Politics
Perry and White Separately Speak to Broadcasters
By Ben Philpott, KUT NEWS and THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 13 August 2010
Gov. Rick Perry and his Democratic challenger, Bill White, appeared on the same stage in Austin Thursday. But anyone itching for a debate between the two was disappointed. The candidates were separated on the schedule by other speakers and were never even in the room at the same time.
Perry, White again trade accusations about racial politics
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 13 August 2010
Rick Perry and Bill White again accused each other Thursday of exploiting racial politics in their increasingly acrimonious campaign for governor.
Perry, White continue to criticize each other over unrevealed financial records
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 13 August 2010
Gov. Rick Perry escalated his demand that Democratic opponent Bill White release financial records from his years in Washington, saying Thursday that his opponent must have something to hide. Perry offered no specifics or evidence of wrongdoing.
Governor's race more like 'game of chicken'
By Peggy Fikac, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12 August 2010
Suggesting his opponent has something to hide, Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday he will not budge on his refusal to debate unless Democrat Bill White releases more income tax returns.
No debating that Perry's a candidate in control
By Scott Stroud, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 13 August 2010
Over lunch at Mi Tierra last week, Gov. Rick Perry came across as a disciplined candidate in control, minimizing risk and framing things his way.
Perry demands apology from White over 'master' comments
By Dave Montgomery, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 12 August 2010
Gov. Rick Perry demanded Thursday that Democratic challenger Bill White apologize for what he said were racially insensitive remarks, but White stood behind his comments and accused the Republican incumbent of playing racial politics.
White, Perry clash on issues tied to border security
By Kelley Shannon, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 13 August 2010
Democrat Bill White blamed Republican Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday for failing to persuade the federal government to provide enough money to secure the Texas-Mexico border and accused him of making an irresponsible statement by saying bombs are going off in El Paso.
Perry: Texas has job growth, better HS test scores
By Kiah Collier, SAN ANGELO STANDARD-TIMES, 12 August 2010
Gov. Rick Perry took advantage of Thursday’s West Texas Legislative Summit to tout Texas’ record on job growth and improving test scores in the past decade he’s been in office.
Birdwell answers Democrats' suit in Dallas court to remove him from November ballot
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 13 August 2010
State Sen. Brian Birdwell defended himself against an eligibility challenge Thursday, claiming his Virginia voting records and other public records show his “presence in Virginia was temporary.”
Government
Senate approves $600 million for border security
By Jim Abrams, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 12 August 2010
Determined to show a commitment to stopping the flow of illegal immigrants, the Senate convened a special session Thursday and passed a $600 million bill to put more agents and equipment along the Mexican border.
2 quick Lotto Texas winners put state in bind
By Christy Hoppe, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 13 August 2010
The luck of lottery winners is picking up. For the state, not so much: It has taken a $3.4 million hit in just the past 10 days. Since July 31, someone has correctly picked the six Lotto Texas numbers twice, but the state sold an insufficient number of tickets to fully cover the advertised prize.
Worst of sales tax woes may be over for state, cities
By Ian McCann, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 12 August 2010
Sales tax revenue appears to have stabilized statewide, with many cities and Texas as a whole beginning to see an end to massive year-over-year declines.
UT's Powers: Loss of state funds would mean 600 jobs cut
By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12 August 2010
Six hundred staff and faculty jobs would have to be eliminated during the next two years or so and the quality of the educational experience would decline if the state Legislature cuts funding for the University of Texas by 10 percent, the school's president warned Thursday.
Powers says expected cuts may weaken school's national standing
By Jeannie Kever, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12 August 2010
The president of the University of Texas at Austin warned Thursday that expected state budget cuts would put the school further behind its peers and could endanger the national standing of some programs.
State budget crunch dashes UT System hopes
By Melissa Ludwig, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 13 August 2010
With other state budgets in the toilet — especially California's — universities touted Texas' relatively stable budget to poach high-caliber students and faculty from other states. But with an $18 billion budget shortfall looming in the upcoming legislative session, the sliver of hope is gone, said university presidents at Thursday's meeting of the University of Texas board of regents.
Budget Crisis Aside, Dallas Mayor Focuses on Downtown
By Nathan Bernier, KUT NEWS, 13 August 2010
Like other urban areas, Dallas is trying to kill the cliché that its downtown is dead — but Big D is also struggling to rein in a budget deficit. Nathan Bernier of KUT News talked to Mayor Tom Leppert about how he keeps ambitions high at a time of depleted resources.
Lawmakers Worry Meritless Lawsuits Threaten Free Speech
By Morgan Smith, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 13 August 2010
Plaintiffs in so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, use the court system to bury opponents in a crush of legal fees and paperwork of Bleak House proportions. They're not concerned about winning damages. They usually don’t expect to be successful, and the targets often don’t have the money to adequately defend themselves. Yet in otherwise tort-reform-happy Texas, there is no prohibition on filing this particular form of meritless suit — yet.
Reintegration: Army tries to head off any PTSD problems
By John Hall, EL PASO TIMES, 13 August 2010
Upon their return, all the soldiers go through reintegration, which begins the moment they step off the plane. After checking in their weapons and other equipment, soldiers receive short briefings and evaluations for their physical and mental health.
Austin school district refuses to release survey info
By Melissa Taboada, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 12 August 2010
A school board vote on Austin Superintendent Meria Carstarphen’s job performance is days away. Nearly $50,000 in bonuses, if she hits specific benchmarks, is at stake. But district administrators have refused to release the results of a June automated phone survey in which Carstarphen asked parents to assess her performance in her first year.
University of Texas regents approve $800 million UT Southwestern hospital for Dallas
By Jason Roberson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 13 August 2010
The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved plans Thursday for an $800 million hospital on the campus of UT Southwestern Medical Center to replace the St. Paul hospital.
Law limiting building on beaches withdrawn
By Harvey Rice, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 12 August 2010
An ordinance intended to keep houses from being built on rapidly eroding Galveston beaches was derailed by the City Council on Thursday just as it was about to become law.
Public can offer input on critical redistricting issue at Lubbock hearing
By Enrique Rangel, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 13 August 2010
For months, West Texans have been reading and hearing that redistricting is going to be one of the major issues the Texas Legislature will tackle when the lawmakers are back in session next year.
News
Physician-Owned Hospitals Prepare for Bleak Futures
By Emily Ramshaw, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 13 August 2010
As the reality of health care reform sinks in, physician-owned specialty hospitals are on edge. Some are scouring the law for loopholes; others want to sell out to corporations.
Release causing new DRT discord
By Lisa Carter, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 13 August 2010
A new volley has been fired in the most recent battle of the Alamo — by the caretakers against one of their own.
Cartels out to control society, ICE expert says
By Ramon Bracamontes, EL PASO TIMES, 13 August 2010
No region has felt the devastation caused by the Mexican drug cartel wars more than El Paso and Juárez, and the violence is not about to end, a federal agent said Thursday during a conference on border security.
Health, jobs called keys to border security
By Chris Roberts, EL PASO TIMES, 13 August 2010
Healthy populations and gainful employment are the fundamental keys to protecting the nation's borders, experts said Wednesday at the 7th Annual Border Security Conference.