Politics
Missions differ for Texas governor hopefuls in dash to primary
By WAYNE SLATER, The Dallas Morning News, 16 February 2010
With early voting set to start today, the main contenders for governor go into the final two-week sprint on decidedly different missions.
Republican candidate for Texas governor refers to Hail Mary during campaign stop
Associated Press, 15 February 2010
The U.S. senator campaigned in Fort Worth on Monday with Dallas Cowboys great Roger Staubach. She said he's known for coming from behind and inventing the Hail Mary pass, which is "looking better all the time."
Primary Color: Five to Watch
by Brandi Grissom, Elise Hu, Ross Ramsey, Abby Rapoport and Morgan Smith, Texas Tribune, 16 February 2010
In honor of today's kickoff of early voting ó a two-week period in which political junkies, committed activists and other go-to-the-head-of-the-class types line up to cast ballots for their favorite candidates, unable to contain their enthusiasm or anger until March 2 ó we present five different installments in our Primary Color series
Meachum, Montford among judicial candidates favored by Austin bar
By Steven Kreytak, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 February 2010
Lawyers who voted in an Austin Bar Association poll released Monday favor Amy Clark Meachum, a civil lawyer, over Judge Jan Patterson, and they favor criminal defense lawyer Mindy Montford over prosecutor Karen Sage and two others in separate District Court races.
Judgeship candidates have wealth of experience
By Adriana M. Ch·vez, El Paso Times, 15 February 2010
Two Democrats, each with more than 20 years of experience in the law, are vying for a chance to win a state district court judgeship.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White visits El Paso
By Rudy Gutierrez, El Paso Times, 15 February 2010
Texas democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White, right, spoke to about 35 supporters and others during a Presidents' Day breakfast at his campaign headquarters, 2727 Wyoming.
The List: The ten most vulnerable U.S. Senate seats
By Rick Dunham, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
Maybe it's just good luck for Republicans. The last time a Texas Republican headed up the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP, under the campaign baton of Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, took control of the Senate in 1994
Lawsuit taking on state GOP a turning point for Medina
By Peggy Fikac, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
What could propel a nurse, business owner and political activist (who home-schooled her children) to morph into an upstart gubernatorial candidate?
Transportation strategies mapped out
By Josh Baugh, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
Eight years ago, Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a plan for a 4,000-mile network of transportation corridors that he said would cut air pollution and unclog roadways in a state once known for its superior highway system.
Glenn Beck, of all people, rides to Perry's rescue
By Scott Stroud, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
If Gov. Rick Perry wins another term, he might owe a debt of gratitude to Glenn Beck.
Judges' races this year more combative
By Guillermo X. Garcia, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
Amid charges of unprofessional behavior, the three-dozen-plus judicial races on the local primary ballot are some of the hottest in recent memory
Environment, agriculture get larger campaign play
By JESSICA MEYERS, The Dallas Morning News, 15 February 2010
Environmentalists' favorite buzz words ñ green energy, biofuels, sustainable development ñ are fast becoming the jargon of agriculture workers and the politicians who support them.
Master Stroke: Why did Gov. Perry's insurance regulators sign their own lobbyist's paychecks?
by Andrew Wheat, The Texas Observer, 15 February 2010
Universal Insurance Exchange and its management arm, Universal Paratransit, had been on the departmentís trouble list for years before it came under state supervision.
Government
Perry plans cuts in his office to lead by example
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, The Dallas Morning News, 16 February 2010
Gov. Rick Perry has proposed slicing his office's budget by about 11 percent, mainly by cutting $20 million from his cherished business deal-closing fund.
Gay divorce case draws attorney general's attention
By Steven Kreytak, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 16 February 2010
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has intervened in a first-of-its-kind Travis County same-sex divorce case, arguing that the women involved, who were married in another state, may not be legally granted a divorce because Texas law defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
State agencies list possible cuts
By Peggy Fikac, San Antonio Express-News, 16 February 2010
The Texas Department of Transportation said Monday it could cut more than $20 million, or 20 times the amount state leaders asked it to identify in possible trims as a budget shortfall looms.
SAWS not giving up legal fight with LCRA
By Colin McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 16 February 2010
The San Antonio Water System is no longer looking at the Colorado River as a water source. After 10 years of planning and study, the utility just wants its money back.
San Marcos council to re-consider incentives for Alamo Drafthouse
By Patrick George, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 February 2010
The San Marcos City Council is once again looking to bring an Alamo Drafthouse theater to the cityís beleaguered Springtown center at tomorrow nightís council meeting.
More file for seats on Austin school board
By Laura Heinauer, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 February 2010
Three people have filed to run in the five May Austin school board races, district officials said.
Pew Research poll finds Hispanics less likely to participate in Census
By Steve Taylor, The Rio Grande Guardian, 15 February 2010
First the good news for the Rio Grande Valley: a recent poll by the Pew Research Center found that Hispanics are more likely to view the upcoming Census as very important.
News
Scott & White says a dozen hospital prospects popped up in Marble Falls
By Mary Ann Roser, Austin American-Statesman, 15 February 2010
After announcing last week that its plans to build the first hospital in Marble Falls with a partner had fallen through, Scott & White Healthcare said Monday that a dozen new prospects have surfaced offering to pick up the pieces.
Boater still missing as search becomes recovery effort
By Jennifer R. Lloyd, San Antonio Express-News, 15 February 2010
Divers remained in the chilly waters of Canyon Lake Monday evening, checking areas where cadaver dogs indicated there might be remains of an outdoorsman who disappeared Saturday.
Ex-Clinton prosecutor Starr named Baylor president
The Associated Press, 15 February 2010
Kenneth Starr, the former independent prosecutor whose work led to President Bill Clinton's impeachment, has been named president of Baylor University.
Ex-Clinton prosecutor Kenneth Starr named Baylor president
Associated Press, 15 February 2010
Baylor University named former Clinton White House nemesis Kenneth Starr its new president on Monday, saying the one-time independent prosecutor's Christian ideals and experience heading a law school made him the ideal candidate to lead the world's largest Baptist university.
DNA evidence links man to sexual assault eight years ago
BY DEANNA BOYD, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 February 2010
A 28-year-old man faces a charge of aggravated sexual assault after police say he was linked through a DNA database to the rape of a woman forced into a vehicle more than eight years ago
Euless nurse's death ruled a homicide
BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 February 2010
A 31-year-old nurse found dead in her apartment Sunday died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Tarrant County medical examinerís Web site on Monday.
Arlington woman arrested on Loop 820 known to terrorism investigators
By TANYA EISERER, The Dallas Morning News, 15 February 2010
Kimberly "Asma" Al-Homsi, who has repeatedly been the subject of interest by federal anti-terrorism authorities, is expected to face a federal explosives charge after the latest incident in Arlington on Saturday.
80% of sheriff's '09 homicide cases open
By Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times, 15 February 2010
Only one of the five homicides investigated by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office was cleared by arrest last year.
Rackspace continues fast growth in down year
By David Saleh Rauf, San Antonio Express-News, 16 February 2010
If the recession was supposed to stifle revenue and profits at high-tech companies last year, the folks at Rackspace Hosting Inc. didn't get the message.
Sixth Floor Museum releases amateur footage of JFK's Dallas arrival
The Dallas Morning News, 15 February 2010
The Sixth Floor Museum announced Monday that it had obtained what is being called the best home movie known to exist of President Kennedyís arrival in Dallas on the day he was assassinated.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
by DAVE MANN, The Texas Observer, 15 February 2010
The Associated Press carried a little-noticed story over the weekend that's a must-read for anyone interested in the health care debate. The piece examines what will happen to the American health-care system if the reform bills currently stalled in Congress don't pass.
US colleges court Hispanic families using espanol
By KATHY MATHESON, Associated Press
For some Hispanic students, navigating the college application process can be a double-whammy: Balancing high school coursework with essays and interviews, and then translating the whole system for their parents, who don't speak English.
People
In His Hands: Lazbuddie farmer appointed to head a farm service group for USDA
By Alyssa Dizon, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 15 February 2010
Jerry Glover of Lazbuddie was named chairman of the USDAís Texas Farm Service Agency State Committee on Jan. 29 by the Obama administration.
Congressional candidate Steve Clark admits previous arrest for assault
By TOM BENNING, The Dallas Morning News, 16 February 2010
Congressional candidate Steve Clark acknowledged Monday that he was arrested more than 20 years ago on charges of assaulting his ex-wife, despite previously telling The Dallas Morning News that he had never been arrested.
Bayh-bye: Suddenly, being a GOP senator looks even more enticing
Todd J. Gillman, The Dallas Morning News, 15 February 2010
Bayh's decision adds to the string of good news for Chairman Cornyn. First, the Republicans win Ted Kennedy's old seat. That got Democrats down to 59 seats out of 100. Now this.