Politics
Kay Bailey Hutchison accepts campaign cash from toll-road builder
By Wayne Slater, Dallas Morning News, 26 January 2010
Kay Bailey Hutchison has railed against the Trans-Texas Corridor, but she counts one of the state’s premiere toll-road builders among her major financial contributors.
Perry calls for constitutional curbs on taxing and spending
San Antonio Express-News
Rick Perry never mentioned U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's name during a San Antonio campaign swing Tuesday but he often hinted she's guilty by association with the Washington political establishment.
Gov. Perry visits Abilene
Abilene Reporter News, 27 January 2010
Stopping by the Abilene Life Sciences Accelerator Tuesday to recognize the building’s first tenants, Receptor Logic, Gov. Rick Perry also stumped for his campaign for re-election.
Political Notes: Medina defends use of campaign money for clothing
Austin American-Statesman, 27 January 2010
GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina said Tuesday that she used campaign dollars on clothing "because I'm a poor small-business provider not usually wardrobed like people would expect a gubernatorial candidate to be wardrobed."
Perry leads West Texas in financing
Midland Reporter-Telegram, 27 January 2010
Gov. Rick Perry's ability to raise more than twice as much among Midlanders than Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is indicative of the support he'll see at the polls March 2 among Texas' most conservative voters, professors said.
Texas agriculture commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert renews driver's license that lapsed in 2008
Dallas Morning News, 27 January 2010
Agriculture commissioner candidate Hank Gilbert drove for nearly two years without a valid Texas driver's license, the Democrat acknowledged Monday.
Tea Partiers shaking up races across countryWashington Post, 27 January 2010
A once-dismissed loose confederation of Tea Party activists opposed to big government, bailouts and higher taxes is causing heartburn for establishment candidates across the country.
Government
Perry changes enterprise fund contracts
By Kelley Shannon, Associated Press, 27 January 2010
Gov. Rick Perry's office revealed Tuesday that it changed 11 Texas Enterprise Fund contracts with companies receiving taxpayer-funded grants for creating jobs, making the deals more favorable for the firms
County hires two lobbying teams
San Antonio Express-News, 27 January 2010
Despite concerns about the effectiveness of hiring multiple lobbyists, Bexar County commissioners decided to do just that Tuesday, hiring two teams and doubling the amount the county will spend to lobby legislators.
News
Photo from death row a sign of inmates online
By Mike Ward, Austin-American Statesman, 27 January 2010
A condemned San Antonio law enforcement killer sent a photo of himself out of Texas' death row two years ago using a smuggled cell phone, officials said Tuesday.
Did Texas Association of Business truly get award from environmental group?
By Asher Price, Austin-American Statesman, 26 January 2010
The Texas Association of Business put out a press release Tuesday afternoon that its president, Bill Hammond, was awarded a Certificate of Environmental Stewardship by Texas Interfaith Power and Light.
Backlog woes continue at HPD lab
By Bradley Olson, Houston Chronicle, 26 January 2010
The Houston Police Department has developed a backlog of more than 300 cases in which firearm forensics have not been performed, the third major area of evidence awaiting analysis to build up as the crime lab works to achieve full legitimacy after being engulfed in scandal for years.
People
Bishop Joe S. Vasquez selected to lead Austin Diocese
Austin American-Statesman, 27 January 2010
Austin's new bishop is the first Mexican American to lead the Diocese of Austin and among the youngest Catholic bishops in the country.
Texas Mexican Mafia members sentenced
By Guillermo Contreras, San Antonio Express-News, 27 January 2010
A dozen members of the Texas Mexican Mafia were sentenced Tuesday to prison terms of six to 10 years for enforcing the gang's drug extortion tactics on San Antonio's streets.