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Archive of Texas on Monday May 12, 2008
In school sports, who makes the call?
A shot at the buzzer of a high school championship game — was it in time or not? — led the South Carolina Legislature to consider a bill to require referees to watch video replays. It was hardly the first example of armchair quarterbacking by lawmakers.
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Schools say inflation puts them at risk
The school funding system approved by Texas lawmakers two years ago provides no new money to cover rising costs ? especially for fuel, utilities and health insurance ? and officials warn the plan's tax revenue straightjacket will allow inflation to push some school districts into bankruptcy. Read More
Polygamist ranch is considered one household, state says.
Child Protective Services officials this week defended their decision to remove hundreds of children from the Eldorado ranch run by a polygamous sect, saying that the group's communal living situation required the removal of all the children in the face of evidence of sexual abuse. Read More
Thefts rise with copper prices
CHICAGO - Dave Fusselman figures he has seen a lot of different items come through his family's third-generation scrap metal business in Moberly, Mo. But an attempted sale last fall broke new ground. Read More
To curb truancy, Dallas tries electronic monitoring
DALLAS - Jaime Pacheco rolled out of bed at dawn last week to the blaring chorus of two alarms. Read More
Texarcana - Two-license-plate requirement a crime-fighting tool
For years, Texas has required two license plates on each auto ? one on the front and one on the back. But why? Read More
House of Yahweh sect case may test Texas' anti-polygamy laws
CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas - In his first sermon after leaving jail, Yisrayl "Buffalo Bill" Hawkins was in classic form: folksy, paternal and apocalyptic. Read More
Texas polygamist sect seeks Bush's help
SALT LAKE CITY - A member of an embattled polygamous church likened a raid by Texas authorities to an act of terrorism in a letter to President Bush. Read More
Texas' early currency offers look at young republic's shaky financial roots
SAN ANTONIO - The birth of Texas as a republic is often told in stirring tales of heroic battles for independence. Often lost in history, however, are the hard lessons those long-ago heroes learned: Revolution is easy. Creating a workable government is hard - and expensive. Read More
Mental health workers criticize state's care of sect children
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Mental health workers sent to help care for the women and children removed from a polygamist sect's West Texas ranch are criticizing Child Protective Services, saying the state's decision to seek custody of the children was unnecessary and traumatizing. Read More
Texas state historical markers disappearing
LA VERNIA, Texas - A steel bridge nearly the length of a football field has weathered floods, the South Texas heat and a century's worth of traffic to survive as a rare engineering marvel of its era and to earn recognition as a Texas and national historic landmark. Read More
Ex-FLDS member exploring custody solutions
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah -- Dan Fischer is conflicted. Read More
Immigration raids catch citizens and legal residents
Two U.S. citizens and one legal permanent resident were among those arrested last month in Mount Pleasant, Texas, during a federal immigration crackdown targeting identity fraud at poultry giant Pilgrim's Pride. Read More
Neutral govs to remain on sidelines
 In the homestretch of an unprecedented presidential primary season, spinning with competing sound-bites and endless rhetoric, voters still heading to the polls in four states can’t look to their governors for any pre-election advice. These governors plan to wait until after their states vote to make their own endorsements.
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At-risk gubernatorial seats increase
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WORTH NOTING: Illinois treasurer shows his knowledge of charges
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) endures a bruising charge from Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D). A new Utah law stirs Salt Lake City bartenders to create a new drink. And Louisiana prison guards get outside help to prevent escapes. In case you missed those stories this week, Worth Noting fills you in. Read More
Silver Alert helps rescue lost seniors
(Updated 9:30 a.m EST, May 8, 2008) When an elderly person with dementia is lost, eight states can trigger an alert to let the community know. Proposals in Congress would expand the successful missing persons program to all 50 states. Read More
Will states fix 2012 primary process?
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Oh say, is that banner made in the U.S.A.?
Lawmakers in 10 states have taken steps to require that American flags bought with state funds be manufactured in this country. While not all the legislation has passed, one state’s new law even bans the sale of foreign-made American flags in that state. Read More
Fairness of death-penalty panels questioned
Death-penalty supporters are raising questions about the fairness of state commissions charged with studying how capital punishment is carried out in Maryland and Tennessee, claiming the panels will issue reports that ignore their views. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Voters' guide promotes phone sex
An Oregon voters’ guide lists a very wrong number. California’s governor insults rural legislators. And Pennsylvania considers selling wine in vending machines. In case you missed those stories this week, “Worth Noting” fills you in. Read More
Parents turn to states for autism help
(UPDATED 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday May 1) One of the toughest problems facing autism patients, their families and policymakers is paying for treatment. Families are increasingly relying on states to help them cope with the financial, medical and educational needs. Read More
With justices' OK, voter ID moves ahead
A decision Monday (April 28) by the U.S. Supreme Court to let Indiana demand photo identification from voters paves the way for other states to do the same during November’s presidential election, experts say. Read More
Ice cream sellers under scrutiny
Rapid City is among the latest in a growing number of communities across the nation moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Read More
Push on to inspect ice cream vendors' pasts
A growing number of communities across the USA are moving to prevent sexual predators from becoming ice cream truck drivers. Read More
Will Democrats grow legislative edge in '08?
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Gay marriage decisions ripe in Calif., Conn.
More than four years after its historic court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, Massachusetts stands alone in blessing gay marriages — more than 10,000 to date — and its example has spurred no imitators but lots of backlash. All eyes now are on the highest courts in California and Connecticut. Read More
'Purple' states turn a little more 'blue'
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Governors pitch ambitious programs
Billion-dollar deficits in California, New York and Arizona haven’t stopped governors there and elsewhere from proposing big-ticket items for 2008. Stateline.org looks at proposals from governors’ 2008 "state of the state" speeches and provides an exclusive summary of all the addresses so far.
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Obama's friends in unlikely places
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Commentary: Govs beat White House hopefuls as agents of change
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Iraq casts shadow on 2008 state races
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Democratic mid-term gains affecting policy
So complete was the Democratic rout in the 2006 midterm elections that the party even gained legislative influence in Alaska, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming – states long dominated by the Republicans. And those gains, though small, are translating into policy achievements. Read More
WORTH NOTING: Illinois gov runs up travel tab
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s commuting costs start to add up. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds settles a dispute with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over a cranky game warden. Read More
Embryonic stem cell research divides states
President Bush’s second veto of a bill to allow federal funding of stem cell research puts the ethical issue squarely in states’ hands. So far, seven states have moved to fund the research, six have banned it, three have affirmed its legality but do not fund it and a handful of others continue to debate the issue. Read More
States outpace feds on minimum wage
When the new federal minimum wage takes effect July 24, 30 states will require employers to pay hourly workers more than federal law requires. Read More |
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