Politics
Several former supporters of Hutchison are backing White in Texas governor's racead
By Dave Montgomery, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 29 July 2010
More than a dozen prominent Dallas business and civic leaders, including several who supported Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican primary for governor, have signed a letter backing Democrat Bill White in his effort to unseat Republican Gov. Rick Perry in the Nov. 2 general election.
"Indicted But Not Convicted" is a Form of Punishment
By Forrest Burnson, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 30 July 2010
State Rep. Tara Rios Ybarra, D-South Padre Island, who is awaiting prosecution on corruption charges, is the latest Texas elected official under indictment but not yet convicted to languish in career-crippling limbo.
3 Dallas execs give $1 million each to target Reid, other Democrats
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 30 July 2010
Dallas oilman Trevor Rees-Jones may not know Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , but he's betting $1 million that he can make the Nevada Democrat's political life more difficult these days.
Republicans can win this fall if they stay focused, Rove says
By Ian McCann, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 30 July 2010
Republicans and conservatives will perform well in November elections but will need to have ideas they can lay out to voters, former White House adviser Karl Rove said Thursday at a luncheon in Dallas.
LULAC applauds court ruling on Arizona law, braces for fight in Texas
By Taryn Luna, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 30 July 2010
Dallas-area Hispanic rights activists expressed support Thursday for a decision temporarily halting key aspects of Arizona's crackdown on illegal immigration.
Local groups praise judge's ruling on Arizona immigration law
By Guillermo X. Garcia, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 29 July 2010
Local Hispanic rights and social action groups Thursday praised a federal judge's ruling blocking some provisions of Arizona's immigration law, but said they will keep pushing to have the entire law struck down.
Government
Texas set to release school accountability ratings
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 30 July 2010
School ratings to be announced Friday by the Texas Education Agency were formulated using a measure that allows students to get credit for improvement even if they didn't pass.
Texas schools to get accountability ratings today
By Tawnell D. Hobbs, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 30 July 2010
Texas schools will find out how well they performed last year when state accountability ratings are released today.
TEA ratings: 2 schools miss mark, may still make 'acceptable'
By Zahira Torres, EL PASO TIMES, 30 July 2010
At least two schools in El Paso County have failed to meet state standards, but they could still receive ratings of acceptable from the Texas Education Agency.
Texas lawmakers to proceed with their Arizona-style immigration plans
By Anna M. Tinsley, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 29 July 2010
As North Texas Hispanic leaders cheered a federal judge's decision Wednesday to block the most controversial parts of Arizona's immigration law, two Texas lawmakers said Thursday that they will move ahead with plans to file similar bills to cut the number of illegal workers here.
Immigrant Prosecutions on the Rise Under Obama
By Julian Aguilar, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 30 July 2010
Despite grousing from congressmen and state officials in Arizona and Texas — notably Gov. Rick Perry — that the Obama administration has abdicated its role in the protecting the nation's borders from illegal immigration, the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative units this year each recorded their highest monthly number of cases referred for prosecution since the Bush administration, according to a report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.
Judge Sharon Keller wants her rebuke voided
By Chuck Lindell, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 July 2010
Claiming that she was improperly reprimanded for her role in a botched execution-day appeal in 2007, Judge Sharon Keller asked the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday to throw out the rebuke and order all charges against her dismissed.
Texas student loan guarantor looks to redefine itself
By Naureen Khan, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 July 2010
Now, Texas Guaranteed — which reported $52 million in revenue in 2009 — faces a vastly transformed landscape for doing business.
U.S. House panel backs bill including $882M for Trinity project
By Michael A. Lindenberger and Tom Benning, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 29 July 2010
Congress authorized $459 million in 2007 for the Trinity River Floodway, a massive public works effort the city hopes will transform downtown Dallas and the river itself.
Committee calls for educational efficiency
By Melissa Ludwig, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 30 July 2010
An advisory committee seeking to make Texas higher education more efficient recommended Thursday that the state make better use of online courses and “no-frills” education and tie state funds to course completion rather than enrollment.
North Texas clean air panel looks for fresh approach on fighting smog
By Randy Lee Loftis, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 30 July 2010
A local environmental effort has begun with a big mandate: to rethink how to make the air healthy for people.
El Paso looks at raising taxes, cutting services in budget crisis
By Marty Schladen, EL PASO TIMES, 30 July 2010
Tax rates for El Paso residents will probably rise -- or services will be cut -- if police do not agree to more than $1 million in concessions.
News
Chilling effect: Violence silences Mexican media
By Dudley Althaus, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 29 July 2010
Several journalists and residents say the media here have been cowed into silence by attacks and a barrage of death threats from the Zetas, the gangsters many consider the real lords of Nuevo Laredo.
Top drug lord killed in raid, Mexican army says
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 29 July 2010
One of the top three leaders of Mexico’s most powerful drug cartel died in a gunfight with soldiers Thursday, ending the long run of a mysterious capo considered a founder of the country’s massive methamphetamine trade.