Politics
Despite financial crisis, Bush's local fundraiser still slated for this week
By Bob Campbell, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 30 September 2008
MIDLAND – Congressional gridlock about a national financial crisis probably will not interfere with President Bush's Thursday fundraiser at the northwest Midland home of U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway and his wife Suzanne.
House District 96 race focuses on education, immigration, state road plan
By TRACI SHURLEY, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 September 2008
FORT WORTH – A first-time candidate for state office is challenging three-term incumbent Bill Zedler for House District 96 in a race with statewide implications and education as a key issue.
In independent district, red and blue politics don't matter
By Laylan Copelin, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 September 2008
DRIPPING SPRINGS — The state legislative candidates here don't wear their political allegiances on their sleeves — or put "Democrat" or "Republican" on their red and blue signs.
Ad factcheck: Public Utilities Commission
By Dan Kelley, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 29 September 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI — The script State Rep. Juan Garcia: “Utility companies in Texas spent millions on lobbyists in Austin last year.
Election panel: Odds of e-voting fraud low
By Marty Toohey, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 September 2008
AUSTIN – With November's presidential election expected to draw record-breaking numbers of voters to the polls, are electronic voting machines safe from tampering by someone who wants to commit voting fraud?
Gen. Wesley Clark and Karl Rove Debate
WBFO-BUFFALO, 29 September 2008
BUFFALO, NY – It wasn't Obama-McCain, but Western New York had a pretty good debate of its own Friday night at the University at Buffalo.
Government
Texas delegation tells the story of the failed House vote
By MARIA RECIO, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 September 2008
WASHINGTON — Texans from the left and right voted against the $700 billion bailout Monday, telling the story of the bill’s defeat:
Silvestre Reyes casts vote for bill; two area legislators oppose
By Ramon Bracamontes, El Paso Times, 30 September 2008
EL PASO – Two of the U.S. congressmen who represent either parts of El Paso or its surrounding areas voted against the $700 billion bailout bill that the Bush administration was trying to pass to rescue the nation's financial system in an effort to keep the economy from diving.
Area lawmakers vote against bailout
By Jason Embry, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 September 2008
WASHINGTON — Three of the four U.S. House members from the Austin area broke with their party leaders Monday and voted against the rescue plan for the financial markets.
Ortiz votes against bailout
By Stuart Duncan, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 29 September 2008
CORPUS CHRISTI – U.S. Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, was among six Democrats and 17 Republicans in the state congressional delegation who voted against the government bailout plan Monday.
Thornberry votes against measure
By Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News, 29 September 2008
WICHITA FALLS – Thirteenth District Congressman Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, voted against the financial markets bailout plan Monday. The $700 billion measure failed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 228 to 205.
Texas lawmakers split on bailout, Hinojosa votes yes
By Sean Gaffney, McAllen Monitor, 29 September 2008
McALLEN – South Texas lawmakers split on a failed $700 billion emergency bailout Monday to rescue the nation's financial system.
Farmers Branch won't pursue legal battle on immigrant rental ban ruled unconstitutional
By FRANK TREJO and STEPHANIE SANDOVAL, Dallas Morning News, 29 September 2008
DALLAS – Farmers Branch has decided to stop fighting for one of its ordinances to ban housing rentals to illegal immigrants and will instead concentrate on defending a replacement.
Feds OK Cap Metro's passenger rail cars
By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 September 2008
AUSTIN – Federal regulators are no longer standing in the way of Capital Metro opening its passenger rail line.
Born in the U.S.A.
By Kevin Sieff, Brownsville Herald, 29 September 2008
BROWNSVILLE – U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, introduced a bill Friday to amend State Department regulations now preventing thousands of South Texans from obtaining passports.
Bad move
Houston Chronicle, 29 September 2008
HOUSTON – The bailout legislation defeated in the U.S. House Monday was better than any proposal that had come before, deserved to be passed and would have been better than passing no legislation.
Nagging questions
Houston Chronicle, 29 September 2008
HOUSTON – After bumping up against a wall of silence from key participants in the controversial dismissal of nine U.S. attorneys three years ago, Department of Justice internal investigators have called for an extension of the probe under the supervision of a prosecutor appointed by Attorney General Michael Mukasey.
Reforms Would Bolster Texas Insurance Market
Tyler Morning Telegraph, 29 September 2008
TYLER – Amid the flood of talk about bailouts and increased governmental intervention, a Texas agency last week quietly recommended some sensible, free-market reforms that will benefit all Texans.
News
Damage tops $200M in Kemah
By Chris Paschenko, Galveston County Daily News, 29 September 2008
KEMAH — Hurricane Ike’s storm surge caused roughly $200 million in damage to homes and businesses, and city leaders are predicting it could take two to three years before Kemah rebounds.
Forecasters add details to Ike’s résumé
By Leigh Jones, Galveston County Daily News, 29 September 2008
GALVESTON – The results of a preliminary National Weather Service analysis of Hurricane Ike echo what island residents have said for the last 17 days — the storm’s water did far more damage on the island than its winds.
Grisly finds put Houston-area Ike death toll at 32
By DANE SCHILLER, Houston Chronicle, 30 September 2008
HOUSTON – The Houston-area death toll from Hurricane Ike has reached 32 with the discovery this weekend of two unidentified bodies along the shore in Galveston County and the body of a Port Neches man found in Orange County.
About 114,000 sit powerless as new issues pop up
By LYNN COOK, Houston Chronicle, 29 September 2008
HOUSTON – Power outages dropped to 114,000 customers Monday as crews worked block-by-block to repair transformers and lines serving individual homes and businesses.
Three men from polygamist sect surrender to authorities
By EMILY RAMSHAW, Dallas Morning News, 29 September 2008
AUSTIN — Three men from a West Texas polygamist sect surrendered to authorities today, six days after they were indicted on charges related to the “spiritual” marriage of underage girls.
Texas A&M offers free tuition program
By GENE TRAINOR, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 September 2008
FORT WORTH – Texas A&M University freshmen whose family income doesn’t exceed $60,000 have another incentive to do well in class — free tuition.
French ambassador talks about energy in Austin
By Asher Price, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 30 September 2008
AUSTIN – Five years after Americans spurned french fries for "freedom fries" during the run-up to the Iraq war, the French ambassador to the United States said Monday that concerns about energy supplies have leapfrogged any lingering suspicions between the two countries.
People
Former U.S. Rep., wife, out of ICU
McAllen Monitor, 29 September 2008
McALLEN – Former U.S. Rep. Kika de la Garza and his wife, Lucille, are out of intensive care after a car crash that sent them there almost two weeks ago.
Wind helps Stanton man 'support ranching habit'
By Kay Crites, Midland Reporter-Telegram, 29 September 2008
MIDLAND – By day, Mike Hull works in the computer department of a local oil company, but in his spare time he pursues what has become his passion – wind power.
