Dewhurst engineers midterm Senate shakeup [1]

By Mike Ward, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 14 July 2010

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Wednesday shuffled the leadership of eight Senate committees in a major overhaul that could shift the politics of the next legislative session and could portend an upcoming vacancy.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announces new leadership for several Texas Senate committees [2]

By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 15 July 2010

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced new leadership for eight Senate committees Wednesday, saying the moves will help prepare the Senate for what many expect to be a difficult legislative session.

Expect Perry to take aim at White's lack of hunting license [3]

By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 14 July 2010

Public displays of hunting are designed to do two things. One is to reinforce a regular-guy image, the "I'm one of you" message. The other purpose is to make a statement about gun control.

DC Democrats returning fire from Texas Gov. Perry [4]

By Kelley Shannon, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 15 July 2010

Republican Gov. Rick Perry has started a multitude of battles with Washington, D.C., over the years. Lately, Democrats in the nation's capital are showing they can return the fire.

Immigration issue huge in local race [5]

By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 15 July 2010

U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith and his Democratic challenger, Lainey Melnick, are polar opposites on immigration reform, which has become a national campaign issue.

Democratic group accuses Arlington GOP candidate of falsifying state application [6]

By Alex Branch, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 14 July 2010

A Washington-based political action committee on Wednesday accused an Arlington Republican seeking a state House seat of giving untruthful answers to questions on a disclosure form filed with the governor's office.

President makes first federal court nomination in Texas [7]

By Tim Eaton, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 14 July 2010

President Barack Obama on Wednesday made his first nomination to the federal bench in Texas.

Obama nominates first federal judge for Texas [8]

By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 14 July 2010

Nearly 19 months after taking office, President Barack Obama nominated his first candidate for a federal judgeship in Texas on Wednesday, selecting U.S. Magistrate Judge Diana Saldaña for an open bench in Laredo.

Prosecutors investigate Green Party petition drive [9]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 14 July 2010

The Travis County District Attorney's Office has launched an investigation of the political contributions raised by the Green Party for a ballot petition drive.

Airline fees come under attack in House hearing [10]

By Dave Michaels, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 14 July 2010

Airlines have found a growing source of revenue in checked baggage fees and other charges, but those sales are escaping the taxes that pay for the aviation system, according to a report by congressional auditors.

Wentworth may leave Senate for A&M job [11]

By Gary Scharrer, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 14 July 2010

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, confirmed Wednesday he is thinking about taking a high-level job with the Texas A&M University System that would bring his long legislative career to an end.

Group to team up with U.S. agency on worker safety [12]

By Juan Castillo, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 14 July 2010

An Austin-based workers advocacy group says a new collaboration with the federal Labor Department will strengthen the group's efforts to make the construction industry safer and to recover back wages for workers.

A&M prof demoted for whistle-blowing, suit alleges [13]

By Isadora Vail, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 14 July 2010

A Texas A&M University professor was demoted because he raised questions about the construction of a medical building in which some A&M employees had a financial interest, according to a whistle-blower lawsuit filed in state District Court in Travis County this week against the A&M System and A&M Health Science Center .

Fort Worth workers push for raises amid budget crunch [14]

By Mike Lee, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 14 July 2010

Upset with the City Council balancing the budget at their expense, the city's rank-and-file employees are seeking a 3 percent pay raise as well as an end to furloughs, layoffs and benefit reductions.

BP launches new test on choking off oil spill [15]

By Tom Breen, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 14 July 2010

BP allayed last-minute government fears of making the Deepwater Horizon disaster worse and started trying Wednesday to slowly choke off the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in the hope of finally stopping the leak.

Flow of oil tapers as tests get under way [16]

By Tom Fowler, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 14 July 2010

The absence Wednesday evening of a geyser of oil seen for days in video feeds from the Macondo well signaled the start of critical tests to determine if the well can withstand the pressure of being closed completely — effectively ending the Gulf oil spill.

UT to mull taking Klansman off dorm [17]

By Jim Vertuno, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 14 July 2010/h5>

Tucked under towering oaks and nestled against a shady creek, Simkins Hall was the first air-conditioned dormitory at the University of Texas. These days, it has become notable for another reason.

Notes provide few details into deaths of Coppell mayor, daughter [18]

By Elida S. Perez, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 14 July 2010

The mayor of an upscale Dallas suburb apparently shot her teenage daughter to death before fatally shooting herself, but only after leaving notes at their home warning officers about the scene they would find and outlining how to manage family affairs, police said Wednesday.

Coppell mayor killed daughter before taking her own life, medical examiner says [19]

By Domingo Ramirez Jr., FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 14 July 2010

The death of the daughter of the Coppell mayor was ruled a homicide while the mayor killed herself, the Dallas County medical examiner's office determined Wednesday afternoon.