June 29, 2013

Armstrong uninvited, unwanted guest at 100th Tour de France

PORTO VECCHIO, Corsica —

Lance Armstrong made himself the uninvited guest at the Tour de France on Friday, coming back to haunt the 100th edition of the race and infuriating riders both past and present by talking at length in a newspaper interview about doping in the sport.

Armstrong told Le Monde that he still considers himself the record-holder for Tour victories, even though all seven of his titles from 1999-2005 were stripped from him last year for doping.

He said his life has been ruined by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency investigation that exposed as lies his years of denials that he and his teammates doped. He also took another swipe at cycling’s top administrators, darkly suggesting they could be brought down by other skeletons in the sport’s closet.

None of those comments broke new ground, but in answering questions from Le Monde — a newspaper he scorned when he was still competing — Armstrong ensured that his views on doping at the Tour would have maximum impact in France and couldn’t easily be written off as sour grapes being hurled at the race from afar. The respected daily is very much France’s newspaper of record. Its interview with the rider and his assertion that doping won’t be eradicated from cycling dominated French airwaves ahead of the race start on Saturday, causing dismay and anger in the sport desperate to prove that it has turned the page on his era of serial cheating.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/armstrong-uninvited-unwanted-guest-at-100th-tour/nYY4s/ .

June 29, 2013

Omni Dallas lit in rainbow colors to mark Supreme Court rulings

To mark Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8, the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel was lit in rainbow colors Wednesday night.

The photos we have were taken from Facebook. Hotel spokeswoman Anne Tramer said they didn’t get any shots of the lighting.

From July 30-Aug. 2, Omni will be the host hotel for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce National Business and Leadership Conference.

The city-owned hotel offers domestic partner benefits, but Omni is one of the few major lodging chains that does not offer company-wide DP benefits. Mayor Tom Leppert convinced the hotel to offer benefits at its $500 million Dallas property after the issue was raised by Dallas Voice in 2009.

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/rainbow-colors-cover-omni-hotel-day-decision-10151640.html .

Cross-posted in Texas Group.

June 29, 2013

Omni Dallas lit in rainbow colors to mark Supreme Court rulings

To mark Supreme Court rulings on DOMA and Prop 8, the Omni Dallas Convention Center Hotel was lit in rainbow colors Wednesday night.

The photos we have were taken from Facebook. Hotel spokeswoman Anne Tramer said they didn’t get any shots of the lighting.

From July 30-Aug. 2, Omni will be the host hotel for the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce National Business and Leadership Conference.

The city-owned hotel offers domestic partner benefits, but Omni is one of the few major lodging chains that does not offer company-wide DP benefits. Mayor Tom Leppert convinced the hotel to offer benefits at its $500 million Dallas property after the issue was raised by Dallas Voice in 2009.

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/rainbow-colors-cover-omni-hotel-day-decision-10151640.html .

Cross-posted in LGBT Group.

June 29, 2013

Women Fight Back: Ohio Bill Makes Erectile Dysfunction Her Business

You want to regulate our ovaries, uteri and order us to carry state-mandated children? Well, fine. We want to regulate your erectile dysfunction.

That’s the message of state Democratic Senator Nina Turner’s erectile dysfunction bill in Ohio (SB307). The bill is meant to inflict the same sort of humiliation and violation of privacy on men as mostly male legislators are inflicting upon women across the country, but is wisely being sold under the exact same disingenuous “concern” as Republicans sell their attempts to control women’s wombs.

Turner sweetly pointed out, “I certainly want to stand up for men’s health and take this seriously and legislate it the same way mostly men say they want to legislate a woman’s womb.”

SB 307 requires that:

(A) No person other than a physician shall issue to a patient a prescription for a drug intended to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Continued at http://www.politicususa.com/2013/06/28/ohio-erectile-dysfunction-business.html

[font color=green]Did Senator Turner see the article that I posted in GD, the Humor group and the Texas group by Dr. Brian Carr entitled, "Will Governor Perry Stand Up for the Men of Texas?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/107810059[/font]

June 29, 2013

New laws allow Texas 183 expansion from Fort Worth to Dallas

IRVING — Help is on the way for white-knuckle drivers who are tired of the congestion on Texas 183 between Euless and Dallas, near the south entrance to Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.

State and local officials announced Friday that they will move forward with plans to hire a private developer and rebuild Texas 183 from near Industrial Boulevard in Euless to Interstate 35E in Dallas, including the roads surrounding the former Texas Stadium site in Irving.

The project, which could total $3.8 billion over the next several decades, might also include a makeover of Loop 12 near the stadium site, as well as Texas 114 from the stadium area to the north airport entrance in Grapevine.

“When it’s over, the region will have gained a state-of-the-art facility and one of the safest facilities in the state,” Rep. Linda Harper-Brown, R-Irving, said Friday during a ceremony at the University of Dallas in Irving.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/06/28/4971439/new-laws-allow-texas-183-expansion.html#storylink=cpy

[font color=green]Adding toll lanes?[/font]

June 29, 2013

Farmers warn of high milk prices without farm bill

Source: AP

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Dairy farmers expressed frustration this week with Congress’ failure to pass a farm bill, saying the uncertainty made it hard to do business and some could go under without changes to the federal milk program.

Farmers also worried that if a current nine-month extension of the 2008 farm bill expires with no action, a 64-year-old law will kick in, sending milk prices spiraling. While that might provide short-term profits, they say, it'd hurt them in the long run because no one wants to buy milk at $6 a gallon.

The U.S. House voted down a farm bill June 20, about a week after the Senate approved a different version. It was the second year in a row that the House failed to pass the every-five-years bill that sets funding for agriculture and food programs. Last year, it didn't even vote, prompting the passage in January of a slimmed-down extension of the 2008 law — largely to avoid milk prices sharply increasing.

The Agricultural Act of 1949 sets a much higher price for government purchases of cheese, butter and other dairy products than the U.S. has seen in decades. The government cut the price in recent decades because if it didn't, more companies would sell to the government than to retailers, unless consumer prices rose to match.

Read more: http://www.themonitor.com/news/apnews/article_3d13a65c-e05b-11e2-af61-0019bb30f31a.html

June 29, 2013

Republican Party leader Johnnie B. Rogers granted early release from probation

Former Republican Party leader Johnnie B. Rogers was released from probation after assaulting Burnet Bulletin reporter James Walker at a Republican Primary watch party on Burnet's square in May last year.

Visiting Judge Bert Richardson of San Antonio who originally heard the case signed an order Wednesday granting the request, releasing Rogersfrom probation less than a month early. A hearing was not held.

In January of 2013 Rogers was sentenced to a six month probationary period during which he was required to complete an anger management course, 50 hours of community service and pay a $500.

Source: http://www.highlandernews.com/news_article.php?category_id=2&article_id=4984

Related threads:

Burnet Co. GOP leader going to jail
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014133368

Deferred adjudication in former GOP leader Rogers assault case
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10785370

Republican Party leader Johnnie B. Rogers files motion to dismiss assault
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10789409

June 29, 2013

Federal rule could upend states' shark fin bans

Source: AP

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) — Several members of Congress representing coastal states are voicing concern about a proposed federal regulation that could pre-empt state bans on buying or selling shark fins.

Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman of California is being joined by representatives of New York, Florida and Guam in seeking changes to a proposal they say would take away a state tool to protect shark populations.

California, Hawaii, New York and several other states have passed regulations on the sale and trade of shark fins, which are used in a soup considered an Asian delicacy. California's ban on the sale, trade and possession of shark fins will go into effect Monday after a compromise allowed time for restaurants and businesses to use up their existing supplies.

A letter from the representatives and the delegate from Guam states that a proposed rule by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's fisheries management division, the National Marine Fisheries Services, would undermine those laws. California state lawmakers were also circulating an opposition letter.

Read more: http://www.kvue.com/news/national/213589161.html

June 28, 2013

Patrick making run for Lt. Gov

AUSTIN — Conservative firebrand and Houston Republican state Sen. Dan Patrick ended months of speculation Thursday and jumped into the 2014 race for lieutenant governor, using the opportunity to blast the current officeholder for failing to pass controversial abortion bills.

Patrick, one of the most outspoken members of the Senate, joins an already crowded field trying to unseat Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Along with the tea party favorite and radio talk show host, Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples are challenging Dewhurst in the GOP primary next year.

“The people of Texas sense it is a time for change,” said Patrick, labeling himself an “authentic conservative.”

At his announcement in Austin, Patrick vowed to refrain from launching an “attack campaign.”

Moments later he opened fire on Dewhurst for the recent Senate meltdown that resulted in a package of controversial anti-abortion bills failing while the nation watched online.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/texas_legislature/article/Senator-to-run-for-Dewhurst-s-post-4629249.php .

June 28, 2013

Another Day, Another Assault Rifle Used to Maim, This Time in Front of Granbury City Hall (updated)

Hood County Sheriff's deputies responded to a disturbance call in the Oak Trail Shores subdivision on Lake Granbury at around 10:50 this morning. By some accounts, it was a criminal trespass call.

According to a Texas Highway Patrol spokesman, deputies encountered 60-year-old Richard Randall McComas and exchanged gunfire at a house on Edgecliff Court. One deputy was struck in the head and is in critical condition. McComas fled.

The other deputy put out a description of his white Chevy van with shot-out windows, which was at that moment headed some nine miles southeast from the subdivision to downtown Granbury. When he arrived, police blocked Randall's van in the town square. He pulled into a parking lot at city hall and opened fire with what police Chief Mitch Galvan described as an "assault rifle-type weapon," according to Hood County News.

"Bullets were coming from all directions and I was wanting to look around and my daughter said, 'No, Mom, no! You're gonna get hit!'" a witness told HCN. "So we just watched it all. It was like Bonnie and Clyde. I've never seen nothing like it."

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/06/another_day_another_assault_ri.php .

[font color=navy]
Updated 6:30 p.m. on 6/29/2013

Hood County sheriff’s sergeant dies from injuries during Friday shootout

Hood County Sheriff Roger Deeds said Sgt. Lance McLean died at around 11:45 a.m. Saturday from massive brain injuries suffered from a gunshot wound the day before.

McLean was responding to a criminal trespassing call when he was shot in the back of the head by Ricky Don McCommas, 49, who was supposed to have appeared in court that morning for a hearing related to a pending sexual assault of a child charge.

McLean was shot soon after he got out of his car, Deeds said. He was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth and held on life support until Saturday morning.

Deeds called the death a huge loss for the department and the community.

More at http://thescoopblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/hood-county-sheriffs-sergeant-dies-from-injuries-during-friday-shootout.html/ .[/font]