Politics
Perry foe alleges donation sought for appointment
By JAY ROOT, Associated Press, 9 December 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — When Corpus Christi Judge Rose Vela was looking for an appointment to the Texas Supreme Court, her husband turned to a longtime friend and ally of Gov. Rick Perry — Cameron County Judge Carlos Cascos.jv
Lawmakers call for inquiry into prison security
y Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10 December 2009
Calls for an outside investigation and audit into continuing prison security breaches intensified Wednesday as new details emerged about how a convicted child molester escaped using a loaded pistol smuggled into one of the state's highest-security lockups.
Dunbar won't run again for Board of Ed, colleague says
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 10 December 2009
Cynthia Dunbar will not seek a second term on the State Board of Education next year, fellow board member David Bradley confirmed Wednesday.
Pistol-packing Perry challenger aims to affect race
by W. GARDNER SELBY, AUSTIN AMERICAN STATESMAN, 10 DECEMBER 2009
In case of danger, Republican gubernatorial hopeful Debra Medina legally totes a 9 mm pistol (with a 16-round magazine) in a zippered case in her car.
U.S. Rep. Joe Barton's anti-BCS bill passes House subcommittee
By TOM BENNING, The Dallas Morning News, 9 December 2009
WASHINGTON – College football fans aching for a playoff system won a small victory Wednesday, when a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee passed a bill aimed at bringing down the Bowl Championship Series.
Parker, Locke hammer home points in debate
By MIKE TOLSON, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 10 December 2009
With the runoff just days away, Houston mayoral candidates Gene Locke and Annise Parker squared off face-to-face for the last time Wednesday night in a televised debate that featured no fireworks but many phrases that have become well-worn to those who have watched them campaign in recent months.
Early voters signal more interest in mayor race
By JOE HOLLEY, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9 December 2009
Neither snow nor ice nor sunny days — not even a couple of stolen polling-place computers — deterred early voters in the days leading up to Saturday's runoff. Their number exceeded the number of early voters during the 12-day period for the Nov. 4 general election.
House panel passes college football playoff bill
By FREDERIC J. FROMMER, Associated Press, 9 December 2009
WASHINGTON — Dismissing complaints from some members that Congress had more pressing matters, a House subcommittee approved legislation Wednesday aimed at forcing college football to switch to a playoff system to determine its national champion.
House subcommittee advances anti-BCS measure
By MARIA RECIO, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 December 2009
WASHINGTON — BCS bashing was in full swing Wednesday on Capitol Hill as a House subcommittee approved a bill by Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, that would effectively overturn college football’s Bowl Championship Series.
Perry urges EPA to back off plans to regulate carbon dioxide emissions
By DAVE MONTGOMERY and MIKE LEE, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 December 2009
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry fired another volley Wednesday at federal regulators in Washington, demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency scrap a declaration that could lead to broadened government controls of pollutants that many experts believe contribute to global warming.
Senator Nichols opens Lufkin office
By MELISSA HAYES, The Lufkin Daily News, 10 December 2009
State Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) welcomed Lufkin residents to his new district office space in the Henderson Trust Building Wednesday afternoon.
Government
Editorial: Weary state workers to the rescue
Austin American Statesman, 10 December 2009
Amid the missteps and system failures that have caused a huge backlog in processing food stamps for the millions of Texans who need them, there are folks who deserve applause: state employees who are working overtime and on weekends so that needy Texans don't go hungry for too long.
Teacher groups wary of CVS contract with state
By R.G. RATCLIFFE, Houston Chronicle, 9 December 2009
AUSTIN — A coalition of teachers, labor unions and independent pharmacists is telling the state's teacher retirement system that hiring a proposed pharmacy benefits manager could result in higher drug costs for retirees and give one store chain an advantage in the Texas market.
Texas lottery game brings in more than $1 million for veterans
by Anna M. Tinsley, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 December 2009
AUSTIN — Texans bought more than $5.3 million worth of the new $2 Veterans Cash scratch-off lottery tickets in the game’s first month.
Coal plant permit given approval
By John Mcfarland, The Associated Press, 10 December 2009
DALLAS - Texas environmental regulators issued an air-pollution permit Wednesday for a power plant expansion, the first coal-fired plant to be approved since the Environmental Protection Agency ruled part of the state's permitting process didn't conform to the Clean Air Act.
City: Funds are not enough
By Rhiannon Meyers, The Galveston County Daily News, 10 December 2009
GALVESTON — Although Galveston stands to get the biggest share of $844 million in a second round of federal disaster aid, city officials said it’s not enough to repair all the houses, roads, sewers, water pipes and other infrastructure damaged when Hurricane Ike struck the island Sept. 13, 2008.
In Waco, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst says state must make cuts now to cover budget shortfall in 2013
By Michael W. Shapiro, Waco Tribune-Herald, 9 December 2009
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst discussed a proposal to cut state agency spending during the next 3 1/2 years, hoping to offset a budget deficit and projected shortfalls, during a visit to Waco on Wednesday.
Rails crucial to future, says head of TxDOT
By Bob Campbell, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 9 December 2009
ODESSA — Rebuilding the South Orient Railroad from the U.S.-Mexico border into the Permian Basin and laying high speed rails elsewhere are indispensable to the state’s future needs, said Texas Department of Transportation Executive Director Amadeo Saenz Wednesday.
News
Dallas-Fort Worth area moves to top tier of terrorism targets
By TODD J. GILLMAN, The Dallas Morning News, 9 December 2009
WASHINGTON – Dallas is now officially one of the nation's top 10 terrorist targets – a designation that sounds alarming but which state and local officials have sought for years, because it means millions in federal funds to beef up security.
Unseen danger
By Tim Sampson, The Kerrville Daily Times, 10 December 2009
Many well water users, who fail to have their water tested, could be drinking harmful parasites.
People
Perry names 6 to new state Holocaust panel
The Associated Press, 9 December 2009
AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Rick Perry has chosen a chairman and five other members to sit on the newly created Texas Holocaust and Genocide Commission.
Pope names new bishop for Brownsville
The Monitor, 9 December 2009
BROWNSVILLE – Pope Benedict XVI has chosen a South Texas native to serve as the next bishop of Brownsville, a diocese spokeswoman said.