Politics
Slater: Case of Perry aide and wife show how things work in Austin
By Wayne Slater, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 19 August 2010
Rick Perry says as governor, his job is to make life better for Texas families. One family that’s done well is the Sullivans of Austin, Ray and Leslie, whose political ties to Perry over the past decade have paid big dividends.
Sen. Birdwell to remain on fall ballot
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 19 August 2010
Dallas’ 5th Court of Appeals shut the door today on a Democratic effort to remove State Sen. Brian Birdwell from the general election ballot.
Court Dismisses Challenge to Sen. Birdwell
By Ross Ramsey, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 20 August 2010
In the wake of a court ruling keeping state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, on the ballot, lawyers for his Democratic opponent and the Texas Democratic Party are deciding whether to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. But time is short: Today is the last day a candidate who is removed can be replaced.
Perry wants stiffer penalties for traffickers
By R.G. Ratcliffe, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 August 2010
Amid growing evidence that young women and girls in Mexico are being lured into a life of slavery and prostitution in the United States, Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday proposed increasing the penalties for human trafficking in Texas.
Barton calls offshore drilling moratorium 'stupid'
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 20 August 2010
Rep. Joe Barton called the country's moratorium on offshore oil drilling "stupid" Thursday, urging a renewed focus on domestic sources of energy.
Government
Texas research universities celebrate passage of bill that will help them compete for tier-one status
By Erin Mulvaney, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 19 August 2010
The presidents of the seven emerging research universities in Texas touted a surge of enthusiasm from faculty and community members after a bill passed to help push their schools to compete for a coveted tier-one status.
University chiefs sweat their Tier 1 funds
By Peggy Fikac, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 August 2010
University presidents shooting for top-tier status for their institutions pressed lawmakers Thursday to preserve funding for an initiative to help them get there, despite warnings of tough budget times, competing priorities and a tight job market.
Bailey says Texas Tech on roll in tier-one progress
By Enrique Rangel, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 20 August 2010
It is not often that Texas Tech President Guy Bailey and the presidents of the six other public universities seeking national research institution status sit next to one another in front of legislative panels.
Beleaguered BP Texas City Refinery Faces Two Lawsuits
By Morgan Smith, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 20 August 2010
BP's problem-plagued Texas City refinery — where a 2005 explosion killed 15 and injured 170 — now faces two civil lawsuits stemming from its release this spring of more than 500,000 pounds of cancer-causing pollutants over 40 days. One suit seeks $10 billion on behalf of 2,000 exposed workers; the other, filed by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, seeks up to $1 million in fines. Both aim to punish the company for one of the largest chemical emissions events the state has ever seen.
Valley police chiefs lobby governor for greater say on border issues
By Jared Taylor, THE MONITOR, 19 August 2010
Police chiefs in the Rio Grande Valley have long said they need more state and federal money to combat border violence.
Smoke ban approved by San Antonio City Council
By Josh Baugh, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 20 August 2010
The City Council on Thursday approved a fortified smoke-free ordinance aimed at protecting public health, despite pleas from frustrated bar and restaurant owners who said that the ban would hurt their business.
Georgetown city attorney sues AG
By Claire Osborn, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 19 August 2010
Georgetown City Attorney Mark Sokolow has sued the Texas attorney general's office to keep his job evaluation from being released to the public.
Austin council sets limit on designating historic landmarks
By Sarah Coppola, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 20 August 2010
Trying to quell criticism over the generous tax breaks granted to historic homes, the Austin City Council decided late Thursday to limit the number of historic landmark applications the city can consider.
Teachers urge Austin school board to call tax election
By Melissa B. Taboada, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 19 August 2010
Austin school district teachers and other employees urged the school board Thursday night to call for a November election to increase taxes to pay for teacher raises.
Former supervisor charged in sexual assaults of detainees
By Isadora Vail, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 19 August 2010
Williamson County officials have charged a resident supervisor at a Taylor immigrant detention facility in the sexual assaults of three female detainees who were being driven to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Fort Worth leaders rule that it's OK for gas company employees to serve on city drilling committees
By Anna M. Tinsley, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 19 August 2010
City officials decided Thursday that it is not a conflict of interest for gas company employees to serve on committees that oversee their industry.
News
City's 'hidden homeless' include 5,404 kids
By Renée C. Lee, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 August 2010
They are children 18 and younger who have gone largely unnoticed and uncounted by the federal government, until recently. Locally, social service providers have been keeping a tally. So for this year, there are 5,404 homeless children, up from 2,891 last year, according to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County. These are children 17 and younger who live with a parent in any place that's not fit for habitation. Both counts are considered to be vastly underrepresented, the organizations said.
Deepwater Horizon test recollections differ
By Tom Fowler, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 19 August 2010
One of BP's representatives on the Deepwater Horizon voiced concern about a key well pressure test hours before the rig exploded, he told in-house investigators in a recollection that differs from testimony by employees of rig owner Transocean.
University of North Texas regents OK plan for M.D. school at Health Science Center
By Jan Jarvis, FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 19 August 2010
The vision of an M.D. school in Fort Worth took another big step Thursday when the University of North Texas regents voted unanimously to proceed with plans to establish a program at the UNT Health Science Center.
People
An Interview With DFPS Commissioner Heiligenstein
By Emily Ramshaw, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 20 August 2010
The commissioner of the state's Department of Family and Protective Services talked to the Tribune about the planned redesign of Texas' foster care system — one she hopes will keep kids close to home and connected to their siblings and reduce their time in state custody.