Politics
U.S. Senate hopeful Noriega pairs plea for cash, apology for Bush
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
DENVER – National Democrats finally are getting to size up Rick Noriega, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Noriega makes pitch to donors
By R.G. RATCLIFFE, Houston Chronicle, 27 August 2008
DENVER — Senate candidate Rick Noriega traversed the Democratic convention on Wednesday, making a pitch to delegates and big-money donors alike to join his campaign against Republican Sen. John Cornyn.
Long a thorn to Democrats, Pickens wows them with energy pitch
By Wayne Slater, Dallas Morning News, 27 August 2008
DENVER — A small moment of political history occurred Wednesday on the floor of Democratic convention.
Chet Edwards gets a moment in the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention
By Erin Quinn, Waco Tribune-Herald, 28 August 2008
WACO – Less than a week after Chet Edwards was named to the short list to possibly be the nation’s next vice president, the Central Texas congressman further heightened his national exposure Wednesday with a speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Chet Edwards offers support to Sen. Obama
By Justin Cox, Killeen Daily Herald, 28 August 2008
KILLEEN – As the Democratic National Convention celebrated the nomination of Barack Obama Wednesday night, Waco Congressman Chet Edwards served to support, rather than join, the Democratic nominee for president with a speech heralding veterans.
Texas' Chet Edwards tells veterans: McCain is no friend to you
By ROBERT T. GARRETT, Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
DENVER – Waco congressman Chet Edwards assailed John McCain as no friend of veterans Wednesday, while hailing Barack Obama as the champion that veterans and military families need.
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards' DNC speech transcript
Waco Tribune-Herald, 28 August 2008
WACO – The following is the speech delivered Wednesday night by Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, at the Democratic National Convention:
Texas' Leticia Van de Putte finds order in a hectic day
By CHRISTY HOPPE, Dallas Morning News, 27 August 2008
DENVER — Three wardrobe changes, two cities, six events and then to make-up before state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte smacked the gavel by mid -afternoon and brought the Democratic National Convention to relative order on a historic roll call night.
MOVING ON
By ALAN BERNSTEIN, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Lillian Villarreal split gently in half for 10 hours.
Doherty Polishes Energy Credentials
BY LEE NICHOLS, Austin Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – "We can have drillin'; we just can't have spillin'," said Larry Joe Doherty last week in his classic Texas drawl.
Complaint Filed in HD 52 Race
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER, Austin Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – Political friction is growing over the role played by a Williamson County's chamber of commerce in the House District 52 race between Republican Bryan Daniel and Democrat Diana Maldonado, and it's all to do with Daniel's address.
Corte Courts Controversy Over Residence
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER, Austin Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – Democrats are calling for Rep. Frank Corte, R-San Antonio, to be declared ineligible to defend his seat because he no longer lives in his own House District.
Naishtat Challenger Pulls Out
BY RICHARD WHITTAKER, Austin Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – The sole challenger for Rep. Elliott Naishtat's House District 49 seat has quietly withdrawn from the race he had little chance of winning.
Ron Kirk: Q&A on the Southern vote, race and Democratic moderates
Dallas Morning News, 27 August 2008
DALLAS – An excerpt from an e-mail exchange yesterday between former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, an Obama backer at the Denver convention, and Dallas Morning News editorial columnist William McKenzie.
Representative candidates air views on economic development
Jacksonville Daily Progress, 25 August 2008
JACKSONVILLE – Editor’s note: Each Monday, the Daily Progress will publish a question-and-answer story featuring District 11 state representative hopefuls Chuck Hopson (Democrat incumbent) and Brian Walker (Republican challenger).
Government
Lottery lease unlikely next year, senators say
By Robert Elder, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – State senators on Wednesday indicated that a decision on whether to lease the Texas Lottery to an outside company is unlikely to occur in the five-month legislative session that will start in January.
Attorney general rules that all GPAs will be calculated the same across Texas
Dallas Morning News, 27 August 2008
AUSTIN – Attorney General Greg Abbott has decided that all high school graduates in Texas will have their grade point averages calculated the same way beginning with the Class of 2009.
Reducing drinking age wrong approach
San Angelo Standard-Times, 28 August 2008
SAN ANGELO – A group of more than 100 university presidents is advocating lowering the drinking age from 21 to 18.
Don't test 'no refusal' DWI effort
Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
DALLAS – Whether it's a few too many shots of Patrón or a 12-pack too many of Miller Lite, you may find yourself in serious need of solid legal counsel if you combine either with a foolish attempt to drive.
News
Austin biomass deal draws new criticism
By Katie Humphrey, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – As a $2.3 billion contract for biomass power goes before the Austin City Council today, another Texas-based biomass power company is criticizing Austin for not seeking bids for the contract before striking a deal with Nacogdoches Power LLC.
AE Defends Biomass Plant
BY DANIEL MOTTOLA, Austin Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – City Council is expected today (Thursday) to approve a $2.3 billion contract with Nacogdoches Power LLC to provide Austin with 20 years' worth of power (beginning in 2012) from its planned 100-megawatt biomass plant fueled with waste wood and logging debris.
Senators push free trade pact
By NICK GEORGIOU, LAREDO MORNING TIMES, 28 August 2008
LAREDO – Two U.S. senators were in town Wednesday pushing for the approval of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, a measure they say would level the playing field, increase exports and create jobs not only in Laredo and Texas, but nationwide.
Conaway updates area, accepts business award
By Jayna Boyle, San Angelo Standard-Times, 28 August 2008
SAN ANGELO – U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway's visit to San Angelo on Wednesday would have been the perfect opportunity to campaign for re-election this fall - if he had needed to.
Tough enforcement needed for rogue bus companies
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 28 August 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI – How do you keep rogue bus operators off the highways?
Austin leaders shouldn't support a deal for a biomass power plant
By Skip Cameron, Austin American-Statesman, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – Mayor Will Wynn and the City Council should reject the single bid East Texas Nacogdoches Power, LLC 100 Megawatt (MW) Biomass Electric Generating Plant proposal and reopen the open bidding process at Council meeting Thursday August 28.
People
Mary Ellen Murphy Hall, wife of U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, dies
By JOE SIMNACHER, Dallas Morning News, 27 August 2008
DALLAS – Mary Ellen Murphy Hall “was an elegant and refined Southern lady” who was a terrific mother to her three sons.
Wife of Congressman Ralph Hall dies
Waco Tribune-Herald, 28 August 2008
ROCKWALL — Mary Ellen Murphy Hall, the wife of U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall, died Wednesday at home at the age of 83.
A window into the life of LBJ
By Alyson Chapman, Kerrville Daily Times, 28 August 2008
STONEWALL — In his will, Lyndon Baines Johnson donated his Texas ranch to the people.
Delegates from Texas mark 100th birthday of LBJ
By JOHN MORITZ, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 August 2008
DENVER – Texas Democrats in Denver marked the 100th birthday of former President Lyndon B. Johnson by hailing the progressive social legislation enacted during his years in the White House.
Family, admirers wreath LBJ with memories
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 August 2008
STONEWALL — Under blue skies, members of the late President Johnson's family marked the 100th anniversary of his birth Wednesday with a wreath-laying and the opening of his Texas White House.
Family, friends mark LBJ's centennial at ceremony
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 August 2008
STONEWALL — Former President Lyndon B. Johnson’s legacy of civil rights and education legislation was remembered Wednesday at a celebration of the 100th anniversary of his birth and the opening of his Texas ranch office to the public.
Professors protest UT's plan to endow a Charlie Wilson Chair
By BARRY SHLACHTER, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 August 2008
FORT WORTH – Call it Charlie Wilson’s second war.
Tech Alumnus Bob Herd donates $15 million
By Marlena Hartz, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, 27 August 2008
LUBBOCK – A Texas Tech alumnus who owns an oil production company in Tyler has donated $15 million the university’s petroleum engineering department, a gift that will enrich the department for years to come, Tech officials said at a Wednesday press conference.
LBJ remains an enigma to us today
Bryan-College Station Eagle, 28 August 2008
COLLEGE STATION – Had he lived, Lyndon Johnson would be 100 today.
LBJ
Texarkana Gazette, 27 August 2008
TEXARKANA – Lyndon Baines Johnson lived only 64 years.
The Passion of Victoria Osteen
By Richard Connelly, Houston Press, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – Every little Catholic boy and girl knows about the Stations of the Cross.
