Politics
Crisp speech now matched by professional presentation
By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Feb. 11, 2010
Debra Medina is all about freedom. To her, freedom means less government interference. Freedom means protecting gun rights. Freedom means no property taxes.
Medina at first takes a pass when asked if 9/11 was inside job
By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Feb. 11, 2010
Medina, whose straight-talking style has turned her from an afterthought into a major player in the Republican primary, passed up a chance to say that the U.S. government was not involved in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
Medina, hailing from Beeville, learned political skills on the range
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Feb. 11, 2010
When Debra Parker was in high school in the late 1970s, her parents limited her to two after-school activities at A.C. Jones High School. Any more than that would have taken her away from the family ranch, where she spent early mornings and late evenings breaking horses, herding cattle and goats, butchering livestock and churning butter.
Medina was a controversial force in Wharton County politics
By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, Feb. 11, 2010
But the episode underscores that in the Wharton County party Medina led, tensions simmered between old-guard Republicans and those who wanted to emphasize the social-conservative planks of the party platform. It's a battle that has played out elsewhere in recent years. In Wharton County, southwest of Houston, the animosity continues, with the two factions fiercely divided on how they feel about Medina.
Debra Medina's 9/11 remark pushes campaign off track
By CHRISTY HOPPE, The Dallas Morning News, Feb. 11, 2010
Debra Medina's campaign for Texas governor tumbled, and spent Thursday trying to right itself, after the Republican iconoclast didn't immediately dismiss a fringe theory that the Bush administration played a role in the 9/11 attacks.
White works on introducing himself to Texas
By JOE HOLLEY, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 11, 2010
White and his campaign operatives are aware that if he's going to become governor, he'll have to do a whole lot of talking between now and November to Texans like Tate and Orloff.
9/11 comments trip up gov hopeful Debra Medina
By R.G. RATCLIFFE, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 11, 2010
Anti-Washington activist Debra Medina was on the brink of knocking U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison out of a likely Republican gubernatorial runoff, but she may have spoiled her chances Thursday with her remarks on the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Medina backs away from controversial 9/11 comments
by Associated Press, Midland Reporter-Telegram, Feb. 11, 2010
A candidate for governor in Texas has said she has questions about whether the U.S. government was involved in the Sept. 11 attacks. But now Republican Debra Medina is backing away from that statement.
Democrats have forum
BY JIM MUSTIAN, Odessa American, Feb. 12, 2010
The night’s headliner was Houston businessman Farouk Shami, who promised to bring 100,000 new jobs to the state. He said he wasn’t running against fellow Democratic gubernatorial candidates Bill White or Felix Alvarado, but against incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
Medina catches flak from Beck for comments on 9/11 conspiracies
By AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 11, 2010
Conservative pundit Glenn Beck threw a wrench into Debra Medina's gubernatorial campaign Thursday when he asked her about her opinion on whether the 9/11 terrorist attack was an inside job.
Medina's comments about 9-11 spark controversy
By AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Feb. 11, 2010
Gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina was the center of attention in Texas Republican politics Thursday after she told conservative pundit Glenn Beck that there are unanswered questions about the U.S. government's involvement in the 9-11 attacks.
Democrat Shami could test his party’s correctness
Scott Stroud, San Antonio Express-News, Feb. 12, 2010
If he accomplishes nothing else this campaign season, Houston businessman Farouk Shami at least delivered a political quote for the ages.
Debra Medina’s Texas-size momentum
By DAVID CATANESE, Politico, Feb. 12, 2010
A pistol-packing nurse and home-schooler with close ties to Ron Paul is emerging as a wild card who is reordering the dynamics of the March 2 Texas Republican primary for governor.
Government
Group works to increase Latino college rolls
By JEANNIE KEVER, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Feb. 11, 2010
Stalled immigration reform is making it harder to increase college-going rates among Hispanics, a problem that ultimately will mean a less-educated work force, the president of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities said Thursday.
PUC chairman enters CPS fray
By Anton Caputo, San Antonio Express-News, Feb. 12, 2010
Texas Public Utility Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman has stepped into the nuclear battle between CPS Energy and its partner to try to mediate a settlement.
Budget cutters eye state hospitals, Medicaid providers
By Peggy Fikac and Don Finley, San Antonio Express-News
Patient numbers would be cut at four state psychiatric hospitals, including the one in San Antonio, and health-care providers would see a drop in reimbursement rates for Medicaid patients under budget options presented by state officials.
News
Bill Clinton expected to leave hospital
By CRISTIAN SALAZAR and MARILYNN MARCHIONE, Associated Press, Feb. 12, 2010
Doctors who opened a blocked artery in former President Bill Clinton's chest say he'll be able to resume his active lifestyle, starting with his expected departure from the hospital the day after his procedure.
Williams' water battle invokes law dating to 1843 England
by Bob Campbell, Midland Reporter-Telegram, Feb. 11, 2010
With a high profile "water war" underway between Midland oilman Clayton Williams and his hometown of Fort Stockton, an Oklahoma environmental historian said Thursday that wrangles over Texas' "rule of capture" in water rights cases date to 1843 in England and 1904 in Denison.
Some in Mexico say U.S. is slacking in war on drugs
by Martha L. Hernández, The McAllen Monitor, Feb. 11, 2010
But President Felipe Calderón has stepped up the fight against the cartels, sending the military against them. He has also accepted U.S. assistance through the Mérida Initiative, including intelligence, equipment and technology.
Jobless claims figures raise hopes for recovery
The Associated Press, Feb. 11, 2010
The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week to the lowest total in a month, a sign the job market may be improving.
UTMB warns 1,200 of identity theft threat
By Laura Elder, The Galveston Daily News, Feb. 12, 2010
A Georgia company assisting the University of Texas Medical Branch with insurance billing and collections waited more than a month to notify island officials that an employee with access to information about more than a thousand patients had been charged with identity theft.
Ike repair work steered at locals
By Rhiannon Meyers, The Galveston Daily News, Feb. 12, 2010
Local electricians, plumbers and other subcontractors and suppliers stand to get a large chunk of work from the $104 million in federal disaster recovery money the city plans to spend to rehabilitate and reconstruct hurricane-damaged houses in Galveston.
Contractor sentenced to 7 years for felony theft
By Chris Paschenko, The Galveston Daily News, Feb. 12, 2010
A “poster child” for those who swindle hurricane victims needing housing repairs was sentenced Thursday to seven years in jail on a felony theft charge.
People
Clinton recovering after heart procedure
By DEEPTI HAJELA and MARILYNN MARCHIONE, Associated Press, Feb. 12, 2010
Former President Bill Clinton, who had quadruple bypass surgery more than five years ago, was hospitalized Thursday to have a clogged heart artery opened after suffering discomfort in his chest.
Charlie Wilson memorial Sunday
Associated Press, Feb. 12, 2010
A weekend memorial service has been scheduled for former U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson.
Baylor University names Drayton McLane regent emeritus
By Tim Woods, Waco Tribune-Herald, Feb. 12, 2010
Baylor University’s regents honored former regent chairman Drayton McLane by naming him regent emeritus at their meeting Thursday in Houston.