Politics
Noriega tries to dodge difficulties
Waco Tribune-Herald, 6 August 2008
AUSTIN — There he was, trying to attract Texans' attention by holding a Webcast town hall meeting to answer voter questions about his U.S. Senate race.
Dems criticize speaker's meeting with Libertarians
Houston Chronicle, 5 August 2008
AUSTIN — Democrats criticized Republican House Speaker Tom Craddick on Tuesday, accusing him of using his state office to "strong-arm Libertarian challengers into dropping out of races."
District 55 candidate still in race
By Justin Cox, Killeen Daily Herald, 6 August 2008
KILLEEN – It may seem like a two-horse race, but Libertarian nominee Chris Lane says, despite appearances, he still is seeking the open House District 55 seat.
Texas test case for candidates' energy plans
By Ron Scherer, Christian Science Monitor, 6 August 2008
AUSTIN – As part of his solution to America's energy woes, Barack Obama wants to phase out the common light bulb in six years.
Grits
By Hastings Wyman, Southern Political Report, 6 August 2008
Oklahoma: McCain Rules
Dallas County GOP looks to top Democrats for motivation
By Gromer Jeffers Jr., Dallas Morning News, 6 August 2008
DALLAS – Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and District Attorney Craig Watkins are two of the hotter commodities in local Republican politics.
Government
Texas executes Mexican national
By DAVE MONTGOMERY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 August 2008
WASHINGTON — Jose Ernesto Medellin, whose Death Row appeal provoked an international dispute over U.S. treaty obligations, was executed Tuesday night for his role in the gang rape and murder of two teenage girls in Houston 15 years ago.
Court decision sends Medellin to death
By Kristin Edwards, Huntsville Item, 6 August 2008
HUNTSVILLE – After a lengthy wait for a U.S. Supreme Court decision Tuesday night, 33-year-old Jose Medellin was executed for his part in the 1993 gang-rape and murder of two teenage girls.
Texas Executes Mexican Despite Objections
By JAMES C. McKINLEY Jr., New York Times, 6 August 2008
HOUSTON — In a case that has drawn international attention, Texas executed José E. Medellín on Tuesday night in defiance of an international court ruling and despite pleas from the Bush administration for a new hearing.
Texas executes Mexican-born rapist, murderer
Dallas Morning News, 5 August 2008
HUNTSVILLE – Texas executed Mexican-born prisoner José Medellín late Tuesday night for the 1993 rape-torture slayings of two teenage Houston girls.
State teacher group sues Texas Education Agency over dropout-prevention vouchers given to nonprofits
By TERRENCE STUTZ, Dallas Morning News, 6 August 2008
AUSTIN – A leading state teacher group filed suit Tuesday against the Texas Education Agency, seeking to block the distribution of state funds to three nonprofit corporations selected to run student dropout programs.
Teachers group sues to stop plan to help dropouts
By GARY SCHARRER, Houston Chronicle, 5 August 2008
AUSTIN — A teachers group asked the courts Tuesday to stop Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott from giving tax dollars to private groups to educate school dropouts.
Teacher's group sues over dropout prevention
Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 August 2008
AUSTIN — One of the state's largest teacher's groups sued the state Tuesday over a dropout prevention program that it argues is a back door attempt to facilitate private school vouchers despite the Legislature's refusal to allow taxpayer dollars to be spent on private school tuitions.
Valley veterans look for support from Texas congressional delegation
By Treto Garza and Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 5 August 2008
WESLACO – Rio Grande Valley veterans are making a concerted effort this summer to win as much support as possible for a VA hospital for the region from Texas congressmen while they are back in their districts.
Republicans’ protest continues
By Trish Choate, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 6 August 2008
WASHINGTON — If Wichita Falls’ congressman had to write an essay about what he did during summer vacation, it might go something like this:
Hutchison opposing plan to auction airport slots
Waco Tribune-Herlad, 5 August 2008
WASHINGTON — Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has entered the fray over congestion at three New York City-area airports by siding with the airlines and airport officials and opposing the Bush administration.
Co-op discloses secret bank account
By Claudia Grisales, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6 August 2008
AUSTIN – The Pedernales Electric Cooperative on Tuesday disclosed a $565,000 bank account that few knew existed, including General Manager Juan Garza, who took the helm of the member-owned utility in February.
Accountability system failing Texas
Waco Tribune-Herald, 6 August 2008
WACO – Through one lens, G.L. Wiley Middle School has been making some remarkable strides in raising student achievement.
News
State seeks removal of eight FLDS children
Paul Anthony, San Angelo Standard-Times, 5 August 2008
SAN ANGELO – At least 11 underage girls were married to older members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, according to the sect's own marriage records cited by investigators in documents filed Tuesday.
Texas child welfare officials want custody of 8 children from polygamist group
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, Dallas Morning News, 5 August 2008
SAN ANGELO – Child Protective Services, forced by courts last spring to return hundreds of children to their parents in a polygamist sect, jumped back into Texas' tussle with the sect Tuesday.
Fight for 8 FLDS children renewed
By TERRI LANGFORD, Houston Chronicle, 6 August 2008
SAN ANGELO — Texas Child Protective Services moved Tuesday to return eight polygamist sect children to foster care, the first such action since the Texas Supreme Court ordered these children and more than 400 others returned to their parents in May.
Texas agency wants eight sect children put back in foster care
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 August 2008
SAN ANTONIO — Texas child welfare authorities asked a judge Tuesday to place eight children from a polygamist sect’s ranch back into foster care, saying their mothers refuse to limit their contact with men accused of being involved in underage marriages.
Texas AG alleges Olympic ticket scam
Waco Tribune-Herald, 5 August 2008
AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has charged an Austin-based ticket broker with deceiving customers in the sale of tickets to Friday's opening ceremonies at the Beijing Summer Olympics.
Texas marriage-license fee to rise, but class offers way out
By AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 August 2008
FORT WORTH – The cost of tying the knot is about to go up in Texas, though lawmakers have created a way for couples to land a steep discount.
Killeen trash won't go to Williamson County landfill
By Melissa Mixon, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 6 August 2008
AUSTIN – Williamson County's landfill operator announced Tuesday that it has abandoned plans to bring up to 100,000 tons of trash annually from Killeen to the landfill.
A nuclear plant in Victoria County will add billions to its economy
Victoria Advocate, 5 August 2008
VICTORIA – A Perryman Group 65-page report released July 31 clearly shows that an Exelon nuclear plant in Victoria County would boost the economy by billions of dollars in the years following its completion.
People
Judge rules that man cleared by DNA have his record cleared
By MAX B. BAKER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 August 2008
DALLAS – As his attorney cut off his leg monitor, Steven Phillips’ 25-year nightmare of being imprisoned or constantly monitored by authorities for crimes he didn’t commit came to an end.
Huckabee
By Bob Campbell, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 6 August 2008
MIDLAND – Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee said Tuesday night that it speaks well of the U.S. and Barack Obama for Obama to have won the Democratic presidential nomination, but he said the Illinois senator is not ready to be president because his policies "would be very harmful" to the nation.
Huckabee visits Midland
BY JOCELYN FOSTER, Odessa American, 5 August 2008
ODESSA – Mike Huckabee spoke on family values and limited government Tuesday night for the Centers for Children and Families' seventh annual "An Evening With" event in Midland.
