http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/tx-news/ en-us Sun, 3 Jan 2010 19:37:59 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420128/posts More than half of state’s students disadvantaged, report finds Almost six out of 10 Texas public schoolchildren hail from low-income families, marking a troubling spike in poverty over the last decade, a new state report finds. The increase coincides with a significant jump in the number of Hispanic students, while fewer Anglo students were enrolled last year than 10 years ago, according to the study by the Texas Education Agency. Schools also are educating many more children whose primary language is not English. The rapidly changing makeup of the Texas public school classroom poses growing challenges for the state. Impoverished... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420128/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 19:37:59 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420098/posts <p>Police in a small Texan town north-west of Fort Worth have raided an illegal cockfight, arresting 169 viewers and cock owners and seizing more than 100 roosters who were being pitted against each other to the death.</p> <p>As a police helicopter swooped on the fighting pit that had been erected near Poolville in northern Texas, many more spectators scattered and managed to get away. Among those arrested were up to 15 children, some as young as seven, who had been watching with their parents.</p> UK Guardian http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420098/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 19:02:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420012/posts ..... In 58 days GOP voters will select either Kay Bailey Hutchison or Rick Perry, two political veterans, popular with their party, undefeated in decades of elections. In all probability, the price of admission is too steep for political newcomer Debra Medina as the two leaders stage an air-war of political ads likely to tally a combined $30 million over two months. "It is politics at full-throttle," said Bill Miller, who advises corporate and political clients. "This will be a race where there will be a lot of gut shots, low blows. They'll be punches thrown meant to incapacitate... Dallas Morning News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420012/posts#comment Sun, 3 Jan 2010 16:21:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419561/posts The Transportation Security Administration has launched an internal investigation after a security checkpoint at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was left unattended and unsecured for 90 minutes earlier this month. Three agents have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The agency said the agents left the checkpoint at Gate E8 from 8:30pm to 10pm on Dec. 16. Personnel from the airport's Department of Public Safety discovered the gate was not secure during a routine patrol, the TSA said. The New Media Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419561/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 17:20:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419508/posts AUSTIN — Tanning, tobacco and taxes are three of the areas that will fall under new state laws or new enforcement today. • • Teen tanning: Tanning salons are a popular teen stopping point before spring break or the prom, but a new law will limit their access to tanning beds. The legislation became law in September, but enforcement begins today. The new law bars anyone under 16½ from using a tanning device. Those between 16½ and 18 must have a parent or guardian's permission in writing at the salon before they can use a tanning bed. • •... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419508/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 15:29:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419457/posts FORT WORTH, Texas — For more than two decades, Maria Refugia Camarillo played matchmaker for her family members. Camarillo, known as Cuca, found spouses for her children, her nieces, a nephew and even her three teenage grandchildren, all of whom lived within two blocks of each other. The marriages were not only arranged, they were also lucrative. Since 1980, Camarillo arranged some 170 matches between more than a dozen of her relatives and foreigners willing to pay cash to marry Americans and get green cards. With fees of up to $12,000 per marriage, the scheme garnered more than $1 million,... Austin American Statesman http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419457/posts#comment Sat, 2 Jan 2010 13:58:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413431/posts The morning broadcasters, Jack Bishop and Rich Hancock, announced this morning that their organization,"Rational Radio" would be off the air as of Jan 1, 2010. Rational Radio leased this station 24/7 from the Multicultural Broadcast Corp. The rest of the local talkers on this station were discussing their plans thruout the day. Most of them trashing broadcast radio and corporations in general. They are claiming that broadcast radio is dead and Internet Radio is where it is at. 1360AM Dallas http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2413431/posts#comment Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:19:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419105/posts AUSTIN — Tanning, tobacco and taxes are three of the areas that will fall under new state laws or new enforcement today. Also taking effect is a law that stirred a controversy over whether it would protect one legislator's ability to rebuild his hurricane-damaged Bolivar Peninsula house. Most of the laws passed by the Legislature last year took effect in September, but about three dozen did not become effective until today. Some that had already become law will start being enforced. Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419105/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 20:07:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419085/posts SAN ANGELO, Texas — The political paths of three former student leaders from Texas’ two main public universities have crisscrossed for years. All three have been on the political radar since all were on the same statewide ballot in 1990. Now, two face off March 2 for the Republican nomination for governor: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is trying to unseat Gov. Rick Perry. The third, Democratic former state Comptroller John Sharp, wants Hutchison’s Senate seat — whenever it might be up for election. Her seat is scheduled election in 2012, but she could resign sooner, which would cause... Go San Angelo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2419085/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 19:30:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418994/posts On Tuesday evening, 16-year-old Andrew Kane nonchalantly asked his mother and father if they would drive him from their Barrie, Ont., home to a hotel in nearby Midland, where he planned to meet a 42-year-old woman with whom he had been having a secret relationship over the Internet. His stunned parents refused and the teen calmly returned to the computer, telling them he would let the woman know he wasn't coming. At 2 a.m., Marlene Kane heard her front door open, and found her son gone, leaving behind a troubling trail of web chats that led to Houston, Tex., and... Globe and Mail http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418994/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 16:37:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418949/posts DFW Security Checkpoint Left Unattended for 90 Minutes Agency suspends 3 agents, calls incident "serious and unacceptable" By GRANT STINCHFIELD Updated 8:05 PM CST, Thu, Dec 31, 2009 The Transportation Security Administration has launched an internal investigation after a security checkpoint at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport was left unattended and unsecured for 90 minutes earlier this month. Three agents have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. The agency said the agents left the checkpoint at Gate E8 from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Dec. 16. Personnel from the airport's Department of Public Safety discovered the gate was... NBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418949/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 15:00:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418840/posts Candidates for certification to teach in public schools in Texas are being told that they will be held accountable for any "heterosexist" leanings and must become agents working to change society, according to one candidate who was alarmed by the demands. The applicant, who requested anonymity for fear of repercussions, told WND part of the teachings on multiculturalism required him to read several online postings about the issue inside the education industry. One warns that "teachers and administrators must be held accountable for practices deemed to be racist, sexist, heterosexist, classist, or in any other way discriminatory." And a second... WorldNetDaily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418840/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 06:57:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418545/posts A woman called police on Monday and said a man was forcing his way into her apartment in the 5300 block of Elm Street. When officers went inside, they found something that made them concerned enough to call the bomb squad. They found an AT-4 shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. It can shoot a missile nearly 1,000 feet through buildings and tanks. "It gives infantrymen the advantage with an ultra-light weapon that can stop vehicles, armored vehicles as well as main battle tanks and fortifications," said Oscar Saldivar of Top Brass Military and Tactical on the North Freeway. That type of rocket... Click2Houston.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418545/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:23:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418796/posts NORTH RICHLAND HILLS – Authorities tell News 8 a suspicious device found in a North Texas neighborhood did contain explosives. It was found near a copy of the Koran. Investigators don’t know whether they were left by the same person. A resident found what appeared to be a coke can on the street just before noon Thursday. What he saw inside, however, caused him to call 9-1-1. “It’s some type of metal in a coke can,” said Sean Hughes, Northeast Explosives Response Team. Firefighters at the scene called in the Northeast Explosives Response Team. “They zip tied the can in... WFAA - DFW http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418796/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 04:31:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418701/posts Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison says her race with Gov. Rick Perry is “dead even.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, said Wednesday she's in a "dead even" Republican primary race against Gov. Rick Perry. Appearing at an Austin news conference about transportation issues Wednesday, Hutchison discounted widely leaked poll results from Perry pollster Mike Baselice. The results, which were contained in an internal Perry campaign memo circulating on blogs and among political operatives, show Perry winning 49-36 against Hutchison, with 10 percent undecided and 5 percent going for another GOP contender, libertarian-leaning Debra Medina. Hutchison said the campaign is a... KWTX http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418701/posts#comment Fri, 1 Jan 2010 00:27:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418563/posts WASHINGTON — With the health care battle still unfinished, the Obama administration has been laying plans to take up an issue that could prove even more divisive — a major overhaul of the nation's immigration system. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., in a meeting with Journal editors in Albuquerque, said last week that House Democrats have also been discussing action on the issue in 2010, even though Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the House might defer to the Senate on taking the lead. Senior White House aides have privately assured Latino activists that the president will back legislation next year to... The Albuquerque Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418563/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:51:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418502/posts A homeowner shot and killed a man and then wounded a woman who were reportedly trying to steal tools from his pickup early this morning at a home in northwest Houston, police said. [...] The man and woman, whose names have not been released, were rushed to Ben Taub General Hospital, where the man died. The woman's condition is unknown. The homeowner, whose name has not been released, also was taken to Ben Taub because he shot himself in the foot during the confrontation. [...] Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418502/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:34:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418269/posts A few weeks ago, Houston immigration attorney Jay Aiyer started to see sure signs that the economy is rebounding: More of his clients requested work visas for professional foreigners and the government finally ran out of H-1B visas. “If we're seeing business visas start to be used up, it means that the overall economy is in a growth pattern,” Aiyer said. “They're not going to be bringing folks in from abroad during a recession.” For the last few years, it would have been futile for employers or their attorneys to submit H-1B applications past April, when U.S. Citizenship and Immigration... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2418269/posts#comment Thu, 31 Dec 2009 13:01:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417997/posts BROWNSVILLE, Texas — Prosecutors have accused a high school assistant principal of soliciting sex from students using text messages. James Camden McKinney was arrested last month on a charge of online solicitation of a minor involving a 15-year-old student. His attorney says the Porter High School assistant principal turned himself in on Tuesday after learning he was wanted on four more charges of having improper relationships with a student. Foxnews http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417997/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:49:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417946/posts A Dallas County jail guard has resigned while under investigation for allowing a 20-year-old male inmate to perform a sexually suggestive dance for her to music earlier this month, according to Sheriff’s Department reports. The “lap dance” occurred in the county’s new direct supervision jail, where guards supervise inmates from inside the housing pods — a growing trend in corrections. Witnesses said Officer Kytrina Lewis was close to the inmate, Gregory Miller, and gave him her personal cell phone, which contained photos of her... The Dallas Morning News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417946/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:42:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417880/posts ...Mayor Bill White on Tuesday announced a 21-member commission to study Houston's term limits and make recommendations by July 1. Any changes to the current limit of three, two-year terms for Houston's mayor, controller and 14 City Council members would be subject to approval by the council and by voters... In November 1991, after Kathy Whitmire had completed 10 years as mayor and some council members had served continuously for decades, 56.9 percent of Houston voters approved term limits that took effect in 1993. The panel appointed by White represents the first serious effort to change this system. “Houston has... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417880/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:50:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417876/posts ...The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will impose a stricter nationwide limit on ozone, or smog, next month, requiring further pollution cuts from vehicles and industries just as Houston complies for the first time with the current standard, set in 1997. Thanks to cleanup efforts, favorable weather conditions and a slumping economy that reduced emissions-producing business and transportation, Houston will achieve the standard of 84 parts per billion, or 84 molecules of ozone for every billion molecules of air, by the thinnest of margins this year. But the new limit, lowered on the basis of more recent medical evidence, will be... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417876/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:42:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417870/posts The Nigerian man accused of trying to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day attended classes here last year, a leader of a Houston Islamic educational institution said today. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni, vice president for the AlMaghrib Institute in Houston and imam of the Clear Lake Islamic Center, said he would provide more details on 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s studies in Houston this afternoon. Basyouni had asked a team of staffers to investigate a report that Abdulmutallab had attended classes at the institute in 2008. The Nigerian-born son of a prominent banker, Abdulmutallab is accused of attempting to blow up a... Houston Chronicle http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417870/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:35:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417405/posts A leader of a Houston Islamic educational institution said Tuesday that the organization is investigating a report that the Nigerian man accused of trying to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day attended classes here last year. Shaykh Waleed Basyouni, vice president for the AlMaghrib Institute in Houston and imam of the Clear Lake Islamic Center, said he has asked staffers to look into a report that 23-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab had attended classes in Houston during a trip to the U.S. Houston Cronical http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417405/posts#comment Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:46:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417042/posts After 24 years of marriage to Darby Tara Hickson, Karl Rove – former senior adviser to President George W. Bush – has been granted a divorce in Texas. Examiner.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2417042/posts#comment Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:37:16 GMT