see her ex-boyfriend die Thursday night.
People
Sarah Palin making stop at Plano's Legacy Books on Friday as part of book tour
By THEODORE KIM, The Dallas Morning News, 4 December 2009
A line 1,000 deep formed at Sarah Palin's first book-tour stop last month in Grand Rapids, Mich. Fans toting camping gear arrived more than a day early in rural Washington state. And in suburban Indianapolis, crowds were so large that organizers gave out stickers instead of autographs when Palin's hand cramped.
Palin book-signing ticket is a hot item
BY ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 December 2009
The 1,000 available tickets to Sarah Palin’s book signing in Plano today are so hot that they sold out in two days — and now some people are trying to scalp them on the Internet for up to $500.