Politics
Do Controversial People, Acts and Money Rub Off?
By Ross Ramsey and Sarah Adler, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 August 2010
The mud-throwing season is underway, with candidates on both sides working overtime to tie their opponents to controversial people, acts and money, hoping the negative mojo rubs off. Democrats are pushing anchor-baby videos of state Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, and U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler. Republicans slam their Democratic foes for taking contributions from ethically suspect U.S. Reps. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif. "Both sides have folks who do what they do," says a rueful Texas Republican who doesn't want his name next to those of his party's outspoken officeholders.
Garland representative's ethics lapse turns his race into one to watch
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 17 August 2010
The revelation that state Rep. Joe Driver pocketed thousands of dollars in taxpayer money for travel expenses that his campaign had already paid for has turned an obscure Texas House race into one to watch.
U.S. House candidate Flores opposes spending bill that would prevent layoffs
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 18 August 2010
Bill Flores already had panned Texas-specific language in a bill passed early last week intended in part to prevent state layoffs of teachers. On Tuesday, the GOP House hopeful said he opposes the overall bill.
Government
Travis County DA is reviewing Garland lawmaker's travel billing practices
By Jay Root, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 17 August 2010
Travis County prosecutors are reviewing the practices of a state representative from North Texas who took taxpayer money for travel that had already been paid for with campaign funds, District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said Tuesday.
Documents Reveal Deficit in Texas State Budget
By Ross Ramsey, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 August 2010
Comptroller Susan Combs' quiet acknowledgment that Texas will show a $1.3 billion deficit at the end of the budget year contrasts with the happy face she's put on state finances leading up to the 2010 elections. The numbers are the worst since 2003, when the Legislature responded with $10 billion in spending cuts, and increased fees, tuition and other revenue sources to balance the budget. And the deficit gives ammunition to lawmakers who want to trim spending in 2011.
State revenue predictions sobering
By Peggy Fikac and Joe Holley, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 August 2010
Putting a fresh focus on Texas' tough budget picture, officials said Tuesday that business tax collections are expected to be about $450 million short of projections this year and sales tax collections are lagging by $1.4 billion.
Texas Wants to Boost Payments to State Centers
By Emily Ramshaw, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 August 2010
In the wake of high-profile abuse in Texas' institutions for the disabled, state health officials want to boost payments to them — to the tune of $25,000 per patient per year. But the proposed Medicaid rate change has drawn the ire of Texas’ disability community, which wants to see the facilities shuttered rather than propped up.
Democrats Balk at Cuts to Food Stamp Program
By Ben Philpott, KUT NEWS and THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 August 2010
Last week, Republicans loudly complained about a just-approved bill that would send $830 million in federal education funds to Texas with strings attached. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, Democrats have their own reason to balk.
Some city workers accused of padding timecards
By Tony Plohetski, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 August 2010
Several Austin city employees padded time sheets to get money for work they didn't do, including one who received more than $30,000 and more than doubled his take-home pay, according to findings by city auditors.
Fort Worth Democrat sues to get on ballot
By Aman Batheja, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 17 August 2010
A lawsuit filed Tuesday argues that Tarrant County Democrats should be allowed to add a candidate to the November ballot even though they didn't put up a candidate in the primary because they supported a Republican candidate.
Texas to rebid IBM's data center contract
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 August 2010
Texas will begin looking for new companies to finish the data center consolidation work that IBM Corp. was hired to do almost four years ago, state officials said Tuesday.
Hill Country power line may not be needed, state grid operator says
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 August 2010
A controversial power line proposed to cross the Hill Country to transmit wind power from West Texas may not have to get built after all, according to a letter Tuesday from the agency operating the state's electricity grid.
County commissioners vote not to raise property tax rate
By Kevin Krause, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 17 August 2010
A bitterly divided Dallas County Commissioners Court voted Tuesday after heated debate to keep the current tax rate unchanged for the coming fiscal year despite a lingering $23 million budget gap.
Illegal immigration gets a committee hearing in the Texas House
By Enrique Rangel, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 17 August 2010
On Wednesday morning the same panel, now chaired by Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, will hold a public hearing to "review state compliance with federal law regarding undocumentd immigrants."
Pollution police proposed for Harris County
By Chris Moran, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 August 2010
Harris County needs a new environmental police force, the county attorney and at least one county commissioner say.
Shockwave from bribe case in Houston hits agency in Mexico
By Dane Schiller, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 August 2010
A senior public official with Mexico's national electric utility is temporarily leaving his post in the wake of allegations he gave government contracts to U.S. companies in Sugar Land and California in exchange for bribes such as a yacht, Ferrari and perhaps millions of dollars.
Officials hope for fed funds
By Emily Peters, ABILENE REPORTER NEWS, 17 August 2010
As the deadline draws near for states to claim federal funds under an education jobs bill that President Barack Obama signed into law last week, Big Country public education officials are watching closely to see if Gov. Rick Perry will take the money despite his protests about strings attached.
Residents urge Fort Worth to keep libraries open
By Anna M. Tinsley, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 17 August 2010
A dozen residents showed up Tuesday at City Hall to ask City Council members considering the budget proposal to spare services ranging from the three libraries to the last city pool still open.
Tax protesters pack City Hall
By Bob Campbell, MIDLAND REPORTER-TELEGRAM, 17 August 2010
Council members faced a throng of tax protesters Tuesday, some wearing the red clothes that have become emblematic of tea party members. They then passed ordinances on first readings to enact a 1.605 cent property tax increase and $75.7 million general fund budget for 2010-11.
News
Optimism gap seen in Hispanics
By Nancy Benac and Ileana Morales, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 18 August 2010
An Associated Press-Univision poll of more than 1,500 Latinos finds that Hispanic immigrants, many of whom faced huge problems in their homelands, have more idealized views of the United States than Hispanics who were born in America do.
Women reportedly recruited for cartel killings
By Daniel Borunda, EL PASO TIMES, 18 August 2010
An alleged hit man told Mexican federal police that beautiful young women are working as killers for the Juárez drug cartel.
Tech continues climb through U.S. News & World Report's college rankings
By Matthew McGowan, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 18 August 2010
The magazine’s newest annual report on the nation’s best colleges has ranked Tech in an eight-way tie for No. 159, giving it a spot among what the publication considers the coming year’s 191 best, or “top-tier,” schools.
Texas' proposal to sell OU license plates stirs up passions on both sides
By Melanie Mason, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 August 2010
Texas' plan to sell a freshly designed Boomer Sooner license plate to OU fans has generated an outcry from Lone Star partisans.