Politics
Upton officials blame glitch
BY JIM MUSTIAN, Odessa American, March 9, 2010
Before the first ballot was even cast, last week’s primary election in Upton County generated quite a buzz. With nearly two dozen candidates vying for eight offices and a heated district clerk race energizing the electorate, the political forecast called for an above-average turnout March 2.
Averitt announces plan to resign from Texas Senate
By Michael Shapiro, Waco Tribune-Herald, March 9, 2010
State Sen. Kip Averitt (R-Waco) announced Monday that he will be resigning in about a week and a half to allow for a special election in May to fill out the remainder of his term.
5 vying for Galveston mayor
By Rhiannon Meyers, The Galveston Daily News, March 9, 2010
The five candidates in the race for Galveston mayor are attorney, mediator and former city councilman Joe Jaworski; Betty Massey, chairwoman of the city’s recovery committee; William “Bill” Quiroga, the brother of former Mayor Roger “Bo” Quiroga; Greg Roof, a Galveston College regent; and city councilman and mayor pro tem Danny Weber.
White: No to slots and casinos
Wire Reports, Austin American-Statesman, March 8, 2010
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White said Monday that he does not support the legalization of slot machines and does not think Texas should legalize casinos across the state.
Averitt to leave state Senate
By Jason Embry and Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, March 8, 2010
State Sen. Kip Averitt, a Waco Republican who won nomination to a new term last week even though he told voters he didn't want to serve, announced Monday that he will resign his seat March 17.
Sen. John Cornyn says Texas only 'marginally' Republican
By TOM BENNING, The Dallas Morning News, March 8, 2010
Sen. John Cornyn called Texas only “marginally” Republican this morning, less than a week after a primary that drew the most GOP voters in at least 30 years.
Last-minute filers help fill ballots in Dallas-area council races
By WENDY HUNDLEY, The Dallas Morning News, March 9, 2010
Monday was the last day to file for area city and town council races, and a number of candidates squeezed in just under the deadline for the May 8 election.
Government
Dallas official urges pullback on police hires through '11
By RUDOLPH BUSH, The Dallas Morning News, March 8, 2010
Dallas wants to scale back plans to hire 191 additional police officers this year in an effort to curb costs in a time of slumping revenue.
State's budget deficit may hit $15B
By Zahira Torres, El Paso Times, March 9, 2010
Texas may be slowly adding jobs and sales tax revenues might be improving slightly, but lawmakers could still face a budget deficit of up to $15 billion next year, state officials said Monday. John Heleman, the chief revenue estimator for the Comptroller's Office, said the state added about 30,000 jobs in January, mostly through temporary agencies.
Study: City recoups spending on new development in 25 years
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta, El Paso Times, March 9, 2010
Building schools, streets, police stations and other public services to serve the fast-growing fringes of El Paso costs taxpayers $93.4 million a year.
Census resisters say they'll comply only with head count
By STEVE CAMPBELL, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 8, 2010
The anti-government sentiment that sparked the Tea Party movement is brewing a backlash of sorts against the upcoming census by people who say it asks too many questions and intrudes on their privacy.
North Texas cities improving water conservation efforts
By MIKE LEE, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth, Dallas and Arlington are making strides in conserving water, but they could still do a lot more, according to two environmental groups.
Texas Education Agency to rethink cuts for pregnant, parenting teens
By EVA-MARIE AYALA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 8, 2010
Crucial funding for pregnant and parenting teens will be re-examined for cuts after concerns were raised during a legislative committee hearing Monday in Austin.
Group: Lubbock's water fines a drop in bucket
By Elliott Blackburn, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, March 9, 2010
Lubbock water rates offer its biggest consumers some of the weakest penalties in the state, two conservation groups said Monday.
Texans can expect cuts in light of state's projected $11 billion shortfall
By Enrique Rangel, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, March 9, 2010
The Texas economy is apparently rebounding, but the recession of the last two years was so deep that the turnaround won't be good enough to prevent a shortfall of at least $11 billion for the next two years, a legislative panel was told Monday.
Despite concern, state economic figures show improvement
By PEGGY FIKAC, Houston Chronicle, March 8, 2010
Texas job creation and sales tax revenues may be inching in the right direction, experts said Monday, but state budget writers still face a massive shortfall expected to be swelled further by higher-than-projected Medicaid caseloads.
Grier wants new offers to run alternative school
By ERICKA MELLON, Houston Chronicle, March 8, 2010
HISD Superintendent Terry Grier recommended Monday that the district sever ties with Community Education Partners and let other groups compete to run an alternative school for students with serious discipline problems.
Trust in prison trusties shaky
By ALLAN TURNER, Houston Chronicle, March 8, 2010
Focusing on prison trusties — inmates whose nonviolent offenses, good behavior and parole eligibility have earned them the privilege of working outside prison walls — the Houston Democrat on Monday called for increased surveillance and searches.
Does state board need a history test?
By Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News, March 9, 2010
The State Board of Education will meet again this week before taking final action in May on new social studies curriculum standards that will influence history and government textbooks for 4.7 million public school students.
Border mayors lobby to improve customs, ports
By Gary Martin, San Antonio Express-News, March 8, 2010
A year after Texas ports of entry were snubbed in the federal stimulus package, a coalition of border officials lobbied lawmakers Monday to provide $6 billion for infrastructure improvements and more personnel.
Judge’s critics not arguing right facts
By Heber Taylor, The Galveston Daily News, March 9, 2010
If you want to read some really brutal criticism of Texas’ death penalty, forget about Judge Fine for a minute. Take a look at the justices on the U.S. Supreme Court, most of whom were appointed by conservative presidents. For the past decade, they’ve had a lot to say about Texas.
Officials: State cannot escape budget shortfall
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, March 8, 2010
The Texas economy seems to have turned a corner, but the improvement will not be enough for the state to avoid a significant shortfall in the next budget, state officials said Monday.
Health care costs open $1.7 billion hole in Texas budget
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, The Dallas Morning News, March 9, 2010
Lawmakers have been thinking ahead to a massive shortfall, topping $10 billion, that's probably coming when they write the next budget in 2011. But state officials told them Monday that they'll have to fix a hole in the current budget, too.
Abilene economy listed as 'in recovery'
By Jaime Adame, Abilene Reporter-News, March 8, 2010
Abilene and nearly all Texas cities are now recovering from the worst of the recession, according to Moody’s Economy.com.
U.S. Supreme Court blocks Texas execution
Associated Press, March 8, 2010
The Supreme Court is turning down Texas' attempt to get a death sentence reimposed on a convicted killer who lower courts have found is mentally impaired.
More than $500,000 collected from delinquent warrants
By Mike Baird, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, March 8, 2010
An arrest grace period ended Friday in the Great Texas Warrant Roundup with 727 people having paid $506,727 in delinquent fines, said Rene Mendiola, municipal court administrator.
News
31 women on list of drug smugglers sought by DEA and FBI in U.S.
By Diana Washington Valdez, El Paso Times, March 9, 2010
Thirty-one female drug smugglers are among the fugitives being sought by the DEA and FBI in U.S. border states.
3 shot inside financial services firm at Dallas bank building
BY DOMINGO RAMIREZ JR., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 8, 2010
A man apparently disgruntled with a financial service company opened fire on two employees Monday morning at a Dallas high-rise office building before he shot himself as police closed in on him, authorities said.
Jury pool winnowed down in Jessop trial
By Matthew Waller, San Angelo Standard-Times, March 8, 2010
Attorneys in the trial of Merril Leroy Jessop, 35, who faces charges of sexual assault of a child, finished general questioning of potential jurors Monday and began the lengthier process of questioning them one by one to seat a jury.
Survey says textbooks going digital, ready or not
By Lindsay Kastner, San Antonio Express-News, March 9, 2010
A survey of educators attending a national conference here shows they believe printed textbooks will soon be obsolete but few feel prepared for a shift to digital learning.
DPS trooper shot in face during Mineola warrant sweep
Wire Reports, Longview News-Journal, March 8, 2010
A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper has been hospitalized after a shooting during an East Texas warrant sweep.
Coast Guard begins hearing on Texas oil spill
Associated Press, Longview News-Journal, March 9, 2010
The Coast Guard will begin its formal hearing into the circumstances of a collision of vessels in the Gulf Coast in January that caused the worst oil spill in Texas in 15 years.
Medical official says the need for shot still exists
By Sarah Kleiner Varble, Abilene Reporter-News, March 8, 2010
It may not feel like flu season anymore, but a public health official says residents are still at risk of catching the swine flu.
JFK condolence letters published in book
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 8, 2010
Among the 1.5 million condolence letters sent to President John F. Kennedy's widow after his assassination in 1963 were more than two dozen from Jane Dryden, a dogged and dramatic 11-year-old who churned out a letter a week for six months straight.
People
2 of oldest people in US die: in NH 114, Mich. 113
Associated Press, March 8, 2010
Two of the oldest people in the world have died on the same day.
Acevedo finalist to lead Dallas police
By Tony Plohetski, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, March 8, 2010
Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo, within hours of applying for the job, was named one of six finalists Monday to become the next leader of the Dallas police force.
Ex-Texas Tech coach to be deposed
By THE ASS0CIATED PRESS, March 8, 2010
Mike Leach has been scheduled to answer questions under oath later this week in the former football coach's lawsuit against Texas Tech.
Leach returning to testify
By Matthew Mcgowan, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Former Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach is scheduled to appear Friday in Lubbock to testify under oath about his ongoing legal battle with the university.