Perry, White camps accuse each other of lying or hiding profits [1]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 19 July 2010

Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic rival, Bill White, accused each other Monday of lying about or trying to hide their profits in the oil and gas industry, the latest spat in an increasingly nasty race.

White, Perry accuse each other of lying [2]

By Angela K. Brown, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 19 July 2010

Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic challenger accused each other Monday of lying about or trying to hide their profits in the oil and gas industry, the latest escalation in an increasingly nasty gubernatorial race.

Perry defends Texas' natural gas drilling regulations [3]

By Aman Batheja, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 19 July 2010

Gov. Rick Perry defended the state's handling of natural gas drilling regulations at an appearance Monday in Fort Worth, and he made it clear that he wants the federal government to butt out of the state's handling of environmental issues related to drilling.

Obama planning Austin trip, sources say [4]

By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 19 July 2010

President Barack Obama plans to headline an Aug. 9 fundraiser in Austin for the Democratic National Committee, according to Democratic sources. He is also planning to headline a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee event the same day in Houston.

Feds: Leaking from cap isn't cause for alarm yet [5]

By Colleen Long and Matthew Daly, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 19 July 2010

BP's broken well was leaking oil and gas again Monday for the first time since the company capped it last week, but the Obama administration's spill chief said it was no cause for alarm. The stopper was left in place for now.

Deadly Gulf blowouts persist [6]

By Eric Nalder, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 July 2010

The Houston Chronicle reviewed 66 blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico — one of the most dangerous places on Earth to drill for oil — and found that time and again, federal investigators' calls for improvement were either largely ignored or delayed amid industry consternation.

TEA's school ratings next week will have a footnote [7]

By Ericka Mellon, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 July 2010

When the Texas Education Agency releases its highly anticipated annual school ratings next week, they will come with a footnote of sorts.

Guard troops to head to Texas, other border states Aug. 1 [8]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 19 July 2010

National Guard troops will head to the U.S.-Mexico border Aug. 1 for a yearlong deployment to keep a lookout for illegal border crossers and smugglers and help in criminal investigations, federal officials said Monday.

250 soldiers to be deployed along border [9]

By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 19 July 2010

Texas will see 250 National Guardsmen along the border with Mexico when troops are deployed Aug. 1 to help battle drug, immigrant and gun smuggling, federal officials said Monday.

National Guard deploys to border Aug. 1 [10]

By Diana Washington Valdez, EL PASO TIMES, 20 July 2010

Nearly half of the 1,200 National Guard soldiers President Obama is sending to the border will go to Arizona. Texas and New Mexico combined will get 322 of the soldiers.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius addresses concerns about Medicare at Irving senior center [11]

By Jason Roberson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 20 July 2010

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited an Irving senior citizens' recreation center Monday trumpeting benefits of the new health care law.

Late Coppell mayor’s credit card use could lead to changes in city policy [12]

By Brandon Formby, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 20 July 2010

Coppell city officials could soon consider changing policies governing city-issued credit cards in the wake of personal purchases Mayor Jayne Peters charged to a city card before she shot herself and her daughter, Corinne Peters, last week.

Legal battles cost Eversole $230,000 [13]

By Chris Moran, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 July 2010

Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole has spent $230,000 — more than half of what he raised — on attorneys' fees in the past six months, according to his latest campaign finance report.

Police consolidation gains traction in El Paso [14]

By Marty Schladen, EL PASO TIMES, 20 July 2010

Consolidating city police officers and county sheriff's deputies into a single department is hardly a new idea, but new momentum for it might be building.

Drones can't replace locals' eyes, ears, says sheriff in Big Bend area drug war [15]

By Alfredo Corchado, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 19 July 2010

Sheriff Ronny Dodson stares at the barren mountain range across the border in Mexico, a deeply isolated region where trails once traveled by small-time smugglers are now controlled by drug gangs that operate with military precision.

Job scams erupt from BP oil spill [16]

By Blair Ortmann, BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE, 19 July 2010

Representatives of The Better Business Bureau in Southeast Texas are warning job seekers, potential volunteers and donors, and those with a valid insurance claim to watch out for BP Deepwater Horizon scams.

Border crossings prompting rescues [17]

By Lynn Brezosky, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 20 July 2010

Post-hurricane releases from Rio Grande dams have swelled the normally narrow river more than a mile wide, but that hasn't stopped some people from trying to cross into the United States illegally in rudimentary boats and inner tubes.

Feds: Immigrants still attempt to cross swollen Rio Grande [18]

By Jared Taylor, THE MONITOR, 19 July 2010

Immigrants continue to try and illegally cross the swift Rio Grande, despite the widespread flooding from Hurricane Alex that has affected the region.