Politics
State Rep. Patrick Rose faces first Democratic primary challenge
By Patrick George, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Feb. 4, 2010
Next month, Rose squares off against Andrew Backus, a Driftwood hydrogeologist and rental property owner and manager. Backus is also a candidate with a political ax to grind against Rose.
Kay Bailey Hutchison's ties to lobbyists could compromise her attack strategy
By DAVE MICHAELS, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 5, 2010
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has blasted Gov. Rick Perry in recent debates and television ads as driven by the desires of lobbyists, but at least 23 former Hutchison aides have gone onto lucrative lobbying careers in Washington, according to Senate records.
Sarah Palin miffed at Rick Perry aide's use of 'retarded' as a slur
By WAYNE SLATER, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 4, 2010
On the eve of a campaign appearance in Texas for Rick Perry, Sarah Palin served notice that she’s not happy the governor's top political adviser used the word “retarded” to describe campaign logistics.
Candidate trying to unseat Hall says he's waiting to funnel cash
By TOM BENNING, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 5, 2010
Congressional candidate Jerry Ray Hall boasts of ponying up $500,000 of his own money to defeat longtime incumbent Rep. Ralph Hall in March's Republican primary.
Gubernatorial candidate Farouk Shami visits Brownsville
By EMMA PEREZ-TREVINO, The Brownsville Herald, Feb. 4, 2010
On Thursday, Salinas, now the wife of Laredo Mayor Raul Salinas, was by Shami’s side as he made a campaign stop in Brownsville to meet with local leaders at Antonio’s Mexican Village restaurant.
221st candidates forum centers on religion, immigration
By Howard Roden, The Courier of Montgomery County, Feb. 5, 2010
Religion, illegal immigration and abortion were among the topics the four candidates for the 221st state District Court addressed Thursday night during a forum hosted by Montgomery County Eagle Forum.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate calls ad racist
By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer, Feb. 4, 2010
Farouk Shami, a Houston businessman born a Palestinian outside Jerusalem, said Thursday that his Democratic opponent, former Houston Mayor Bill White, was stoking discrimination when he talked about being born in San Antonio in his advertising.
Perry stays true to GOP's ideals
By R.G. RATCLIFFE, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 5, 2010
Gov. Rick Perry in his unprecedented nine years in office proved time and again that he is a team player: team Republican.
From a government office, a tweet that said too much
by Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 4, 2010
Apparently, the emergency was that Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley of Hurst has an opponent.
Government
Perry proposes tying driver's licenses to progress in school
By Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF, Feb. 4, 2010
"I believe that in order for high-school students to get and keep a driver's license they should be enrolled in school, be it bricks and mortar or our virtual high school, and most importantly working toward their high-school diploma or GED," Perry has told audiences in campaign appearances during the past week.
Local Congressman questions Obama’s State of Union speech
Robby Robertson, The Athens Review, Feb. 4, 2010
U.S. Congressman Jeb Hensarling is jumping right in the middle of the fight against, not only President Barak Obama’s health care plan, but his budget spending.
No more TAKS test ever
By EMILY GUEVARA, Beaumont Enterprise, February 4, 2010
With the start of the 2011-2012 school year, the state will unveil a new test, the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR, Texas' fifth reincarnation of standardized testing since 1980.
‘Texas not perfect, but we’re luckier’ – Combs
By Gene Deason, Brownwood Bulletin, Feb. 5, 2010
Conceding that “the economy has not been too red hot,” Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said the state is nevertheless luckier than most – probably because Texans are smarter.
EZ Tag parking has county seeing red ink
By CHRIS MORAN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 4, 2010
The Harris County Toll Road Authority has lost more than $3 million in the three years it has permitted its EZ Tag holders to use their passes to pay for airport parking, a Chronicle analysis has found.
Immigrant facilities subpar
By SUSAN CARROLL, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 5, 2010
A review of more than 800 pages of inspection reports obtained by the Houston Chronicle through a Freedom of Information Act request shows that inspectors have, in some instances, given positive reviews to facilities with serious problems — ranging from inadequate medical care to poor grievance procedures.
Housing assistance extended to May
By Rhiannon Meyers, The Galveston Daily News, Feb. 5, 2010
The Disaster Housing Assistance Program has been extended until May 27, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Emergency Management Agency officials announced Thursday.
Fort Worth ponders a fee to cover road repairs from gas drillers
By MIKE LEE, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 4, 2010
City officials may start taking a stronger stance in dealing with the truck traffic tied to the natural gas industry, including levying an across-the-board fee on gas companies that use -- and sometimes damage -- city streets.
News
Number of cases of autism is up
By Brian Bethel, Abilene Reporter News, Feb. 4, 2010
The rise reflects national trends and comes at a time when debate over the role of vaccinations in the development of autism has renewed.
Haitian ordeal: 10 missionaries charged
By Jon Mark Beilue, Amarillo Globe-News, Feb. 5, 2010
A Haitian judge's decision Thursday to charge 10 Americans with kidnapping and "criminal association" reverberated thousands of miles away in Amarillo.
7 state landmarks on group's endangered list
By JAMIE STENGLE, Associated Press, Feb. 5, 2010
Texas' most endangered historic places include a former county jail, a drive-in theater and a swimming pool, a preservation group said Thursday.
Drug lords using clinics
By JULIE WATSON, Associated Press, Feb. 5, 2010
Mexico's powerful cartels have taken to running drug rehabilitation centers, turning recovering addicts into hit men and smugglers -- and giving some an ultimatum: Work for us or we'll kill you.
Mistrial in alleged cartel hit man's Texas case
By MICHELLE ROBERTS Associated Press Writer, Feb. 5, 2010
The evidence presented during a rare public trial of an alleged hit man for the Mexican Gulf Cartel offered what seemed like damning evidence of a drug cartel conspiracy.
NFL presence could grow in El Paso
By Victor R. Martinez, El Paso Times, Feb. 5. 2010
El Paso is still waiting for Jones and the Cowboys. But the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which is sponsoring Saturday's Texas vs. The Nation collegiate all-star game, is very much willing to play in El Paso.
Tom Hicks group to examine potential sale of Dallas Stars
By MIKE HEIKA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 5, 2010
Team owner Tom Hicks has hired an investment group to study the sale of the Dallas Stars, Hicks Sports Group announced Thursday.
Cars with better mileage will dry up gas tax revenue, planners fear
By GORDON DICKSON, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 4, 2010
One way to address the problem would be to allow the gas tax to gradually go up as vehicle fuel efficiency improves so that it continues to bring in the same amount of revenue. It's currently 38.4 cents per gallon in combined state and federal taxes.
Wet weather pumps up South Plains farmers
By Alyssa Dizon, Lubbock AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, Feb. 05, 2010
Most crops are not growing during this season, except for some alternative crops such as winter wheat and hay. But any amount of moisture prepares the soil for crops planted in the summer.
Agents seize about 6 tons of pot since Tuesday
by Jared Taylor, The McAllen Monitor, Feb. 4, 2010
Area U.S. Border Patrol agents seized nearly 6 tons of marijuana during a two-day period earlier this week, according to an agency statement.
Suit challenges law allowing college aid to undocumented students
by Nick Pipitone, The McAllen Monitor, Feb. 4, 2010
Texas is one of 11 states that allow undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates and receive state grants. IRCOT challenged that law in December, arguing that the state overstepped its authority and violated federal law.
The County Line: 2010 Census: 'What they will ask and will not ask'
By Joe Jaynes, Collin County Commissioner, Feb. 3, 2010
In March, the U. S. Census Bureau will mail a 2010 Census form to every residence in the United States. Please take 10 minutes to fill out and mail back the form. If forms are not mailed back in March then from April through July the Census Bureau will be sending out field representatives to knock on your door or give you a call.
People
Court orders care for Bellamy
By JAZMINE ULLOA, The Brownsville Herald, Feb.4, 2010
A Brownsville municipal judge was committed to a mental health center in Harlingen Thursday morning, less than two weeks after he was ordered released from a mandatory stay at another psychiatric facility.
State judge guilty on three charges
By Ramon Bracamontes, El Paso Times, Feb. 5, 2010
Stoic and seemingly more concerned about his family than himself, state judge Manuel Barraza politely sat and listened Thursday as jurors found him guilty of devising a scheme to receive sex and money for a judicial ruling.
Stop Planned Parenthood director says perseverance, prayer needed to combat abortion
By Kathleen Thurber, Midland Reporter-Telegram, Feb. 4, 2010
The National Director of Stop Planned Parenthood while in Midland Thursday said it takes sacrifice and guidance from the holy spirit to combat abortion on a daily basis.
Another tax lien filed against Waco state Rep. Anderson
By Michael W. Shapiro, Waco Tribune-Herald, Feb. 5, 2010
About a month after filing a $58,000 tax lien against state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, for unpaid personal income taxes, the Internal Revenue Service took further action against the veterinarian for failing to pay taxes withheld from employees’ paychecks for the final two quarters of 2008.