Democrats upbeat during candidate forum in Collin County [1]

By Theodore Kim, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 28 June 2010

Democratic political rallies are a rare occurrence in Collin County, where Republicans dominate virtually every level of government. Yet on Monday evening here in the heart of GOP territory, a slate of Democratic candidates rallied in the hopes of breaking the Republican stranglehold on Dallas' northern suburbs.

Texas hit with fine for food stamp errors [2]

By Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 June 2010

Federal officials have fined Texas $3.96 million for errors in issuing food stamp benefits, according to a letter to House Speaker Joe Straus.

U.S. fines Texas $4 million for botching food-stamp claims [3]

By Robert T. Garrett, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 28 June 2010

Federal food stamp officials have fined Texas nearly $4 million for making too many errors in calculating people's monthly benefits.

Feds fine Texas $4 million for food stamp errors [4]

By Peggy Fikac, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 28 June 2010

The federal government is fining Texas $3.96 million because of mistakes in figuring the amount of recipients' food stamp benefits.

Texas judge knocks down minimum grading on report cards [5]

By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 28 June 2010

A state judge upheld Texas' truth-in-grading law Monday, rejecting arguments by several school districts that contended that they could still require teachers to give minimum grades – such as a 50, 60 or 70 – on student report cards.

Texas schools can't stop teachers from giving zeros [6]

By Ericka Mellon, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 28 June 2010

A Travis County judge ruled today that Texas public schools are required to give students truthful grades on class assignments and on their report cards under a 2009 state law that 11 school districts were challenging in court.

U.S. Supreme Court denies appeal over candy cane pens, other religious materials in Plano schools [7]

By Matthew Haag, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 28 June 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied an appeal from Plano parents who sought to reverse a decision in a years-long lawsuit sparked by candy cane pens in the Plano school district.

GOP ties bind Green Party candidates in Texas case [8]

By Gary Scharrer, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 28 June 2010

Even if allegations about an illegal petition drive are true, knocking Green Party candidates off the November general election ballot before they can be proven imposes "a death penalty," lawyers for the party argued Monday in a written appeal to the Texas Supreme Court.

Texas reworking plan for radioactive waste shipments [9]

By Anna M. Tinsley, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 28 June 2010

A plan to potentially let 36 states ship radioactive waste to West Texas -- loads that likely would pass through North Texas on major highways and railroads -- is being revamped by state officials.

County commissioners don't agree with DA's budget stance [10]

By Kevin Krause, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 28 June 2010

Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins' assertion that his budget should be off-limits to cuts this year received an expected cool reception Monday from county commissioners and other elected officials.

Suit filed against Chico's: Gay men allege city, security violated civil rights [11]

By Diana Washington Valdez, EL PASO TIMES, 29 June 2010

Five men who allege their constitutional rights were violated at a Chico's Tacos last year filed a lawsuit Monday against the city government, a security company and the restaurant.

Gun ruling earns praise in Lubbock [12]

By Logan G. Carver, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 29 June 2010

State and local voices hailed a Monday Supreme Court decision as a victory for gun-rights advocates.

Candidate gunned down in Mexico [13]

By Dudley Althaus, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 29 June 2010

Gunmen assassinated the leading gubernatorial candidate in Tamaulipas late Monday morning, six days before his all-but-certain election.

A year later, Rainbow Lounge is scene of unity [14]

By Mitch Mitchell, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 28 June 2010

One year after a visit by law enforcement officers to a near-south-side bar triggered a storm of protests, Police Chief Jeff Halstead, other officers and members of the gay community returned to share a barbecue dinner.

Preservation of UT's history at stake in debate on whether to rename Simkins Hall [15]

By Naureen Khan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 June 2010

Would renaming the Simkins Residence Hall heal the wounds caused by racism or whitewash bigotry from the University of Texas' past?

Head of BP's oil-spill response is as much diplomat as anything [16]

By David Koenig, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 28 June 2010

He has been cast in the role of fixer, sent in to clean up after BP's gaffe-prone chief executive and oversee efforts to contain the Gulf of Mexico oil gusher. But Robert Dudley is really more of a diplomat.

Stories about Briscoe abound [17]

By Roy Bragg, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 29 June 2010

As accolades and testimonials for the late Gov. Dolph Briscoe poured in from around the state, folks in this Southwest Texas ranching town spent Monday recalling their own encounters with an unassuming community icon who put his neighbors first.

Fort Worth lawyer played role in 2nd Amendment case [18]

By Chris Vaughn, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 28 June 2010

Jim Hryekewicz eagerly hit the refresh button on his browser every few minutes Monday morning, knowing that he would soon find out just how much his thinking on the Second Amendment aligned with the Supreme Court's.