Perry, White don't object to New York's clearing way for mosque near Ground Zero [1]
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6 August 2010
Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic challenger Bill White say that while plans to build a mosque near Ground Zero have stirred controversy, they don't object to a local decision affirming an Islamic group's right to build it.
White blasts Perry 'patronage machine' [2]
By Gilbert Garcia, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5 August 2010
White and Gov. Rick Perry have traded sharp, character-impugning blows over the last week, with White accusing the governor of “cash for favors” cronyism and Perry calling on White to withdraw from the race.
Democratic leaders pick Cullar to challenge Birdwell in state senate election [3]
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 6 August 2010
Democratic officials Thursday night tapped John Cullar, a Waco attorney and former McLennan County Democratic Party chairman, to run against state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, in November’s state Senate race.
Rick Perry, David Dewhurst vow to challenge education-spending rule if Congress passes bill [4]
By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6 August 2010
State leaders vowed Thursday to go to court if Congress gives final approval to a bill that would force Texas to preserve current education spending levels through 2013 to qualify for additional federal aid.
State threatens lawsuit over school funding [5]
By Gary Scharrer, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6 August 2010
State leaders on Thursday threatened to sue the federal government over a restriction Congress is placing on $830 million in education funding for Texas.
Perry, Doggett spar over jobs money for Texas teachers [6]
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 August 2010
A federal measure aimed at saving teacher jobs has Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett accusing each other of short-changing the state's schoolchildren.
Texas leaders threaten to sue over strings on education funds [7]
By Dave Montgomery, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 5 August 2010
In the latest round of the Texas vs. Washington political battle, the state's Republican leaders Thursday blasted a U.S. Senate-passed mandate on education funding in Texas, with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst threatening legal action against the federal government if the House upholds the measure in a critical vote next week.
Former Foster Kids Struggle To Get Records [8]
By Emily Ramshaw, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 6 August 2010
Young adults who age out of Texas foster care often request their records to reconnect with estranged siblings, to track down biological families or to understand what they endured. But child welfare advocates complain the state routinely denies these requests, saying the records can't be found or will take months or even years to compile — assuming they respond at all. State officials admit they have a large backlog but insist they've beefed up staff and are putting new policies in place to address it.
Dallas County accused of illegally shackling pregnant inmates during labor [9]
By Kevin Krause, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5 August 2010
Some Texas jails, including in Dallas County, are still shackling pregnant inmates during labor and delivery, a violation of a state law that passed last year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and an inmate advocacy group charged Thursday.
8 districts fail to meet federal standards [10]
By Jennifer R. Lloyd and Lindsey Kastner, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 6 August 2010
Less than a week after some area school districts celebrated improved Texas accountability ratings, some learned Thursday that they had failed to meet federal academic standards.
Austin school district misses No Child Left Behind target [11]
By Melissa B. Taboada, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 5 August 2010
For the second consecutive year, the Austin school district as a whole has failed to meet federal academic targets established by the No Child Left Behind Act, state officials announced Thursday.
3 districts fail ratings: EPISD, Fabens, YISD under federal mandate to improve [12]
By Gustavo Reveles Acosta, EL PASO TIMES, 6 August 2010
The El Paso, Ysleta and Fabens school districts failed to meet federal academic standards this year and could face sanctions unless they improve.
Texas DMV board to keep close eye on vanity license plate contractor [13]
By Sheryl Jean and Melanie Mason, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 5 August 2010
After two failed attempts, Texas is taking another crack at using an outside contractor to make millions selling vanity license plates.
Regents vote to raise Texas Tech's tuition [14]
By Matthew McGowan, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 6 August 2010
Texas Tech plans to take state funding cuts on the chin during the next year without letting Austin’s money woes hamper the university system’s overall fiscal growth.
BP plugs gulf well with a cement cap [15]
By Brett Clanton, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 6 August 2010
BP delivered what should be a knockout punch to its damaged gulf well, filling it Thursday with cement and all but guaranteeing oil never will leak from it again.
BP might still profit from oil beneath blown well [16]
By Harry R. Weber, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 5 August 2010
The vast oil reservoir beneath BP's blown-out well could still be worth billions of dollars even after it spewed crude into the Gulf of Mexico for more than three months but the multinational company blamed for causing the disaster isn't saying whether it plans to cash in on the potential windfall.
Thousands sign on for $10 billion BP suit [17]
By Monica Hatcher, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5 August 2010
The revelation that BP's Texas City refinery emitted toxic benzene for more than a month has ignited a furor in the port community that has suffered its share of deadly industrial accidents and toxic spills.