Politics
White edges Perry in campaign cash
By Jason Embry and Corrie MacLaggan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 July 2010
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Bill White began this month with about $3 million more in the campaign bank than Republican Gov. Rick Perry, foreshadowing a fierce battle between the parties this fall.
White has $3 million advantage over Perry in Texas governor's race
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
Democrat Bill White beat 10-year incumbent Rick Perry in the latest round of fundraising and goes into the fall campaign with a $3 million advantage.
White has $3 million fundraising edge over Perry
By R.G. Ratcliffe and Joe Holley, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 15 July 2010
Former Houston Mayor Bill White is starting his general election challenge to Republican Gov. Rick Perry with a $3 million advantage in money in the bank, according to finance reports released by their campaigns Thursday.
White holding own in campaign fundraising
By Anna M. Tinsley, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 15 July 2010
Most recent polls show Republican Gov. Rick Perry leading Democratic challenger and former Houston Mayor Bill White, but the incumbent trailed in the most recent round of competition for campaign contributions, financial reports released Thursday show.
Napolitano says border talk with Perry was 'firm'
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 16 July 2010
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Thursday she was being “firm” rather than testy with Gov. Rick Perry recently while he was again hammering the federal government over security along the Texas border.
Waco congressional candidates both raise more than $600K
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 15 July 2010
Chet Edwards and Bill Flores leaked snippets of information from their most recent fundraising reports Thursday, showing the House candidates each raised upward of $600,000, but Edwards had far more cash on hand.
Watkins out-raises GOP opponent Clancy in Dallas County district attorney's race
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
Incumbent Craig Watkins held a slight fundraising advantage over Republican challenger Danny Clancy on Thursday in a race that could become the most expensive campaign for district attorney in Dallas County history.
Transportation advocates surprised by change in committee chairman
By Gordon Dickson, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 15 July 2010
Squeezing more dollars from the state budget for roads and rail lines in North Texas was already an iffy prospect, at best. But the effort to raise those dollars may now be even tougher, after Metroplex leaders learned that state Sen. John Carona, the Dallas Republican who for four years championed their efforts in Austin, had asked to be removed as chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security committee.
Carona plans to seek another Texas Senate term, not run for Dallas mayor
By Michael A. Lindenberger, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 16 July 2010
Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, said he won't run for Dallas mayor in the next election and instead plans to seek a sixth term in the Texas Senate.
Candidate in El Paso takes on big government
By Daniel Borunda, EL PASO TIMES, 16 July 2010
A gathering by Republican candidate Dan Chavez on Thursday night portrayed the race to be El Paso's next state senator as part of a bigger fight against the perceived growth of the federal government under President Barack Obama.
Experts: Education survey has key points
By Garner Roberts, ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS, 15 July 2010
Two Abilene educators expressed concern Thursday about some members of the State Board of Education and voiced agreement with at least some of the findings in a public education survey released earlier this week by the Texas Freedom Network.
Government
District attorney looking into Green Party ballot dispute
By Tim Eaton, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 July 2010
The Travis County district attorney's office is looking into whether a crime was committed in getting the Green Party on the November ballot.
Travis County DA investigates GOP-backed Green Party petition drive
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
The Travis County district attorney is investigating a GOP-backed petition drive that put the Green Party on the November ballot.
Plano Rep. Sam Johnson pushes for Social Security changes at House hearing
By Tom Benning, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 15 July 2010
Plano Republican Sam Johnson joined a growing number of prominent lawmakers today pushing for changes to Social Security in light of the nation's exploding financial problems.
Safety concerns, pilot shortage slow use of drones on border
By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 15 July 2010
Safety concerns and a shortage of remote pilots have slowed the integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into security plans for the Southwest border, officials told a House Homeland Security panel Thursday.
NASA budget that saves jobs, programs OK'd by Senate committee
By Eric Berger, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 15 July 2010
A NASA budget bill passed by a Senate committee Thursday restores a majority of programs at Johnson Space Center that would have been cut under President Barack Obama's plan for the space agency.
Texas' Department of Information Resources may end IBM technology contract
By Robert T. Garrett, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
Texas' Department of Information Resources plans to tell IBM today that it could begin a legal process to end the company's $863 million technology contract if long-requested fixes aren't made in 30 days, two officials confirmed Thursday.
Agents discuss border-safety practices
By Caylor Bellinger, EL PASO TIMES, 16 July 2010
Immigrants trying to enter the United States illegally risk the dangerous currents of the Rio Grande and a canal, and Border Patrol agents must brave the waters to try to save them.
Area agencies are awarded $10M to help combat crime
By Maggie Ybarra, EL PASO TIMES, 16 July 2010
Local governments and several law-enforcement agencies will get more than $10 million in state and federal grants to fight crime along the border and to combat gang activity.
News
Finally — oil stops flowing
By Tom Fowler, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 16 July 2010
The Gulf of Mexico received at least a temporary reprieve from the spewing oil well Thursday when BP stopped the flow for the first time since the well blew out nearly three months ago, triggering one of the nation's worst environmental disasters.
UT System regents vote to rename Simkins hall
By Naureen Khan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 July 2010
The University of Texas System Board of Regents unanimously gave the green light to change the name of Simkins Residence Hall on Thursday.
UT-Austin to strip Klansman's name from dorm
By Erin Mulvaney, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
University of Texas regents voted unanimously Thursday to strip the name of a former law professor from a 55-year-old building because of his ties to the Ku Klux Klan.
Police killed in Juárez blast
By Daniel Borunda, EL PASO TIMES, 15 July 2010
An explosive blasted Mexican federal police and rescuers when it detonated as they went to the aid of a wounded police officer in Juárez on Thursday night.
BP disposing of oily waste in Southeast Texas
By Dan Wallach, BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE, 15 July 2010
Even as BP managed to shut down its runaway undersea gusher in the Gulf Thursday, a rogue wave of contaminated liquid confined on barges rode toward Southeast Texas, destined for another hole in the ground 2,000 feet deep.
Environmental groups say they will sue LCRA over Fayette power plant
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 15 July 2010
In an early sign of how federal disapproval of a state air pollution program will filter down to Central Texas, three environmental groups said Thursday that they would sue the Lower Colorado River Authority over its operations of a coal-fired power plant near La Grange.
Coppell mayor's use of city-issued credit card raised questions
By Brandon Formby, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 16 July 2010
Hours before Coppell Mayor Jayne Peters and her 19-year-old daughter, Corinne, were found fatally shot in their home, City Manager Clay Phillips asked the city attorney to investigate Peters' use of her city-issued credit card.