Is Texas a Sanctuary State? [1]
by Reeve Hamilton and Matt Stiles, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 4 May 2010
Even before he entered the race for governor, Democrat Bill White faced attacks for running a “sanctuary city" as mayor of Houston, where officers don't inquire about immigration status during routine patrols and investigations.
Six candidates seek 3 Leander council seats [2]
By Miguel Liscano, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3 May 2010
Three council members running for re-election Saturday say that managed growth in the past has helped avoid financial disaster. Their opponents argue the council could have done more.
Kyle City Council to change again after Saturday's election [3]
By Patrick George, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3 May 2010
On Saturday, voters will choose between two candidates running for an open spot on the council. Like Brad Pickett, who is running unopposed for the District 3 seat, District 1 candidates Diane Hervol and Jason T. Welch would be newcomers to the council.
Early voting ends today for El Paso school boards [4]
By Ramon Bracamontes, EL PASO TIMES, 4 May 2010
This election includes 106 of the 173 precincts in El Paso County.
Tarrant Regional Water Board candidates criticize incumbents [5]
By Bill Hanna, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3 May 2010
Challengers seeking spots on the Tarrant Regional Water District board hope that questions about the agency's efforts to get Oklahoma to satisfy a thirsty North Central Texas, as well as its involvement in the ambitious Trinity River Vision project, will be enough to flush two incumbents out of office.
Rick Perry warns against 'knee-jerk' reaction to gulf oil spill [6]
By Dave Michaels, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4 May 2010
Texas Gov. Rick Perry warned Monday against a "knee-jerk" reaction to the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, saying it is too early to assign blame for the disaster.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry hopes feds will step up immigration enforcement [7]
By Dave Michaels, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3 May 2010
Texas Gov. Rick Perry today expressed optimism after meetings in Washington that Obama administration officials would increase federal commitments to secure the violence-plagued border with Mexico.
Perry says economic recovery threatened by border violence [8]
By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 3 May 2010
Gov. Rick Perry told national business leaders Monday that U.S.-Mexico border violence threatens commerce and an economic recovery in border states — and states far north of the Rio Grande.
County condemns Arizona immigration law [9]
By Marty Schladen, EL PASO TIMES, 3 May 2010
A split County Commissioners Court on Monday approved a resolution condemning an Arizona law aimed at ousting undocumented immigrants.
Defense lawyers rip Texas forensics panel [10]
By Allan Turner, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3 May 2010
Texas defense lawyers took aim at the state's Forensic Science Commission Monday, charging that the group — now probing the possibly botched arson investigations that sent an East Texas man to his execution — is in danger of being “permanently tainted and derailed by politics.”
Texas Dems criticize Obama on slow judicial appointments [11]
By Gary Martin, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3 May 2010
Fifteen months into the Obama administration, congressional Democrats from Texas are lashing out at the White House for foot-dragging on federal judicial appointments, resulting in backlogs in courts already strained by increasing drug and immigration caseloads.
Super Bowl panel fills legislators in on its plans [12]
By Jeff Mosier, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4 May 2010
The Super Bowl host committee already enlisted the support of mayors from more than 100 local cities, but on Monday, the Legislature was brought into the fold.
'Sweat equity' program will split project costs between city, neighborhoods [13]
By Marty Toohey, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 4 May 2010
Hoping to stretch limited dollars, the City of Austin is offering neighborhoods a deal: You provide the volunteer labor; we'll build you a dog park, bike path or other small project.
Irving's, Hugo's request for water denied by Kansas judge [14]
By Bill Hanna, FORTH WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3 May 2010
Irving's effort to buy water from Hugo, Okla., ran into a major roadblock Monday when a federal judge in Kansas denied both cities' request to strike down Oklahoma's laws against out-of-state water sales.
Ordinance to limit billboards in El Paso may go to vote today [15]
By David Burge, EL PASO TIMES, 4 May 2010
The El Paso City Council today will consider new regulations on billboards and apartments for disabled people.
Work resumes to protect coastline [16]
By Matthew Tresaugue and Jennifer A. Dlouhy, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 4 May 2010
Fearful for their livelihoods and restless, fishermen seized upon improving weather conditions Monday to resume the work of shielding fragile coastal ecosystems from an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP pursues at least five ways to stop spill [17]
By Brett Clanton, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3 May 2010
BP says it is working on at least five possible approaches for halting the spew of oil from a damaged well deep in the Gulf of Mexico that is feeding one of the worst spills in U.S. history.
Offshore well blowout preventer was supposed to be fail-safe [18]
By Jim Landers, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4 May 2010
At the heart of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill is a 40-foot-high stack of steel holding multiple hydraulic valves designed to cap a well before it turns into a gusher.
Energy experts disagree on whether gulf oil spill will lead to higher gas prices [19]
By Jack Z. Smith, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3 May 2010
The massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico won't cause higher retail gasoline prices, two people familiar with petroleum markets said Monday. But a third said he thinks that it will be a contributing factor in boosting pump prices.
Continental chief says jobs to be lost in Houston [20]
By Jenalia Moreno and Purva Patel, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3 May 2010
As Continental and United airlines officially announced plans Monday to create the world's largest airline, Houstonians and Continental employees braced for job losses the merger is expected to bring.
Valley's real estate soars amid violence [21]
By Lynn Brezosky, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4 May 2010
In what's nationally been a down market for real estate, Rio Grande Valley agent Nester Montemayor has been doing, well, great. He sold 273 properties valued at $27 million in 2009, and things look even better this year.
Report blasts UTMB's post-Ike firings [22]
By Harvey Rice, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 3 May 2010
A critical report that could affect the University of Texas system's ability to hire top professors says that an unfair process was used to fire more than 100 faculty members after Hurricane Ike put the UT Medical Branch at Galveston on the verge of bankruptcy.
State investigator slain in Juárez [23]
By Adriana Gómez Licón, EL PASO TIMES, 4 May 2010
Attacks against Mexican law enforcement officials continued Monday in Juárez with the killing of a state investigative agent.
Hospital bedsides see equal rights fight [24]
By Vianna Davila, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 4 May 2010
Questions about whether to resuscitate a dying patient or how to dispose of a loved one's body are common. But for same-sex couples, who can only marry in a handful of states, the ability to make these decisions for each other can quickly twist into a legal and personal nightmare.
2 former workers allege racial bias at Fort Worth school district [25]
By Eva-Marie Ayala, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 3 May 2010
Two former employees have filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the Fort Worth school district alleging that they lost their jobs because of their race.
Military installations make amends to endangered species [26]
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 3 May 2010
When on-the-ground soldiers, supported by Apache helicopters overhead, creep and clamber through the live-fire area of Fort Hood, they needn't worry about the fate of the endangered golden-cheeked warblers that like to roost there. That's because the Department of Defense, working with researchers from nonprofits and Texas A&M University, has paid off nearby landowners to build up their own nesting grounds to offset the ones lost on Fort Hood.
Utility's new billing system proves costly [27]
By Vic Kolenc, EL PASO TIMES, 4 May 2010
The new-look electric bills now being received by El Paso Electric customers didn't come cheaply.
John Ware's legacy: successes, controversy [28]
By David Flick, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3 May 2010
John Ware willed himself from the housing projects of Arkadelphia, Ark., to the glass-walled boardrooms where decisions about the future of Dallas are made.