Politics
White tries to distance himself from Obama
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 22 July 2010
Bill White put distance between himself and Barack Obama on Wednesday, saying he and the president don't come from the same place or share some of the same views.
Perry wants to talk border security with Obama
By R.G. Ratcliffe, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 21 July 2010
Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday said he would like to talk with President Barack Obama about securing the state's border with Mexico when he is in Texas next month.
Texas Democrats Push to Increase Hispanic Turnout
By Ben Philpott, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 22 July 2010
The Hispanic vote in Texas is often referred to as a "sleeping giant" because of historically low turnout. If Hispanics were to show up at the ballot box in record numbers, they could easily influence elections of all kinds.
National Republicans say Canseco a contender
By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 21 July 2010
With an eye at regaining control of the House, the Republican campaign committee said Wednesday that 33 GOP candidates — including Francisco “Quico” Canseco in San Antonio — met fundraising benchmarks that would make them contenders in upcoming races.
Government
Texas charter schools seek building funds from state
By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 22 July 2010
Representatives for Texas' 460 independent charter schools asked the State Board of Education on Wednesday to tap into the state's education trust fund and for the first time provide them classrooms and facilities for their students.
SBOE Warned of Risk in Renting to Charter Schools
By Elizabeth Titus, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 22 July 2010
State Board of Education member David Bradley, R-Beaumont, thinks Texas' charter schools deserve better than the strip malls, warehouses and vacant churches some of them call home — but the SBOE's lawyers told him and other members Wednesday to proceed cautiously with his proposal for the state to invest about $100 million in facilities to rent to charter schools. The lawyers advised the board to get an opinion from the state attorney general's office or risk litigation down the road.
Tea party movement gets a voice in Congress
By Alan Blinder, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 21 July 2010
The anti-establishment tea party movement, which has worked to topple out-of-touch incumbents, now has a voice in the U.S. House: a fully sanctioned congressional caucus with seven Texas Republicans among its members.
City auditor finds continuing challenges for city's fleet
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 21 July 2010
A series of audit reports suggest Austin could earn $1.2 million a year by pressing for reimbursement from city employees, a few of whom commute more than 100 miles a day in city vehicles, and could winnow its city fleet by as much as two-thirds, saving $3 million.
Dallas to get $20 million more than estimated in property tax revenue
By Rudolph Bush, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 21 July 2010
In a rare bit of welcome news for Dallas City Hall's troubled finances, the City Council learned late Wednesday that appraised property values did not fall nearly as far as the city staff had anticipated.
Petitions have fewer signatures, city says, but enough to get alcohol on ballot
By Steve Thompson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 22 July 2010
Proponents of an election to expand alcohol sales in Dallas collected thousands fewer valid signatures then they thought, surpassing the number they needed by only hundreds, according to a figure released by the city secretary's office.
Ballot is battleground for independent candidate
By Mike D. Smith, THE BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE, 21 July 2010
Last week, Jefferson County Judge Ron Walker struck independent candidate Robert Reid from the Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace race based on Democratic opponent Marc DeRouen's challenge that Reid failed to correctly gather all his petition's signatures. If Reid challenges his removal, Jefferson County will be one more battleground in an ongoing statewide debate whether non-major party candidates have a fair shot at running for office.
New federal rules aim to help college students with textbook costs
By Diane Smith, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 21 July 2010
Advocates say a new set of federal provisions, aimed at driving down the cost of college textbooks, should help students this fall.
Lubbock County officials seeks more roads staff
By Logan Carver, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 22 July 2010
The Lubbock County road and bridge maintenance department has received 112 work orders since June 1 — nearly twice as many as the county would normally receive during that period, Public Works Director Nicholas Olenik said.
Council members begin budget work
By Elliott Blackburn, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 22 July 2010
City budget plans simmering through July will hit a boil today as council members begin work on next year’s budget.
Texas dropout rate down for grades 7 through 12
By Becca Nelson Sankey, ABILENE REPORTER-NEWS, 21 July 2010
The state may be getting results in its push to increase high school graduation rates, according to the Texas Education Agency’s annual dropout report.
News
Oil companies pledge $1 billion to spill response system
By Monica Hatcher, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 21 July 2010
Four of the nation's largest oil companies said Wednesday they immediately will commit $1 billion to set up a rapid oil spill response system to deal with deep-water blowouts in the Gulf of Mexico.
A gathering storm halts Gulf oil well work
By Colleen Long and Michael Kunzelman, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 21 July 2010-
A storm brewing in the Caribbean brought the deep-sea effort to plug the ruptured oil well to a near standstill Wednesday just as BP was getting tantalizingly close to going in for the kill.
People
Ex-chairman leaving his imprint on UT System
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 21 July 2010
James Huffines isn't a big fan of the spotlight. And so it was that he stepped down quietly this month from the University of Texas System's Board of Regents. The Austin banker with deep Republican roots and close ties to Gov. Rick Perry had an outsize influence during his 71/2 years of service, which included nearly 41/2 years as board chairman. Huffines was only the fourth person to serve two stints as chairman since the board began operating in 1881.