Politics
Hutchison says she will not be McCain's running mate
By ANNA M. TINSLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 August 2008
FORT WORTH – Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said flatly Thursday that she will not be John McCain’s running mate, even though she kept surfacing as a dark horse this week.
Kay Bailey Hutchison says McCain hasn't asked her about VP
Dallas Morning News, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Thursday she hasn't been asked to be John McCain's running mate, despite speculation that she's a possible choice for the No. 2 spot on the Republican ticket.
Obama tries to shed elitist tag
By RICHARD S. DUNHAM, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Barack Obama made history Thursday and pledged to keep "the American promise alive."
Obama acceptance speech pleases San Angelo Dems
By Jayna Boyle, San Angelo Standard-Times, 29 August 2008
SAN ANGELO – Hope, change and unity: Those words from Barack Obama's presidential campaign resonated with his supporters who gathered Thursday in San Angelo to hear the Democratic presidential nominee's acceptance speech televised from Denver.
San Angeloan gets close to DNC action
By TRISH CHOATE, San Angelo Standard-Times, 28 August 2008
DENVER - Perry Flippin of San Angelo went to bed a member of the Rules Committee for the Democratic National Convention and woke up to a promotion of sorts.
El Pasoans at convention are awed, in tears
By Brandi Grissom, El Paso Times, 29 August 2008
DENVER – For Don Williams, who was educated in a segregated school system and remembers, at the age of 12, hearing Martin Luther King Jr. give his "I Have a Dream" speech, seeing the first black man in America accept the presidential nomination for the Democratic Party was an emotional event.
Local delegates support Obama
Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 29 August 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI – Augustin Rivera Jr. has felt for some time that Democrats would leave their national political convention strongly united behind Barack Obama for president.
Obama nominated by acclamation
By Scott Shepard, Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Amid chants of "Yes we can," Democrats nominated Sen. Barack Obama for president Wednesday, a historic moment in American politics.
Under the stars, scenes of old, new converge
By ALAN BERNSTEIN, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Pop singers who peaked in past decades. A stage intended to evoke a Greek temple or the Lincoln Memorial, in front of which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech 45 years ago to the day.
Obama speech stirs enthusiasm in Lubbock Democrats
By Joshua Hull, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 29 August 2008
LUBBOCK – As more than 84,000 gathered Thursday in Denver to hear the historic acceptance speech of presidential hopeful Barack Obama, a group of Obama faithful sat in front of a big screen television in Lubbock with equal anticipation.
THE OBAMA NOMINATION
By CINDY GEORGE, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – Katy middle school teacher Ollie T. Kendrick wanted to watch Sen. Barack Obama accept the Democratic presidential nomination with fellow black Americans who would understand the import of the moment on her life.
IN THE POLITICAL TRENCHES
By ALAN BERNSTEIN, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Steel worker.
Some Texas delegates have extra duties – like coordinating sign-waving
By W. Gardner Selby, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 28 August 2008
DENVER — Delegates whistled, hollered and suddenly waved thousands of miniature U.S. flags as former President Clinton took the stage Wednesday.
CONVENTION TECHNOLOGY
By Omar L. Gallaga, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 27 August 2008
AUSTIN – Ramey Ko of Austin spoke to his audience via cell phone Monday night aboard a bus to the Texas delegation gala in Denver.
Valley's delegate votes seemingly undecided
McAllen Monitor, 29 August 2008
DENVER - Rep. Aaron Peña was getting ready to sit down and decide who to cast his final vote for to nominate the Democratic presidential candidate over a hamburger and coke.
Texas delegates react to speech
Houston Chronicle, 29 August 2008
DENVER – Barack Obama's presidential acceptance speech Thursday night was met with resounding enthusiasm by the more than 84,000 people who packed Invesco Field at Mile High stadium in Denver.
County Dems gather for Obama speech
By Matt Offers, Huntsville Item, 29 August 2008
HUNTSVILLE – Walker County Democrats gathered at their headquarters on the town square Thursday night to watch Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama give his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.
Edward Kennedy, Michelle Obama star at Democratic convention
By Scott Shepard, Ken Herman, Austin American-Statesman, 26 August 2008
DENVER — Democrats glanced back at their fabled past and welcomed their historic future as they convened their national convention, paying an emotional tribute to the last of the iconic Kennedys and celebrating the impending presidential nomination of Sen. Barack Obama.
Alternate delegate unsure of Obama
By Dylan Taylor-Smith, Dallas Morning News, 29 August 2008
DENVER — Robin Young came to the Democratic national convention as a passionate Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter but says she is still unsure whether to vote for Barack Obama.
Hillary Clinton to campaign in South Texas next month for Obama and Noriega
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 28 August 2008
HARLINGEN – Hillary Clinton is to make an eight-city campaign swing through Texas next month, including events in the Rio Grande Valley, to woo Hispanic voters for Barack Obama and Rick Noriega, says Cameron County Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa.
Paraylzed but passionate, Richardson delegate is inspired by Obama
By KAREN BROOKS, Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
DENVER — From the moment you lay eyes on Richardson retiree Joe Rowe, it’s easy to see his determination to help Barack Obama reach the White House.
Young Democrats host candidates for watch party
By Keith Lansdale, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, 29 August 2008
NACOGDOCHES – The candidate forum and Barack Obama acceptance speech watch-party on the SFA campus got off to a slow start Thursday night.
Local delegate finds a desire to run for office
By BRANDON L. LEONARD, Victoria Advocate, 28 August 2008
VICTORIA – The excitement and energy a local delegate felt Thursday as she attended the Democratic National Convention in Denver made her consider running for office.
PANEL OF UNDECIDED VOTERS
By CAROLYN FEIBEL, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – Barack Obama can speak, and speak movingly and from the heart, but he skidded over the specifics in his acceptance speech Thursday night, according to the Chronicle's panel of undecided voters.
Rafael Anchía on the Latino vote and the Democratic convention
Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
Below are excerpts from a telephone conversation Thursday between Dallas Democratic State Rep. Rafael Anchía, a Barack supporter at the Denver convention, and Dallas Morning News editorial columnist William McKenzie:
Gov. Perry forgoes GOP convention as storm strengthens
By PEGGY FIKAC, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry is suspending his plan to attend the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn. because of Tropical Storm Gustav, a spokeswoman said today.
Will Gustav prompt GOP to delay its convention?
By PEGGY FIKAC, San Antonio Express-News, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN — A Republican National Convention spokeswoman left open the possibility today that the Minnesota gathering set to nominate U.S. Sen. John McCain could be delayed if Gustav hits the Gulf Coast with hurricane force.
Lawmakers may face court right before elections
By Laylan Copelin, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – Just weeks before the November elections, as many as two dozen current and former GOP legislative candidates might have to explain in court how the Texas Association of Business helped get them elected six years ago.
Anderson: Hillary supporters unite for the Obamas
By A.J. Anderson, Rio Grande Guardian, 28 August 2008
MISSION – I have to admit, I am a Hillary Clinton supporter. I voted for her and wanted her to win the Democratic nominee over Barack Obama.
Government
Audit knocks TxDOT for $1.1 billion error
By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – The Texas Department of Transportation made a $1.1 billion accounting mistake last year through a mixture of "ineffective internal communication, a complex reporting structure and misunderstanding" of its data, according to a report by the state auditor's office released Thursday.
TxDOT's $1 billion error
By JANET ELLIOTT, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN — Poor internal communication and complicated procedures caused a $1.1 billion blunder that forced Texas transportation officials to pull back on construction projects earlier this year, according to an audit released Thursday.
TTC plans for U.S. Hwy. 59 may not come to fruition
By ANDREW GOODRIDGE, Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, 28 August 2008
NACOGDOCHES – The Pineywoods Sub-Regional Planning Commission met Thursday to hear a presentation by the commission's president, Hank Gilbert, who said the plans to move the Trans-Texas Corridor to the current U.S. Hwy. 59 location may not come to fruition.
Ruling: Bible course not mandated but instruction is
By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – Texas school districts do not have to offer a separate Bible elective, but some religious literature instruction is required, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in an opinion issued Thursday.
Opinion of 'Bible bill' is up for interpretation
By GARY SCHARRER, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN — Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was supposed to settle a dispute over whether public schools must offer a course in Biblical study, but his opinion Thursday created more confusion.
Texas schools don't have to offer Bible class, attorney general says
By SHIRLEY JINKINS, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 August 2008
FORT WORTH – Tarrant area teens aren’t that interested in studying the Bible as a high school class, despite the statewide debate over whether the Old and New Testaments should be taught as cultural and literary texts in public schools.
Senate panels look at boosting lottery revenue
By TERRENCE STUTZ, Dallas Morning News, 28 August 2008
AUSTIN – As state revenue from the Texas Lottery continues to decline, two Senate committees on Wednesday began searching for ways to boost the state's take from the games of chance – including the possible privatization of the entire lottery operation.
TBC again invites Pagan to walk the border fence line
By Steve Taylor, Rio Grande Guardian, 28 August 2008
McALLEN – The Texas Border Coalition has renewed its call for a top U.S. Customs and Border Protection official to “walk the line” with landowners that will be affected by the border wall.
Marriage courses are a waste of state funds
Victoria Advocate, 28 August 2008
VICTORIA – Once again, it seems to us, those deep thinkers in Austin have had too much idle time on their hands, so they’ve come up with a lulu of an idea that they obviously believe will improve the chances of successful marriages in Texas.
Let all Texans vote for House speaker
Austin American-Statesman, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – Given the rancor spawned by state Rep. Tom Craddick's six-year tenure as Texas Speaker of the House, it may be just as well that a federal court has lifted the ban on spending money to elect the speaker.
News
$2.3 billion biomass power plant deal OK'd
By Katie Humphrey, AUSTIN AMERICAN -STATESMAN, 29 August 2008
AUSTIN – The Austin City Council unanimously approved a $2.3 billion contract for biomass power Thursday amid ongoing criticism from environmentalists and another biomass power company.
Census data ranks Plano as wealthiest large city in U.S.
By BRUCE TOMASO, Dallas Morning News, 29 August 2008
DALLAS – Plano is the wealthiest large city in America, according to the Census Bureau.
People
Indicted Judge Kent ‘ready’ to fight, lawyer says
By Sara Foley, Galveston County Daily News, 29 August 2008
GALVESTON — U.S. District Judge Samuel B. Kent was indicted Thursday on charges of abusive sexual conduct and attempted sexual abuse based on allegations his former case manager made last year.
U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent indicted in sex case
By LISE OLSEN, MARY FLOOD and ROMA KHANNA
Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent was indicted Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact and attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a female employee, making him the first federal judge to be charged with federal sex crimes and the first in Texas indicted in recent history.
Accusations bring Kent a different kind of notoriety
By LISE OLSEN and JACQUEE PETCHEL, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – For 17 years, Galveston's federal court belonged to U.S. District Judge Samuel Bristow Kent, a jurist of seemingly impenetrable force, a man depicted as commanding and brazen, a legal scholar who handed down thousands of judgments in unequivocal words both humorous and biting.
U.S. district judge indicted on charges of sexual misconduct
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 August 2008
HOUSTON — U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent, who was accused of sexual harassment by his former case manager, was indicted Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact and attempted aggravated sexual abuse, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
Shipley Do-Nuts president pleads guilty to a federal charge
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 August 2008
The president of family-owned Shipley Do-Nuts pleaded guilty to a federal charge Thursday in one of the latest crackdowns on employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Jury duty brings Joel Osteen back to court
By BRIAN ROGERS, Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – Although his wife's civil trial ended in victory two weeks ago, Lakewood Church pastor and evangelical superstar Joel Osteen found himself in court again Thursday, this time for a criminal trial.
Statements from the attorneys
Houston Chronicle, 28 August 2008
HOUSTON – Dick DeGuerin gave the following statement to the Chronicle in a telephone interview on Thursday:
