Don't mess with the DU Texas Group. Discuss all things Texas. http://www.democraticunderground.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Sun, 19 May 2013 17:44:50 Sun, 19 May 2013 17:44:50 It will be my first visit...

Anyone have any tips for favorite restaurants, food trucks, etc.

:-)... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788828 Sun, 19 May 2013 16:41:58 Texas' state parks could get a modest boost in funding, the state's nearly moribund program to battle invasive aquatic species threatening the state's waterways and fisheries might see a little life breathed into it, and, depending on what happens in the next few days, a million dollars a year in hu... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788821 Sun, 19 May 2013 12:14:37 snip

[div class="excerpt"]Investigators revealed for the first time Thursday that West Fertilizer had used wooden bins to store the ammonium nitrate that detonated in the same building with dry, combustible seeds. As the fire intensified, debris and equipment fell on top of the ammonium nitrate, ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788820 Sun, 19 May 2013 12:08:04 "In Louisiana [b]the entire state has to adhere to the correct building codes."[/b]

[div class="excerpt"]snip
Browning's mission wasn't just to see the damage, he was also on a fact finding mission. Louisiana's agricultural industry accounts for $11 billion each year. "We're right now reviewing... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788817 Sat, 18 May 2013 22:33:56 Rick Perry's Texas Enterprise Fund has granted $485 million in grants to private companies, allegedly to create jobs in Texas. Many of those companies are owned by the governor's largest donors. Since the creation of the fund ten years ago, Perry has [link:http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788807 Sat, 18 May 2013 13:15:54 The lack of any semblance of a clear answer about the source of the April 17 West explosion adds insult to injury for the families whose lives were turned upside down by the disaster. On Thursday, they learned that the explosion was either caused by a golf cart, an high-voltage electrical problem or... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788802 Sat, 18 May 2013 10:13:30 http://hq-equalityfederation.salsalabs.com/o/35034/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=13663

[div class="excerpt"]The Texas House this afternoon passed an [link:http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/83R/amendments/prefiled/pdf/SB00215H2_831743.PDF|amendment by Rep. Matt Krause] of Fort Worth that... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788794 Sat, 18 May 2013 01:16:18 AUSTIN — Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman will apparently have to step down as the state’s top insurance regulator because she cannot garner the necessary Senate votes for confirmation.

Kitzman, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry nearly two years ago, has faced opposition from Democ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788792 Sat, 18 May 2013 01:09:58 LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) -

A local farmer is turning heads with a message in his field, and this isn't the first time he's done it.

You might remember, back in 2009, Sam Bates spelled out "Say No To Obama" in the weeds in his field, saying he was upset with what was happening in Washington at the ti... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788778 Fri, 17 May 2013 21:57:11 Texas filed a lawsuit on Friday against BP America and other defendants seeking compensation for damage caused by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon offshore oil spill.

The suit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Office seeks compensation for damages to natural resources, economic damages and c... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788772 Fri, 17 May 2013 19:57:36 AUSTIN — Texas lawmakers reached a deal Friday on a two-year spending plan that would restore $3.93 billion to public schools and clear the way for taking $2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund for water projects, the leader of House Democrats said.

Republicans needed Democratic votes to set ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788771 Fri, 17 May 2013 17:33:34 A child died this afternoon after being being left in a car on the parking lot of an elementary school in Pleasant Grove.

The toddler was taken to a local hospital where the infant was pronounced dead. The baby is believed to be about one years old.

Authorities say the incident began about 1:2... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788770 Fri, 17 May 2013 17:19:55 [i]Why not. They are on the public dole[/i]
Another measure, Senate Bill 21, by state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, would require drug tests for unemployment benefits applicants if their answers to a questionnaire raise red flags that indicate the potential for drug use.

Unlike those bi... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788766 Fri, 17 May 2013 09:06:08 WEST, Texas (AP) - Investigators have completed their scene investigation but not ruled out criminal activity as the cause of a massive explosion at a fertilizer plant that killed 15 people and flattened part of a tiny Texas town, officials said Thursday.

The April 17 blast at West Fertilizer... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788761 Fri, 17 May 2013 06:45:26 MIDLAND, Texas (AP) - The former mayor of a tiny West Texas town has pleaded guilty to stealing about $100,000 from the town treasury.

Former Toyah Mayor Bartolo Sanchez entered his guilty plea in federal court in Midland on Thursday. He admits to filing fraudulent mileage reimbursement claims an... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788758 Fri, 17 May 2013 03:59:30 A 29-year-old man on trial on a murder charge suffered severe mental illness that caused him to hear voices -- including the voice of a homicidal doll featured in the "Chucky" horror movies -- that led him to beat his lover to death, a psychologist who interviewed him testified Thursday.

Michael ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788757 Fri, 17 May 2013 03:56:51 Country music star Randy Travis has sued the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas attorney general’s office after some evidence from his drunken driving arrest last summer was ordered released to the public.

Travis pleaded guilty in January to driving while intoxicated in the August in... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788755 Fri, 17 May 2013 02:43:45 Last fall, I drove down to the Calvary Church of Granbury, a Pentecostal congregation in the little town southwest of Fort Worth that was devastated by last night's tornadoes. It's a tiny building with vivid green carpet, next to an empty field and just up a narrow country road from the town cemeter... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788754 Fri, 17 May 2013 01:48:45 An 18-year-old Fort Bend County high school senior has become the record holder for the heaviest alligator ever caught in Texas.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials have certified an 800-pound gator bagged last week by Braxton Bielski.

He was hunting with his dad and a friend, both H... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788748 Thu, 16 May 2013 23:02:22 A federal magistrate judge on Thursday denied bond for former football player Russell Erxleben, calling him a financial threat to the community and a cheater who manipulated people through fear, guilt and promises of wealth.

Judge Andrew W. Austin said the former NFL punter and three-time All-Ame... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788747 Thu, 16 May 2013 22:51:49 Ronald Reagan said, "Hispanics are already Republican. They just don't know it yet.", and apparently they still haven't learned in Texas. For Republicans trying to connect with Hispanics there seems to be only bad news, and now a new poll suggests it's reflective of an actual disconnect Hispanics fe... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788744 Thu, 16 May 2013 16:31:04 A Houston man is in custody after authorities accused him of making telephone threats to Jewish houses of worship in the area last month.

On April 30, Dante Phearse called in bomb threats to Congregation Beth Israel, 5600 N. Braeswood, and Congregation Or Ami, 3443 Wilcrest, Houston police said.
... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788737 Wed, 15 May 2013 21:16:16 Just thought I'd warn anybody who hasn't been regularly watching the weather here; there is a significantly dangerous situation developing across the area today; injuries have already been reported in Wise County, near Amon Carter Lake, and a large wedge tornado may have touched down in Parker Count... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788735 Wed, 15 May 2013 20:41:19 http://www.ksat.com/news/nisd-jrotc-instructor-suspended-with-pay/-/478452/20054620/-/14pkpd2z/-/index.html
[div class="excerpt"]
[b]Lackland airman barred from contact with O’Connor HS student[/b]
SAN ANTONIO -

Northside ISD confirms retired Lt. Colonel James Payne, a respected JROTC instruct... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788727 Wed, 15 May 2013 01:30:06 Texas and Bangladesh. Two places that are literally worlds apart. One is the second largest state in the United States of America, a center for the rich oil and high-tech industries with a GDP of $1.2 trillion, and known for its vast sprawl, fiercely proud culture, and larger-than-life personality. ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788725 Tue, 14 May 2013 20:03:06 From the fine folks at Public Policy Polling:

[div class="excerpt"] Since Rick Perry is consistently at 1-2% in our 2016 polling we're going to replace him with Ted Cruz for now
— PublicPolicyPolling (@ppppolls) May 6, 2013
[/div]

Perry's going to need some ointment for that sick stat... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788722 Tue, 14 May 2013 15:37:25 https://soundcloud.com/mike-in-raleigh/louie-gohmert-time
Click on the play button
Thanks to JuanitaJean.... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788719 Mon, 13 May 2013 12:54:11 [div class="excerpt"]Important safeguards missing from West Fertilizer Co.
By RANDY LEE LOFTIS

Environmental Writer

rloftis@dallasnews.com

Published: 11 May 2013 11:33 PM

Updated: 12 May 2013 12:03 AM




Related



Find ammonium nitrate sites near you






Whet... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788718 Mon, 13 May 2013 01:39:25 This is from the Texas Branch of the American Federation of Teachers about education in the Texas Legislature:



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Use Rainy Day Fund for Public Schools, Not Just Water Projects

Fight Ba... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788715 Sun, 12 May 2013 18:21:42 [div class="excerpt"]Proposition 2 and Proposition 4 were the first school bonds to fail in nearly 25 years, surprising both supporters and opponents.

Proposition 2, which totaled $234 million, would have relieved overcrowded schools, which district officials said were among the most critical nee... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788707 Sun, 12 May 2013 07:25:53 [i]Some views that really hurt and are so true WOW Thanks Perry[/i]

[div class="excerpt"]By The ReverendPublished: May 11, 2013


The state of Texas is special. And GOP Texas Governor Rick Perry wants everyone to know it.

What's special about Texas? It's a state which actually touts it's... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788700 Sat, 11 May 2013 20:05:05 For your city council. Just a reminder. :hi: ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788695 Sat, 11 May 2013 13:13:47 BEEVILLE – A simple swat on the hind end of a 4-year-old pit bulldog Wednesday morning ended with two Beeville residents suffering serious bite injuries and the ultimate death of the animal.

Senior Animal Control Officer Lupe Valdez said Derek Malcom, in his 20s, swatted the dog to keep him from ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788668 Sat, 11 May 2013 06:53:27 http://www.dallasnews.com/news/west-explosion/headlines/20130510-west-paramedics-arrest-shocks-those-who-knew-him.ece

WHOA.

[div class="excerpt"]By all appearances, Bryce Reed was a grieving man who loved to serve his small community of West. He was a volunteer paramedic dealing with the death... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788667 Sat, 11 May 2013 03:49:28 Secretary Sally Jewell told a Senate subcommittee that her department is "very close" to unveiling rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing for natural gas and oil on public lands

By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration's second attempt at writing regulations for hydraul... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788654 Fri, 10 May 2013 10:02:16 AUSTIN, Texas — Energy companies engaging in fracking and other oil and gas exploration would be excused from some possible litigation involving recycled waste water under a bill approved by the Texas House.

The measure has been cheered by oil and gas companies, who say it will encourage recycli... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788651 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:42:17 The natural gas extraction technique known as fracking uses so much water that it could threaten groundwater resources, especially in the Western U.S., two new reports conclude.

The first report (pdf), from the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC), found that hydraulic fracking remov... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788649 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:39:07 snip

[div class="excerpt"]At least since 1995, when Timothy McVeigh used that same substance to kill 168 people in Oklahoma City, you’d think some federal and state agencies would have redoubled their efforts to check fertilizer plants, but a place like West tends to get overlooked, in more ways ... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788648 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:37:55 [div class="excerpt"]Texas law requires Karl Magenheimer’s family business to carry at least $1 million in liability insurance. He understands the cost. Kids could get hurt if one of his inflatable bounce houses were improperly secured and flipped over.

“There are not many accidents. Whenever th... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788646 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:33:06 snip

[div class="excerpt"]Texas has always prided itself on its free-market posture. It is the only state that does not require companies to contribute to workers’ compensation coverage. It boasts the largest city in the country, Houston, with no zoning laws. It does not have a state fire code, a... http://www.democraticunderground.com/10788644 Fri, 10 May 2013 09:29:17