Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson says she'll repay scholarship funds by week's end [1]

By Todd J. Gillman, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 31 August 2010

U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson awarded eight scholarships last year to her grandsons and a top aide's children – bringing to 23 the number of awards she handed out since 2005 in violation of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation eligibility rules. The Dallas Morning News reported Sunday that over the last five years, the Dallas Democrat has awarded up to $20,000 in 15 scholarships to two grandsons, two great-nephews, and aide Rod Givens' children between 2005 and 2008.

Swinford resigning from House [2]

By Enrique Rangel, AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS, 31 August 2010

Retiring Rep. David Swinford, who had been contemplating resigning his seat before his last two-year term expired in January, has made it official. He is retiring today.

Race for Dallas County judge is a quiet one [3]

By Gromer Jeffers Jr., THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 31 August 2010

The candidates for Dallas County judge are having a hard time being heard. And given that neither Republican Wade Emmert nor Democrat Clay Jenkins is a household name, voters haven't been lining up at the whistle stop to listen to what they have to say.

Aide: Perry denied meet with president [4]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 30 August 2010

A governor's spokeswoman says Gov. Rick Perry has been denied a meeting with President Barack Obama when the president visits Fort Bliss on Tuesday.

Perry wins Realtors' endorsement [5]

By Gilbert Garcia, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 30 August 2010

The Texas Association of Realtors has endorsed Rick Perry in each of his gubernatorial bids, and the organization kept that record intact Monday by officially backing the Republican in his general-election campaign against Democrat Bill White.

Post readies for Obama's arrival: Oval Office address on Iraq set to follow trip [6]

By John Hall and Alex Hinojosa, EL PASO TIMES, 31 August 2010

Marking the end of the United States' combat mission in Iraq, President Barack Obama will arrive at Fort Bliss at 10:30 a.m. today to meet with about 150 soldiers, many of whom have served multiple deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Immigration, border violence unlikely topics during Obama visit [7]

By Ramon Bracamontes, EL PASO TIMES, 31 August 2010

This city should be honored that President Barack Obama has chosen Fort Bliss to talk about the end of the war in Iraq, several political experts said on Monday.

Obama might give Fort Bliss reason to cheer [8]

By Sig Christenson, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 31 August 2010

They may not want to call it a victory celebration just yet, but veterans who recently returned from another duty tour in Iraq harbor hope that, after seven years of conflict, the end is near.

Fort Bliss critical to US war in Iraq [9]

By Chris Roberts, EL PASO TIMES, 31 August 2010

Before President Barack Obama speaks to the nation tonight about the drawdown of troops in Iraq, he is scheduled to visit Fort Bliss -- a post that has been pivotal in that war.

First Texas-based border drone to begin flying Wednesday [10]

By Gary Martin, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 30 August 2010

A Texas-based Predator unmanned aircraft will begin surveillance flights and National Guardsmen will start to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border this week as part of the Obama administration's plan to strengthen security and combat smuggling, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday.

Retaliation Alleged in Indictment of Jail Official [11]

By Brandi Grissom, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 31 August 2010

The top state jail official's penchant for transparency just might land him in one of the clinks he's supposed to oversee.

Bank overhaul law rippling through Texas [12]

By Tim Eaton, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 August 2010

A new federal law designed to rein in Wall Street by overhauling the financial services industry has some state officials worried about the consequences on state government and on the people the law aims to protect: consumers.

Harris County OKs $13.6 million for new voting machines [13]

By Chris Moran, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 31 August 2010

Despite a fire that destroyed Harris County's voting machines last week, County Clerk Beverly Kaufman said Monday that she intends to keep all polling places open with replacement machines on Nov. 2.

Harris County Election Plans Unclear After Fire [14]

By Ben Philpott, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 31 August 2010

Harris County — home to the largest city in Texas — will be without all 10,000 of its voting machines on Election Day after they were destroyed in a fire. County commissioners held an emergency meeting this week to figure out how to move forward. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune has this report.

Wind transmission lines across Hill Country face holdup at Public Utility Commission [15]

By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 August 2010

Twice in the past three months, Smitherman has asked the state's grid operator whether segments of a line across the Hill Country were necessary.

Decision due this morning on Dallas County employee pay [16]

By Kevin Krause, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 31 August 2010

Dallas County employees will learn this morning whether their pay will be cut to help balance the 2010-11 budget.

Phone troubles hang up Texas welfare requests [17]

By Robert T. Garrett, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 31 August 2010

Even as Texas spends hundreds of millions to hire more workers to process welfare applications, it has skimped on replacing obsolete phone systems at more than 300 offices.

Lubbock sees increased road construction spurred by recession, stimulus funds [18]

By Adam D. Young, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 31 August 2010

Low project bids spurred by an ongoing national recession and time-sensitive federal stimulus dollars are keeping orange cones on Lubbock roads.

Mexico nabs U.S.-born drug lord 'La Barbie' [19]

By Dane Schiller, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 30 August 2010

Mexican authorities captured a legendary Texan on Monday who is accused of a bloody climb to the top echelon of one of the hemisphere's most powerful drug cartels.

Mexico says drug lord 'the Barbie' captured [20]

By Alexandra Olson, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 30 August 2010

Federal police on Monday captured a long-sought, alleged Texas-born gang kingpin who faces drug trafficking charges in the U.S. and has been blamed for a vicious turf war that has included bodies hung from bridges and shootouts in central Mexico.

August heat sparks record electricity use [21]

By Dave Hendricks, THE MONITOR, 30 August 2010

The demand for electricity on Texas’ largest electric grid surged through another milestone Monday, the fourth straight week of record-setting usage.

An Interview With Former U.S. Rep. Dick Armey [22]

By Ross Ramsey, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 31 August 2010

The former University of North Texas economics professor, U.S. House majority leader and hired-gun Washington lobbyist, now the head of the conservative activist group Freedom Works and the co-author of the new book Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party Manifesto, on what the Tea Party is and isn't, why a GOP majority in Congress isn't enough, where George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush went wrong, what Rick Perry did right and why Barack Obama won't be re-elected in 2012.