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The Latest News Headlines From Across the State of Texas - March 10, 2010

Topping our list of news headliens from across the great state of Texas: DPS implements new security measures at the Texas Capitol building. Gov. Rick Perry has named the Texas Secretary of State as the Texas Census Ambassador. And state officials are prediciting an 11-billion dollar state budget shortfall.

Starting in Austin, at the state capitol: The American Statesman reports that new security measures are now in place at the capitol building, some of which will be obvious, and others which will be much less obvious. Visitors to the Texas capitol building will probably notice an increased police presence, including bomb-sniffing dogs on patrol, and bicycle patrols around the outside of the capitol. But internally, other measures have been taken by DPS, which is in charge of security at the capitol, including additional training for officers and a new email alert system for all employees inside the building, designed to notify them of any emergency. DPS and other state officials are still debating whether metal detectors and x-ray machines need to be added to the entrances of the capitol building. DPS is also recommending that all but 2 entrances into the building be closed to the public, and that the metal detectors and x-rays be used at the 2 public entrances. The new security measures began following an incident last month when a man fired several shots outside the capitol building after he was asked to leave a state senator’s office.

In other state news: Texas Governor Rick Perry announced yesterday that he’s naming Texas’ Secretary of State, Hope Andrade, the ambassador for the 2010 Texas Census. Andrade will now travel the state over the next few weeks and months, encouraging residents to fill out the census forms they receive in the mail. Perry says it’s in Texas’ best interest to have as many residents as possible counted in the Census, since those numbers are then used by the federal government to allocate tax dollars back to the state. Plus there are political implications from the census, which will likely cause at least 2 new congressional seats to be created, once the new population data is used for redistricting. Census officials are calling on residents to take 10 minutes to answer 10 questions that will be used for the next 10 years, and you should start seeing those census forms in the mail as early as this week.

Experts say more jobs are being created and sales tax revenues are increasing in Texas, but higher-than-estimated Medicaid caseloads will likely exacerbate a state budget shortfall. The State Comptroller’s office says early figures show sales tax collections dropped nearly 9% last month compared to February of 09. But that dip is smaller than the double-digit decreases that hurt Texas for the last few months of 09. And Texas added over 30-thousand jobs in January. But House Appropriations Committee members Monday said an 11-billion dollar budget shortfall is predicted for the next two year budget cycle.

Out of San Antonio: As spring approaches, the Texas AgriLife Extension Office is encouraging residents in this region to get out and garden. And they are offering a free program on how to spruce up your lawn, which is probably full of weeds after the wet winter, among other tips on greening up the space around your home. That free program is set for March 30th, from 6 to 8pm, at the AgriLife Extension Office in northwest San Antonio, on Cherry Ridge Drive. The program will cover lawn maintenance, common turf diseases, lawn pests and pesticide, and fertilizing tips. To RSVP a seat, call 210-467-6575.

And finally: If you’re planning a fishing trip for this weekend, you may want to avoid the Neches River in East Texas. A fish advisory is now in effect for portions of the Neches River that run through 7 east Texas counties. The Texas Department of State Health Services issued the advisory on Monday, warning fishermen to limit their consumption of flathead catfish, freshwater drum, gar, largemouth bass, spotted bass, and white bass from the Neches River. The advisory area runs through Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Polk, Trinity and Tyler counties. The advisory was issued after lab testing showed elevated levels of mercury in fish samples from those 6 species. And regular ingestion of those mercury compounds can harm the human brain and nervous system.

The Latest News Headlines From Across South-Central Texas - March 10, 2010

Topping our list of South-Central Texas news: The EAA has finalized the hiring of its next General Manager. Plus, a man in Seguin was tasered 3 times before he was finally put in jail this past weekend. And a contractor in San Antonio didn’t come up with 140-thousand dollars in restitution, so he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Edwards Aquifer Authority Board of Directors has officially hired their next General Manager, and he starts next week. Karl Dreher will take over the reins of the EAA, bringing more than 30 years of water resource management experience with him. He’s a former director of water resources for the State of Idaho, and, most recently, he owned his own environmental and water resource management consulting company. Dreher beat out 150 other applicants for the job to take over as the General Manager, where he will oversee the management and protection of the Edwards Aquifer, which serves 1.7-million people in South-Central Texas.

In other news: An investigation into one of the nation’s leading identity theft protection service providers has been resolved. Texas, 34 other states, and the Federal Trade Commission reached an agreement yesterday with LifeLock Inc. The Arizona-based company agreed to more accurately describe its ID theft protection services in its nationwide commercials. They also agreed to provide 11-million dollars in restitution to some customers that may have been misled by previous rounds of advertising. The joint investigation revealed that LifeLock unlawfully exaggerated its range of services and its ability to prevent ID theft.

Now to Seguin: The Gazette reports that a man was arrested this past weekend on multiple charges, but not before he was tasered by local police. In fact, police say it took 3 rounds of the taser to bring 32-year old Daniel E. Newman under control enough to place him into custody after officers responded to the scene of a disturbance call this past Sunday morning in the 700 block of South Austin street. Newman was allegedly intoxicated and became belligerent when officers arrived, and eventually made what officers called very aggressive moves toward them, so they used their taser…but just once. Newman was then transported to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center for a quick exam, but as he was being taken out of the patrol car he struggled with officers again, and he was shocked by the taser again. Later, Newman also reportedly struggled with officers once at the county jail, while being booked, and he was tasered a 3rd time before he was finally brought under control. He spent the night at the Guadalupe County Jail, posted a 6-thousand dollar bond the next day, and was released. He still faces charges of public intoxication, resisting arrest, and interfering with the duties of a police officer.

Out of San Antonio: The Express News reports that a San Antonio-based contractor couldn’t come up with the 140-thousand dollars in restitution to pay back the elderly victims he scammed money from, so he was sentenced to 10 years in prison. 45-year old Scott Hardin, owner of Hardin Builders and 5-H Remodeling, originally pled guilty to 2nd degree felony charges of theft from the elderly and misapplication of fiduciary property from the elderly. Under the terms of that original plea agreement, Hardin was released from custody, but he had to pay back 140-thousand dollars to his victims in order to avoid a prison sentence. Hardin didn’t pay up, and prosecutors asked for and received the full 10-year prison sentence for Hardin yesterday in front of a Bexar County District Court judge.

And finally: It looks like San Antonio will be well represented at the 2010 World Expo, being held this May, in Shanghai, China. The city of San Antonio will be front and center, featured inside the USA Pavilion at the Expo from May 25th through May 27th. A delegation of city and business leaders will be on hand for that presentation, and to work on relations with China-based businesses. The expo is expected to draw more than 70 million people worldwide, from 192 countries and 42 international organizations, making San Antonio’s presence a unique and potentially profitable experience.

The Latest News Headlines From Across South-Central Texas - March 9, 2010

Topping our list of South-Central Texas news: Seguin Firefighters are taking the civil service issue back to the voters, despite a failed effort several years ago. We’ll also look at a 6-year South-Central Texas drug-bust operation, the Texas Attorney General is warning parents about a dangerous website for kids, and San Marcos is the home this weekend of the “World Series of Barbershop Singing.”

Starting in Seguin: The Gazette reports that the issue of Civil Service for Seguin city firefighters will be headed to a vote this May, after the Seguin Professional Firefighters Association successfully turned in enough signatures on a petition before yesterday’s 5pm deadline. Voters in Seguin have already turned down civil service once before in 2004, when the issue was defeated by nearly 750 votes. And firefighters may be climbing an uphill battle this time around, with Seguin officials fighting the proposal, saying it would cost between 600 and 700-thousand dollars to implement, and would put 50 city employees in a different class than the rest of the city’s 300 workers. And city officials say that if voters approve civil service for firefighters, it would amount to a 6-cent increase on their city property tax rate. But firefighters maintain that civil service is the best way to create fairness for department employees when it comes to hiring, firing, and promotions. Seguin City Council will now have to formally approve the May 8th special election, which will likely come at their March 16th regular council meeting.

Now to Austin: The American Statesman reports that Operation Kumbaya is nearing its end. The 6-year, multi-agency operation has made 17 arrests over the years, plus 14 kilograms of cocaine, multiple firearms, and nearly 400-thousand dollars in cash. A total of 13 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have helped throughout the 6-year operation, and now a federal grand jury has issued indictments for the 17 people that have been arrested, as part of a drug operation that moved the cocaine and cash through Austin, Dallas, Mexico, and Birmingham Alabama. The operation also uncovered 13 safe-houses through South and Central Texas, including 11 in Austin, 1 in Pflugerville, and 1 in Hays County.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office is warning parents about an increasingly popular website that gives users, including possible sex offenders, the opportunity to video chat live with randomly selected participants. Officials say ChatRoulette.com users are paired with a random stranger for a video chat, and a login and registration are not required to come face-to-face with a total stranger. The AG’s Cyber Crimes Unit investigation revealed that nearly half of the randomly selected users immediately expose themselves and conducted sexually explicit acts on camera. The Texas Attorney General’s Office says parents should prohibit their children from accessing ChatRoulette.com.

And finally, out of San Marcos: The Daily Record reports that a host of barbershop quartets and other choral groups will gather this weekend at Texas State University for the Heart of Texas Chorus convention and competition. This Friday and Saturday, the 12th and 13th, at Evans Auditorium at Texas State, you’ll be able to hear dozens of choral groups trying to harmonize their way to a win in what’s often called the “World Series of Barbershop Singing.” The highlight of the convention and competition is Saturday night’s Showcase of Champions featuring the winners of the quartet and chorus contests. That show starts at 7:30 Saturday night at Evans Auditorium on the Texas State University Campus. Tickets are $15in advance, $20 at the door. Log on to swd.org for more information.

DPS Issues Warning to Students Going to Mexico for Spring Break - March 5, 2010

Texas DPS officials have issued a warning to parents of students getting ready to go on Spring Break, asking them to avoid letting their kids travel to border cities along the Texas/Mexico border, especially those on the other side of the border in Mexico. The warning comes on the heels of an increase in Mexican drug cartel related violence in northern Mexico border cities, and DPS says the safety of Americans, even students on Spring Break, cannot be guaranteed. The US State Department is echoing those warnings, and you can find more information on the US State Department website.

Meanwhile: Texas DPS is also reminding those that are coming up on Spring Break activities that they will have extra troopers on patrol for the next several weeks looking for speeders, drunk drivers, and those not wearing their seatbelts.

Texas State Star Running Back Arrested for Assault - March 5, 2010

Out of San Marcos: The Daily Record reports that Texas State Bobcat star running back Karrington Blake Bush was arrested this week after a dispute with his girlfriend. The 22-year old All Southland Conference star was arrested Wednesday night, charged with a family violence charge of assault causing bodily injury. His 3-thousand dollar bond was posted yesterday morning, and he was released. San Marcos Police officials say they were called out to the apartment that Bush shares with his girlfriend around 6pm, for reports of a disturbance. Investigators say it appears the two had been arguing over voicemail messages left on the football star’s phone, when the altercation turned physical. Bush told police that the girlfriend was hitting and pushing him, so he pushed her down on the bed, causing her to roll off and bump her head. When police arrived, the woman had scratch marks on her arms and minor bruises. Although Bush admitted to pushing the woman, he said he did so in self defense, but he was still arrested and charged with assault. The girlfriend was not arrested.

Texas State Star Running Back Arrested for Assault - March 5, 2010

The Latest News Headlines From Across South-Central Texas - March 4, 2010

Topping our list of South-Central Texas news headlines: The San Marcos Airport gets a 530-thousand dollar grant from the Texas Transportation Commission. Also: An Austin Police Officer is attacked by a pit bull while responding to an alarm call. Two wrecks in Guadalupe County injure 3 people this week. And UTSA will soon be raising tuition rates...

Starting in San Marcos: The Daily Record reports that the San Marcos Airport has been given a 530-thousand dollar grant from the Texas Transportation Commission. The more than half a million dollar grant will be used for several planned airport improvement projects, including new fencing around the perimeter of the airport. TXDOT annual provides about 60-million dollars to community airports across the state for improvement projects. A contract for the San Marcos Airport improvements should be awarded this Spring.

Students at the University of Texas at San Antonio are about to get a costly lesson in economics. The UT Board of Regents yesterday approved a 9% increase in tuition over the next 2 years. That means students will now pay about 44-hundred dollars per semester. The increase is designed to help make the university a Tier One research institute, and the newly generated funds will go toward increased operating costs, faculty and staff retention, and improved student-faculty ratios.

Back to San Marcos: The Daily Record reports that a lab has given the city water well, that last week showed traces of E Coli, a clean bill of health this week. The newest lab results come only after city water crews flushed the well twice after trace amounts of E Coli were found in raw, untreated water in the well. Remember, all water is treated first before it goes into the public drinking system. But TCEQ requires that the city begin with the cleanest water as possible before putting it through the filtering system. That well, which supplies about 1.5% of the city’s water supply, is now back in full operation, after being shut down since last Friday. Most of San Marcos’ drinking water comes from surface water. Residents that still have questions about the testing procedures can call the San Marcos Public Works Department.

Now to Victoria: The Express News reports that the man convicted of killing a popular San Antonio restaurant owner at her home in 2008, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 20-year old Joe Estrada Jr. will now spend the rest of his life behind bars, instead of getting the death penalty, for killing Viola Barrios during a botched burglary at her home. The sentencing is the end of a nearly 2-month long trial that was moved from San Antonio to Victoria because of large amounts of pre-trial publicity. Outside of the courtroom, after yesterday’s sentencing, family members of the victim told reporters that they were comfortable with the verdict.

Out of Austin: The American Statesman reports that a police officer is still recovering, but has been released from the hospital, following a dog attack yesterday afternoon. The officer was called out to the 47-hundred block of Russet Hill Drive, near MLK Boulevard and Springdale Road, when an alarm at a home went off. But when the officer arrived on scene a few minutes later, he found the door to the house open, and a pit bull mix dog waiting just inside. The dog attacked, and seriously injured the officer, although the nature of his wounds were not released. The officer shot and killed the dog in self defense, then he was transported to the hospital for treatment, before being released late yesterday.

Also out of Austin: The American Statesman reports that investigators are looking into the death of a UT student that died after falling from an apartment balcony early Sunday morning. The student, who has yet to be publicly identified, fell from a balcony at the Jefferson 26 apartments, in the West Campus area, off of West 26th Street. The investigation continues.

Out of Guadalupe County: The Seguin Gazette reports that 2 accidents earlier this week sent 3 people to the hospital. Tuesday morning, around 10:15, Guadalupe County crews were called out to FM 78 at FM 1620 for a 2 vehicle accident And SUV and a passenger car had collided, causing the SUV to roll over and the sedan to end up in a nearby ditch. One of the drivers was taken to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center for treatment. Meanwhile, at nearly the exact same time, another accident was called in, at Hwy 46 and Link Road. There a woman had apparently made a wrong turn, and attempted to back up to change direction when she backed into oncoming traffic, where her car was struck by another passenger car. Because so many Seguin crews were already out, and the New Braunfels fire station on Hwy 46 was really right down the road, New Braunfels firefighters were called in to help with the extraction of a victim from that wreck. That victim was alter transported by Airlife to University Hospital in San Antonio. The other driver was taken by ground EMS to the Guadalupe Regional Medical Center.

And finally: Beginning March 17th, Houston-based Continental Airlines will begin offering flyers a little more room to stretch out…if you’re willing to pay for it. Continental customers will be given a chance to pay extra for seats that have more leg room, which can be purchased anytime within 24 hours of takeoff. How much extra? Depending on the flight, you’ll get about 7-inches of extra legroom for about 50-bucks.