Politics
Perry says Hutchison should stay in U.S. Senate
By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4 March 2010
After months of attacking U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday that she's fighting "the good fight" against the Obama administration and should stay in the Senate.
Perry urges Hutchison to finish Senate term
By CHRISTY HOPPE, The Dallas Morning News, 4 March 2010
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, who spent the past year bashing Kay Bailey Hutchison’s record in the U.S. Senate, said Thursday that he hopes she does not resign and serves out the rest of her term.
Incumbents blame losses on ethnic bias
By R.G. RATCLIFFE and CHRIS MORAN, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4 March 2010
AUSTIN — Hispanic candidates ran strong in many Republican primary races across Texas this week, but two candidates are blaming their losses on racially polarized voting.
Casey: Voters not swayed by slimy ads
By RICK CASEY, HOUSTON CHRONCLE, 4 March 2010
In the past few weeks I have railed against two political candidates for targeting their opponents with sensationalistic and misleading ads.
Waco Democrat Chet Edwards says he'll vote no on health bill again
By MARIA RECIO, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 March 2010
WASHINGTON -- Once again, it will be a "no" from Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, on healthcare as congressional Democrats scramble for every critical vote.
Perry leads White by 6 points in first poll of November gubernatorial race
By DAVE MONTGOMERY and MARIA RECIO, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 March 2010
The first poll of the November general-election race between Rick Perry and Bill White shows the Republican governor with a 6-point lead over his Democratic challenger, supporting predictions that the Texas gubernatorial battle will be one of the most competitive in years.
GOP race for District 15 U.S. House race heads to runoff
Sean Gaffney, The Monitor, 4 March 2010
McALLEN — Two old hands are set to square off in a Republican runoff in what has become a perennially South Texas matchup.
One tax lien for state Rep. Anderson lifted
By Michael W. Shapiro, Waco Tribune-Herald, 4 March 2010
The Internal Revenue Service released a $58,000 tax lien that had been placed on the home of state Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson in late December after the legislator and his wife failed to pay income taxes.
Government
A Medicaid Mess
by Alexa Garcia-Ditta, The Texas Tribune, 5 March 2010
Texas' senior care industry — still reeling from federal Medicare cuts — may face another financial blow, as the state considers reducing Medicaid provider rates to balance the budget in the face of a $10 billion-plus shortfall.
Public Utility Commission orders tests of smart meters
By ELIZABETH SOUDER, The Dallas Morning News, 4 March 2010
The Texas Public Utility Commission agreed Thursday to hire a company to independently test the accuracy of new smart meters, in an attempt to ease concerns that the meters cause bills to jump.
Dallas officials agree to restore public access to online crime data
By TANYA EISERER and SCOTT GOLDSTEIN, The Dallas Morning News, 4 MArch 2010
Having trouble finding out about a murder or an aggravated assault on the Dallas Police Department's Web site?
Rep. Ciro Rodriguez bill would start water task force
By Maggie Ybarra, El Paso Times, 5 March 2010
EL PASO -- A government watchdog agency found that more than $1 billion in taxpayer money was spent inefficiently on water and sewer projects along the border.
House passes jobs bill despite doubts
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press, 5 March 2010
WASHINGTON -- Despite doubts among many lawmakers that it will create many jobs, the House on Thursday passed legislation giving companies that hire the jobless a temporary payroll tax break. The measure passed 217-201 on a mostly party-line vote. The bill also extends federal highway programs through the end of the year.
Beilue: Will the new testing be less TAKS-ing?
By Jon Mark Beilue, Amarillo Globe-News, 5 March 2010
It's TAKS season, not to be confused with tax season, although both have been known to cause equal parts pain and stress.
DPS urges Spring Breakers to avoid Mexico border cities
Ildefonso Ortiz, The Monitor, 4 March 2010
As colleges and universities nationwide prepare for spring break, the Texas Department of Public Safety is warning students to avoid traveling to Mexican border cities.
News
Job numbers bad, but may be on the way up
By L.M. SIXEL, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4 March 2010
After big job losses early last year pushed the total number of job cuts past 100,000 by year's end, the local employment picture appears to be slowly improving.
Federal suit seeks to dismantle ethics panel
By Ramon Bracamontes, El Paso Times, 5 March 2010
EL PASO -- A civil-rights activist named Carl Starr is continuing his fight to have the new El Paso County Ethics Commission disbanded, saying it violates constitutional protections.
Tea partiers gather to protest health-care reform
By Valentino Lucio, San Antonio Express-News, 4 March 2010
More than two dozen San Antonio Tea Party supporters gathered Thursday afternoon at Alamo Plaza to protest the administration's attempt at health-care reform.
Fredericksburg lands Texas Ranger museum
By Zeke MacCormack, San Antonio Express-News, 4 March 2010
FREDERICKSBURG — Local officials are cheering plans by the Former Texas Rangers Foundation to build a museum honoring the storied agency on city land along U.S. 290.
Houston school district employees reassigned over TAKS cheating
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 5 March 2010
HOUSTON - Two employees at a campus in the state's largest public school system have been reassigned over allegations of cheating to prepare for the TAKS test.
People
Judge declares death penalty unconstitutional
By BRIAN ROGERS, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5 March 2010
A Houston judge on Thursday granted a pretrial motion declaring the death penalty unconstitutional, saying he believes innocent people have been executed.
Fort Bliss unit watches over Iraq election
By Chris Roberts, El Paso Times, 5 March 2010
EL PASO -- Residents of southern Iraq should have a peaceful and lawful national election Sunday when they choose a prime minister and other national leaders, say Fort Bliss commanders working there.