Politics
Candidates share a table - but not much else - at Houston fundraiser
By Corrie MacLaggan, Austin American-Statesman, 24 February 2010
When GOP gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina said on Wednesday evening that Gov. "Rick Perry is leading Texas all right - right into a ditch" - the object of her criticism was sitting directly below the podium where she stood.
White pushes to get voters to polls early at Austin rally
By Tim Eaton, Austin American-Statesman, 24 February 2010
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White joined former state Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos on Wednesday evening for a pachanga, rally and push to get voters to the polls.
Perry, Hutchison spar before crowd in Houston
By Todd J. Gillman, The Dallas Morning News, 25 February 2010
With time running short, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison shared a stage with Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday night and made the case that Republicans should think twice before putting him on the ticket again.
State District Judge Mark Stoltz faces accusation ahead of primary
By Jennifer Emily, The Dallas Morning News, 24 February 2010
State District Judge Mark Stoltz, facing a re-election fight in Tuesday's Democratic primary, was accused of not telling "the whole truth" by another judge while testifying about whether or not he knew the victim of a man on trial for a string of purse snatchings in Stoltz's court.
By Ian McCann,The Dallas Morning News, 25 February 2010
At least one invited guest will not be coming to Saturday's Dallas Tea Party anniversary rally.
At least one invited guest will not be coming to Saturday's Dallas Tea Party anniversary rally.
Minuteman Project founder endorses Perry
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., The Dallas Morning News, 25 February 2010
The founder of the anti-illegal immigration group the Minuteman Project endorsed Rick Perry's re-election bid Wednesday in Dallas.
Hodge tells backers to stop pushing her candidacy for Texas House
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., The Dallas Morning News, 25 February 2010
State Rep. Terri Hodge asked supporters Wednesday to stop pushing her candidacy in the District 100 race for the Texas House.
Candidates continue to bring in campaign contributions
By Sarah Kleiner Varble, Abilene Reporter-News, 24 February 2010
Two candidates in Taylor County races continue to raise more funds than their opponents, campaign reports show./p>
Ex-sheriff, lawyer challenge Nolan County judge incumbent
By Kimberly Gray, Abilene Reporter-News, 24 February 2010
Nolan County is set for an interesting election, with four contested races for county judge, county-court-at-law judge, district clerk and county commissioner
Biomedical facility in works
By Matthew Watkins, The Bryan-College Statin Eagle, 25 Feburary 2010
Almost $40 million in federal research grants have cleared the way for the Texas A&M University System and a private company to begin construction on a vaccine manufacturing facility that local leaders say will bring more than 100 high-paying jobs to Brazos County and spark a biomedical boom in the region.
Conroe Campaign Stop: Hutchison critical of Perry’s campaign ads
By Brad Meyer, The Montgomery County Courier, 24 February 2010
The lady in red who spent time at every table in Vernon’s Kuntry Katfish restaurant in Conroe Wednesday wasn’t hustling for tips, she was stumping for votes.
Perry hoping he can avoid runoff
By R.G. RATCLIFFE and PEGGY FIKAC, The Houston Chronicle, 24 February 2010
While U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is hoarding money for a possible Republican runoff, campaign finance reports show Gov. Rick Perry has increased his spending on television commercials in hopes of winning Tuesday's primary outright.
After tied runoff, dice decide candidates' fate
By Peggy O'Hare, The Houston Chronicle, 24 February 2010
Sometimes life is a little gamble. That was the case for two Sealy City Council candidates who rolled dice Wednesday to decide who would become the small town's newest elected official.
17 House Republicans fighting party challengers
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, 25 February 2010
It might be generalized voter anger or frustration that 17 incumbent Republican state representatives will face from challengers in Tuesday's party primary.
Teacups are rattling at GOP's base
By R.G. Ratclifee, San Antonio Express-News, 25 February 2010
Taking a page from the playbook of social conservatives, the tea party movement is trying to change the Republican Party of Texas from the ground up.
Former campaign manager says U.S. House candidate Curnock owes him $16,000
By Michael W. Shapiro, Waco Tribune-Herald, 25 February 2010
Rob Curnock’s former campaign manager claims the Waco Republican U.S. House candidate owes him $16,000 from his 2008 race for the office, an accusation Curnock sharply disputed Wednesday
GOP gubernatorial foes go head-to-head to make a final plea to Texas voters
By Michael Graczyk, Associated Press, 25 February 2010
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison called herself the reformer. Activist Debra Medina said she was David to her opponents' Goliath. Gov. Rick Perry touted himself as the protector from Washington's evils and incompetence.
Government
US advises 'extreme caution' for Juárez
By Daniel Borunda, The El Paso Times, 25 February 2010
A new State Department travel alert advises U.S. citizens to "exercise extreme caution" when visiting Juárez, Chihuahua state and other violent regions of Mexico.
City rebuffed by state over refinery air perm
By Matthew Tresaugue, The Houston Chronicle, 24 February 2010
Texas regulators rejected Houston's plea for a public hearing before renewing the air pollution permit of the city's largest refinery for 10 years Wednesday, illustrating what some say are flaws in state environmental law.
Victims' Wrongs
By Chris Vogel, The Houston Press, 23 February 2010
Some injured parties in Harris County say plea bargains go on behind their backs and without their approval.
Defense attorneys file civil lawsuit against DA
By Emma Perez-Trevino, The Brownsville Herald, 24 February 2010
Several defense attorneys have filed a civil lawsuit in federal court claiming that the Cameron County District Attorney and others in his office conspired to "black-ball" and "black-list" them
Candidates collide in race for Northeast Tarrant House seat
By Aman Batheja, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 February 2010
With less than a week until the primaries, accusations of mudslinging are flying across Tarrant County's mid-cities as state Rep. Todd Smith of Euless battles former Bedford City Councilman Jeff Cason.
El Paso near bottom of Web site's most affluent cities list
Vic Kolenc, El Paso Times, 24 February 2010
A ranking of cities with the most wealthy residents puts El Paso near the bottom.
At tech-savvy DFW districts, netbooks are joining textbooks
By JESSAMY BROWN and SHIRLEY JINKINS, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 February 2010
Educators and school boards in North Texas are racing to equip their students with the essential tool of the 21st-century learner: laptop computers.
News
Divided court tosses death sentence for Hood
By Chuck Lindell, Austin American-Statesman, 24 February 2010
In a case that has come to symbolize the tension between swift justice and the proper application of the death penalty, the state's highest criminal court Wednesday tossed out the death sentence for Charles Dean Hood but not because his trial judge and prosecutor were having an affair.
Plan to add wind farm land heads to council
By Marty Toohey, Austin American-Statesman, 24 February 2010
On the mesas of West Texas, wind turbines are now as much a part of the landscape as tumbleweeds and big skies, but they are still generally perceived as the kind of projects that require the backing of a daring entrepreneur./p>
Former Fort Worth schools employee says she was fired for reporting payroll problems
By EVA-MARIE AYALA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 February 2010
In a whistle-blower lawsuit, a former Fort Worth school district employee claims that she was fired because she alerted officials about problems with a new payroll system.
People
Texas deputy accused of taking pay for secret info
Associated Press, 24 February 2010
A federal grand jury has indicted a Harris County sheriff's deputy, accusing him of accepting money to reveal confidential law enforcement information.