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Bill allowing concealed handguns on college campuses draws blanks

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:05:34 -0400

AUSTIN — One of the biggest gun bills this session — allowing students with concealed handgun licenses to carry their firearms on college campuses and in their classes — appeared to die quietly ...

Siblings survive havoc of EF-5 twister

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:02:30 -0400

Nadia Hill / Managing Editor Keith Dennis heard the sirens wailing from two miles out, patiently listening and waiting for his sister's voice to reassure him she was alive. She was wrapped in blankets, padded by all of her pillows and huddled under a foam mattress topper. The wind screamed and windows shattered. He knew she was rain soaked, alone and in shock. Dennis picked apart his ...

Scout leaders take up lifting gay ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:37 -0400

Former Boys Scout leader Jennifer Tyrrell, left, rests her head on her son and current Boy Scout Cruz Burns, 8, before an news conference at the Equal Scouting Summit. (AP Photo/LM ...

Medical center hit patients survive

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:00:36 -0400

MOORE, Okla. (KXAN) - The medical complex adjacent to a hard-hit neighborhood in Moore, Okla., was battered to rubble by Monday's tornado but the patients made it out alive. Dozens inside a clinic were trapped for a time when the walls collapsed in on them. "The thing that actually saved us was this big electrical box," said Dawn Miles, nurse. pointing to the box. She took KXAN on ...

Emails show how Treasury delayed alerting Congress to Tea Party targeting

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:37:56 -0400

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa on Wednesday displayed a string of emails showing his failed efforts to get an update from the Treasury Department inspector general's office about its investigation into the IRS practice of targeting conservative groups who sought tax-exempt status. Emails seeking the information date back to September 2012, six weeks ...

Lagina Madre seagrass study

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:27:07 -0400

Rachel Denny Clow/Caller-TimesTexas A&M University-Corpus Christi students Tracy Weatherall (left) and Jennifer Klidies take a sample of seagrass in the Laguna Madre on Wednesday. A group of 11 undergraduate and two graduate students are spending the week at the university’s Laguna Madre Field Station collecting data on seagrasses for use in Klidies’ master’s ...

Mesquite Street Grill set for Fourth of July opening in Corpus Christi

Wed, 22 May 2013 19:26:57 -0400

MIKE BAIRD/CALLER-TIMES Mesquite Street Grill is planned for opening by July 4. The menu plans American comfort food, with daily lunch specials, food bars, steaks, and prime rib on Fridays. Seems that Mesquite Street is a swell place for a steak and prime rib ...

UTA hires new police chief

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:56:31 -0400

Lemaux, a graduate of UTA, has more than three decades of law enforcement experience and expertise in training, operations and event safety management, according to a news release issued Wednesday by the ...

Arlington man convicted in federal court of meth conspiracy

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:56:31 -0400

FORT WORTH — An Arlington man could be sentenced to life in federal prison and fined $5 million for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more, federal prosecutors said ...

Completion of boardwalk project just one year away

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:50:56 -0400

AUSTIN(KXAN) - It's been talked about for years, but now the boardwalk on Lady Bird Lake is much closer to becoming a reality. A boat tour Wednesday showed the progress of the project that will connect the current end of the hike and bike trail to Lakeshore Park. City officials currently say it is dangerous to exercise on certain parts of the trail that gets close to Interstate 35. The new ...

Dallas reportedly will shop pick save cap space

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:40:15 -0400

Could Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Paul be the next duo in the West? The Mavs will trade their 13th pick to make it happen. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images) The NBA Draft is still more than a month away and free agency doesn’t begin until July, but the Dallas Mavericks are wasting no time in the offseason to return to title contention next year with an aging leader in Dirk Nowitzki, who turns ...

Grimm faces familiar opponent in Seattle

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:36:43 -0400

Safeco Field will be a welcomed sight for the Mariners -- and left-hander Joe Saunders -- when they return home Friday to host the division-leading Rangers for a three-game set. Saunders will take the hill in the series opener, as Seattle kicks off its brief five-game homestand fresh off a disappointing nine-game road trip. The Mariners enter Wednesday night's series finale against the ...

Todays MLB starting lineups May 22

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:36:37 -0400

Below are starting lineups that have been made public by the clubs. A lineup is not official until it is handed to the umpire. Additional lineups will be added as they become available: Arizona Diamondbacks: 1. ...

Lawmakers OK training Texas teachers as marshals

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:35:51 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas schools could train teachers as armed marshals to exchange gunfire with potential attackers under a bill approved by state lawmakers and sent to Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday, while a key lawmaker said attempts to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons into college classrooms is likely ...

Chemical that sparked deadly Texas explosion found across U.S

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:30:28 -0400

The remains of a fertilizer plant burn after an explosion at the plant in the town of West, near Waco, Texas, in this April 18, 2013 file photo. The deadly explosion injured more than 100 people, leveling dozens of homes and damaging other buildings including a school and nursing home, authorities ...

A fathers fight to regain custody of his kids

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:27:13 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - After his kids went missing last summer a central Texas father couldnt get help from law enforcement. Stephen James served 20 years in the Army with tours of duty in Iraq and Kosovo. He's decorated veteran who fought for his country. But when his kids were abducted, nobody would fight for him. So, he turned to KXAN. KXANs investigation has spanned nearly seven months, several ...

Multiband to be acquired by Texas network operator

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:23:29 -0400

Multiband Corp., which provides bundled television, Internet and telephone services to condo and apartment complexes, said Wednesday it is merging with Texas-based Goodman Networks Inc. Goodman, a wireless-telecommunications provider, will pay $3.25 per Multiband common share, redeem all of Multiband's outstanding preferred stock and repay Multiband's outstanding debt in an all-cash ...

Ola Tryon dedicated Corpus Christi public servant dies at 91

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:18:49 -0400

CORPUS CHRISTI -- Ola Tryon, a community leader who supported higher education efforts, died of lung cancer Friday. She was 91. Her daughter, Sylvia Tryon Oliver, said her mother had a passion for those in need. "She grew up with a large family where they took care of one another on a farm in East Texas, and that's how she went through life," Oliver said. "She loved to ...

Corpus Christi detective receives community service award

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:18:46 -0400

Garcia has been a robbery/homicide detective for 22 years. Corpus Christi Detective R.L. Garcia was recognized Wednesday for his public ...

Stripes pitched as largest in Corpus Christi opens Thursday

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:18:35 -0400

Look at the caption below the photo. It does not claim to be a photo of the new Stripes. It is a file photo of some dinky Stripes, probably used for every story that features a Stripes. So no, no one is obligated to honor the price on a sign in a file photo that claims to be nothing BUT a file ...

Griner looming large over WNBA

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:51:26 -0400

PHOENIX (AP) — Brittney Griner can dunk.Not only on breakaways and not those squeeze-it-over-the-rim ones that just don't look right.One-handed, two-handed, on the move, off a drop step, even on alley-oops, though she hasn't pulled that one off in a game — at least not yet.Emphatic, too, unlike any woman before her.Griner's dunking dexterity has made her a celebrity, a ...

Container Store CEO considers employees a top priority

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:47 -0400

Container Store CEO Kip Tindell said it's important for companies to focus on their employees to improve chances of success. Container Store CEO Kip Tindell thinks the keys to creating a successful corporate culture is communication and quality personnel. Tindell was the keynote speaker at the May 22 World Affairs Council luncheon, where he told Dallas business professionals and guests about ...

Bill to require drug tests for Texans on welfare derailed

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:47 -0400

AUSTIN — A North Texan’s plan to require drug tests for Texans on welfare was talked to death by Democrats this week, creating a near meltdown in the House of Representatives as dozens of bills died in its ...

Fort Worth man accused in two Arlington sexual assaults

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:47:46 -0400

ramirez@star-telegram.com ARLINGTON _ A Fort Worth man suspected in two sexual assaults was in custody on Wednesday and detectives were trying to determine if more women may have been victims, police ...

El Paso Home Prices Up Sharply

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:40:35 -0400

Home prices increased at healthy rates in El Paso and many other metro areas in the first quarter, a new report shows. El Paso's median, or market midpoint, price for used, or resale, single-family homes increased 5 percent in the January-March quarter compared with a year ago, the National Association of Realtors reported. El Paso's median resale price was $138,600 -- up $6,600 ...

Uninsured Texans Seek Health Care In Mexico As Their Governor Resists Medicaid Expansion

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:33:33 -0400

article from Tuesday shines a light on what, exactly, most Republican governors’ refusal to expand Medicaid will mean for real Americans by examining poor communities in a state headed by one of Obamacare’s most ardent critics: Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX). The piece centers on particularly destitute populations in southern Texas, where some uninsured residents are so poor, sick, and ...

Pastor sentenced to 2 years for online soliciting

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:26:34 -0400

MARSHALL, Texas (AP) -- An East Texas pastor has been sentenced to two years in prison for an online chat from church with an alleged 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a Louisiana ...

SAHA and San Antonio Food Bank serving up a Farmers Market

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:26:11 -0400

San Antonio Housing Authority and the San Antonio Food Bank will host a Farmers Market at SAHA headquarters on May 23. The San Antonio Food Bank and the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) are gearing up to host the first SAHA Farmers Market. The first market will take place on May 23, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Moving forward, the market will be held on the second and fourth Thursday of each ...

Dell buyout group discounts companys dismal 1Q earnings

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:22:12 -0400

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn is part of an investor group competing with a group led by Dell Inc. CEO Michael Dell to buyout the companys shareholders. Dell Inc.s prospective buyout group is downplaying last weeks 79 percent decline in first-quarter profits. Tennessee-based Southeastern Asset Management Inc. wrote that Round Rock-based Dells (Nasdaq: DELL) performed well in the business ...

Apple CEO Tim Cook says a line of Macs will be built in Texas

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:22:10 -0400

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple, center, walks through a hallway during a break of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations hearing in ...

Mountain Real Estate looking to San Antonio as part of Texas growth plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:17:59 -0400

Mountain Real Estate Capital is setting its sights on new opportunities in the Texas residential market. Charlotte-based equity firm Mountain Real Estate Capital (MREC) is looking to expand its investment platform in Texas. And San Antonio could be part of that plan. Arthur Nevid, chief investment officer for MREC, recently announced that his firm, had recapitalized a development by Land Tejas ...

MLB Texas 3 Oakland 1

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:12:08 -0400

Texas Rangers ' 3-1 win over the Oakland Athletics. Wolf (1-0) was pulled after five innings but only allowed three hits and two walks while striking out ...

Texas lawmakers approve arms training for schoolteachers

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:09:06 -0400

AUSTIN -- Schools could train teachers to exchange fire with potential attackers under a plan advancing in the Texas Capitol. In a 28-3 vote on Wednesday, the Senate approved a bill that would authorize one armed marshal for every 400 students. It has already passed the House over the objection of the state teachers association. The measure would require school districts and open-enrollment ...

Engulfed railroad bridge crashes to the ground

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:57:11 -0400

SAN SABA, Texas (KXAN) - A railroad bridge on the northern edge of the Hill Country came crashing down after flames engulfed the massive structure on Sunday. The bridge spans the Colorado River along the San Saba and Lampasas county line, east of San Saba, Texas, and north of U.S. Highway 190. A foot bridge that crosses the river also burned. Volunteer firefighters from Lometa and San Saba were ...

Megabus to offer additional low fares next month

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:43:12 -0400

Megabus.com is expanding to 28 U.S. cities and is rolling out special low-cost fares during the month of June. Megabus.com, which has turned heads and filled seats with its $1 fare promotion, is lowering the price of travel on additional routes. During the month of June, Megabus.com will offer thousands of $5 and $9 seats for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The low fares will be ...

Fort Hood suspect seeks to fire Army attorneys

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:37:21 -0400

FORT HOOD, Texas -; The Army psychiatrist charged in the deadly 2009 Fort Hood shooting rampage says he wants to represent himself at his upcoming ...

Obama threatens veto of House student loan plan

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:37:21 -0400

WASHINGTON -; President Barack Obama on Wednesday threatened to veto legislation by House Republicans that would avert a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1 but allow them to vary with the markets going ...

Solar Impulse airplane begins fuel-free trip Dallas

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:33:48 -0400

The Solar Impulse airplane takes off from Phoenix for Dallas-Fort Worth on Wednesday. The Swiss-made Solar Impulse plane set out Wednesday on the record-breaking second leg of its solar-powered trip across America, from Phoenix to Dallas-Fort ...

Obama to honor Carole King at White House concert

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:33:25 -0400

Singer-songwriter Carole King, performs during an event to honor her with the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, at the Library of Congress, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in ...

Texas Judge Orders Lesbian Couple to Split Up

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:30:33 -0400

A lesbian couple living in Allen, Texas, charge a ruling by a county judge that they can't live together is a clear violation of their civil rights. Carolyn Compton and partner Page Price were ordered to split up by District Judge John Roche Jr. due to a morality clause in Compton's 2011 divorce decree, The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday. The clause, common in Texas ...

Burns odd-man out after Wolf called up

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:44 -0400

Email ARLINGTON -- The Rangers made room for right-hander Ross Wolf by sending reliever Cory Burns back to Triple-A Round Rock. The move leaves four left-handed relievers in the Rangers' seven-man bullpen. Jason Frasor and Tanner Scheppers are the only right-handed relievers aside from closer Joe Nathan. The left-handers are Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman, Neal Cotts and Joseph Ortiz. Burns, ...

Perez impresses still may need more time

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:43 -0400

Email ARLINGTON -- Martin Perez was impressive in his fourth start since coming off the disabled list. Perez threw seven scoreless innings in Triple-A Round Rock's 6-0 victory over Reno on Tuesday night. He allowed three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out seven. He threw 77 pitches. Perez missed two months with a broken left arm and the Rangers would like to give him more time ...

Moreland gets day off replaced by Baker

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:16:43 -0400

Email ARLINGTON -- Mitch Moreland was out of the lineup on Wednesday for the first time since April 19. Manager Ron Washington just decided it was time for Moreland to get a day off and Jeff Baker started at first base and hit seventh. "A day off is fine," Moreland said. "Skip talked to me a little bit. I have been playing a good bit lately and we want to rest my legs." ...

Man indicted on claim he set fiancees home ablaze

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:15:59 -0400

DALLAS (AP) -- A grand jury has indicted a North Texas man who authorities say threatened his fiancee with a handgun and then set her home on fire during a police ...

Stanford chandelier sells for $158500 at auction

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:15:59 -0400

DALLAS (AP) -- A chandelier by glass artist Dale Chihuly that once belonged to former Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford has sold at auction for $158,500 as part of an effort to compensate victims of his Ponzi ...

2nd suspect in sex assault arrested

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:12:25 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man who allegedly helped his friend sexually assault a woman near the Huston-Tillotson University campus in March is a sergeant at Fort Hood. According to an arrest warrant, Jeremy Bolen, 23, was the driver of the truck in the incident that happened in 1900 block of College Row around 1 a.m. on March 16 . Fort Hood officials say SGT Jeremy C. Bolen is assigned to the 69th Air ...

Accomplice in sex assault arrested

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:12:25 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man who allegedly helped his friend sexually assault a woman near the Huston-Tillotson University campus in March has been arrested in Bell County. According to an arrest warrant, Jeremy Bolen, 23, was the driver of the truck in the incident that happened in 1900 block of College Row around 1 a.m. on March 16 . Michael Broughton, 28, the person who sexually assaulted the ...

Popes Telegram to Victims of Explosion in Texas

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:59:10 -0400

VATICAN CITY, April 22, 2013 (Zenit.org) - Here is the text of the telegram sent by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, on behalf of the Holy Father, to Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of Austin, Texas regarding the explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas last Wednesday. The explosion caused 14 deaths and hundreds wounded.* * *Saddened by news of the destruction caused by the ...

Veterans Band of Corpus Christi

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:58:10 -0400

The Veterans Band of Corpus Christi performs at the following locations: May 18 Armed Forces Day Ceremony Sherrill Park 10:00 amMay 18 Armed Forces Day Gonzalez 702 Brownlee 6:30 pm May 18 Armed Forces Take the Lead W.R. Ray Gym 7:30 pm May 19 Armed Forces Ceremony Trisun Westwood 2:00 pm May 24 Memorial Day Ceremony Memorial Park Robstown 11:00 amMay 25 Memorial Day Ceremony Coastal Bend State ...

Promoting water-efficient landscaping without costing the taxpayer a single dime

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:50:34 -0400

Succulents, such as cacti, usually retain water in arid climates or soil conditions and are often used by homeowners when xeriscaping. A bill that ensures Texas homeowners the right to install drought-resistant landscaping despite restrictions from some neighborhood associations has passed the Senate with no opposition and now goes to the governor's desk for his signature. Many of Texas' ...

Bills tackle road safety insurance not statewide texting ban

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:49:32 -0400

House Bill 63, which has yet to be heard by Senate committee, proposes a statewide ban on texting. Legislation that deals with safety and insurance on Texas roads are headed to the governor for his signature but a proposed statewide ban on texting isn't among them. Texas ranks among the worst states for passing highway safety laws, according to a January report released by Advocates for ...

Austins Pizza phone service fixed sales shoot up after story runs

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:48:44 -0400

Austin's Pizza's well-known phone number is working again. Austins Pizzas fortunes have changed overnight thanks, in part, to a story that ran yesterday on the Austin Business Journal website. Owner J.D. Torian had called ABJ about the frustration of having his main phone line disconnected multiple times not because he did anything wrong, but because of billing snafus with service ...

Veterans to get expedited occupational licenses

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:48:01 -0400

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio Gov. Rick Perry has signed a bill that helps veterans and their families apply specific training toward civilian occupational licenses. Senate Bill 162, filed by State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, requires state agencies issuing occupational licenses to provide expedited licensure for military service members, their spouses and veterans ...

New Parkland Hospital built to withstand EF5 tornadoes

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:47:31 -0400

Parkland Hospital is built to take a beating, its construction team says. The new Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas is being built to withstand wind speeds of 350 mph -- stronger than those in the EF5 tornado that ravaged Moore, Okla., and surrounding areas earlier this week. The hospital building was designed three and a half years ago, shortly after Hurricane Katrina, and is being ...

ETF chairwoman Lower-than-requested funding is vote of confidence

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:44:50 -0400

Terry Hazell is chairwoman of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund Advisory Council. Earlier this week, the Texas Legislature approved replenishing the Emerging Technology Fund with $50 million over two years versus $139 million requested by the office of Gov. Rick Perry. The low funding level came after years of controversy and allegations of political influence connected to the fund thats managed ...

San Antonio craft brewers ready to tap into larger market

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:31:24 -0400

Freetail Brewery's Scott Metzger is optimistic that the state's changes to the brewpub laws will create more opportunities for craft brewers. Craft beer brewers in the Lone Star State finally have the legislative relief they have sought for years. The Texas Legislature has approved a number of changes to the states alcohol laws, which could provide San Antonios craft beer industry with a ...

Warrant Mother thought she left baby at day care

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:46 -0400

DALLAS (AP) — A North Texas woman whose year-old daughter died after being left for hours in a car has told authorities she thought she dropped off the child earlier at a day care.An arrest warrant reveals details of an interview police conducted with 42-year-old Vibha Marks. The Dallas Morning News reports Wednesday that Marks told police she was certain she had left her daughter at the ...

Chesapeake donates $1M for Oklahoma tornado recovery efforts

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:30:21 -0400

Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp. donated $1 million to the Red Cross in Oklahoma to help with recovery efforts after the May 20 tornado. Chesapeake Energy Corp. (NYSE: CHK) donated $1 million to the American Red Cross in Oklahoma to help with relief and recovery efforts in Moore and other cities affected by the tornado this week. The Oklahoma City-based company sent its own disaster ...

Zale Corp. reports $5M profit for Q3

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:23:34 -0400

Zales Corp. earned $5 million in its third quarter after losing the same amount in last year's third quarter. Zale Corp. made $5 million in its third quarter after having lost that amount in the same quarter a year ago, the company said Wednesdasy. The earnings translate 13 cents per diluted share. The Irving-based jewelry retailer reported $433 million in revenue, compared to last years $445 ...

Tennis signs first American athlete in three years

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:23:16 -0400

Tyler Owens /Senior Staff Writer The vast diversity of cultures on the UNT tennis team has grown even more in recent months as the Mean Green has signed two freshmen - Alexis Thoma and Ana Sofia Cordero - to letters of intent Thoma, who is from Frisco, is the first American student-athlete to join the team since the 2009-2010 season. "I feel like a better player when I'm out here ...

Hecklers interrupt Gov. Perrys speech

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:21:06 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) -- Hecklers have repeatedly interrupted a speech by Gov. Rick Perry, demanding that Texas expand the Medicaid program under the White House-backed health care reform ...

Equity group buys up San Antonio firms BlackBrush TexStar and SunTerra

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:17:27 -0400

Tailwater Capital, a new Dallas-based private equity group, has purchased three San Antonio-based energy companies from its former parent. Tailwater spun off Monday from HM Capital, also of Dallas, snapping up its equity stakes in BlackBrush Oil and Gas, TexStar Midstream Services and SunTerra Well Services. All three companies are based in San Antonio with operations in the nearby Eagle Ford ...

Medicaid expansion protesters interrupt Perry talk

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:03:41 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Hecklers have repeatedly interrupted a speech by Gov. Rick Perry, demanding that Texas expand the Medicaid program under the White House-backed health care reform ...

Cousins unveils big changes for 2100 Ross makeover

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:38:32 -0400

A rendering of the new entry of 2100 Ross Avenue -- once it goes through its makeover -- in downtown Dallas. It's been a long time coming for 2100 Ross Ave., one of downtown Dallas' skyscrapers in the Dallas Arts District: A much-needed multimillion dollar makeover. There have been plans for repositioning the 33-story, 844,000-square-foot skyscraper since it was purchased at foreclosure ...

Independent AE board could be shelved

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:35:02 -0400

In special session on Tuesday, the Austin City Council members discussed several possibilities on how it would oversee a new board of directors for Austin Energy. After nearly an hour of discussion, the council decided to schedule a vote Thursday on whether to postpone the idea of an independent board for Austin Energy indefinitely. Council members discussed plans that would create a committee to ...

Richmond pastor charged with 4 felonies in Texas

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:17:41 -0400

RICHMOND -- Texas authorities now say a Richmond pastor accused of sex crimes has now been formally charged with four felonies related to two alleged ...

Carroll trustees continue to look at open enrollment

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:13:12 -0400

SOUTHLAKE — School leaders appear to be moving closer to allowing students who live in within Southlake city limits - but are zoned in the Keller or Northwest school districts - to attend Carroll ...

New software could change UNT registration process

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:10:13 -0400

J.P. Lugo / Staff Writer New software may be applied in the registration system that will allow students to see all their schedule possibilities in a new visual form when registering for courses. With the software titled Visual Schedule Builder, students can select classes they want to take and the program will show all the possible schedules for those choices. Students will also have the ...

House members kill more Senate bills as revenge

Wed, 22 May 2013 14:09:29 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Members of the Texas Houses have expanded their retaliation against the Senate for failing to move their bills. A Republican lawmaker joined the fray Wednesday by targeting minor bills by Granbury Republican Sen. Brian Birdwell. Rep. Debbie Riddle announced she would filibuster each of his proposed laws unless Birdwell moved forward on bills affecting Harris County. Houston ...

Putting a face to Big Tex Design phase completed on new icon

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:58:12 -0400

A scene from a State Fair Video on how the new face of Big Tex was computer designed. What will the new Big Tex look like? Well, now we can sort of put a face to him. Officials with the State Fair of Texas have released another video, this one showing the design of Big Tex's face and hat. The Fair has been working on designing and building a new Big Tex since October when the longtime Fair ...

Retail gasoline prices across Texas up 2 cents

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:21 -0400

AAA Texas on Wednesday reported the average price at the pump reached $3.43 per gallon. Nationwide retail gasoline prices jumped 6 cents this week to hit $3.66 per ...

Float driver says train seemed still before crash

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:21 -0400

MIDLAND, Texas (AP) -- The driver of a parade float struck by a train in a Texas crash that killed four military veterans told federal investigators that the oncoming train appeared to be ...

Dallas woman indicted college financial aid scam

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:20 -0400

DALLAS (AP) -- A North Texas woman has been charged with scamming six schools by getting thousands of dollars in financial aid and not completing any online ...

States reach settlement with Penguin on ebooks

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:51:20 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says his office has settled a lawsuit the state had filed against Penguin Group Inc., accusing America's largest book publishers of colluding with Apple Inc. to raise ebook prices on ...

Fitch Affirms El Paso Pipeline Operating Co. and Pipeline Subs. Outlook Stable

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:45:05 -0400

Fitch: Recession Concern Dampens European Investor Sentiment An increasing number of investors expect fundamental credit conditions will deteriorate across sectors, according to a Fitch Ratings investor survey. The more circumspect sentiment was most notable for the sovereign segment, where the proportion of survey respondents anticipating worsening conditions more than doubled to 55%, from 24% ...

Table Project site sold to Dallas church

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:38:34 -0400

The Table Project, a Minneapolis-based social network tailored to church communities, is now the property of one such community, Dallas-based Gateway Church. Terms were not disclosed. Until now, the Table Project was a nonprofit organization and a subsidiary of Christian umbrella group Real Resources. Gateway, in announcing it had acquired the Table Project, added that it will continue running ...

Kingsville police looking for man who robbed woman with a knife Wednesday

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:33:37 -0400

KINGSVILLE -- Kingsville police are looking for a man who robbed a woman with a knife Wednesday morning. The woman told police she was assaulted and robbed near the 4000 block of South Brahma Boulevard between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., police said. Police said the man fled on foot. The man is described as a white man in his 20s or 30s with a medium build. He is about 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 6 ...

Whats left for the time-strapped Texas Legislature Plenty

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:25:37 -0400

Senate Joint Resolution 1 Debate on this water bill continues in Austin today. This bill would put a constitutional amendment on the November ballot asking voters to consider creating a $2 billion fund to pay for water infrastructure and water conservation projects in Texas. It continues to meet resistance and has caused confusion with some lawmakers because its tied in with other bills. The ...

InGenesis Alamo Travel Group among fastest growing inner-city firms

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:23:58 -0400

Veronica Edwards, CEO of InGenesis, leads one of the fastest-growing Inner City firms in the country. Two San Antonio companies have been ranked among the fastest growing inner city companies in the U.S. by Fortune magazine and the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC). InGenesis, a staffing and management consulting company founded in 1998, ranked No. 4 on the list while the Alamo ...

Humana to open mail-order pharmacy create 620 jobs in Irving

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:13:36 -0400

Humana plans to open a mail-order pharmacy in August, which is expected to create 620 jobs in Irving. Louisville, Ky.-based health and wellness company Humana Inc. announced Wednesday it plans to open a mail order pharmacy call center and support operation in Irving that is expected to create more than 620 new jobs over the next three years. RightSource, Humana's pharmacy management company, ...

Roundup Web developer locks in space at Stonecliff

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:07:27 -0400

Here is a roundup listing of recent deals and announcements in the Austin real estate market since last Wednesday: BSR Trust LLC, an owner and operator of multifamily properties in the southeastern and south central United States, purchased the Heritage at Hillcrest Apartment Homes, 1200 Broadmoor Drive. The 286-unit apartment community built in 1969 and renovated in 2009 sits on 9.6 acres in ...

Solar-powered plane expected at DFW Airport early Thursday

Wed, 22 May 2013 13:00:03 -0400

The Solar Impulse , an experimental, sun-powered airplane attempting a cross-country flight across America, is expected to take off early today from Phoenix for a record-breaking flight to Dallas/Fort Worth ...

Police Pastor arrested on sex-assault charges

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:59:44 -0400

FORT WORTH, Texas -; A pastor in Virginia has been arrested in the wake of claims by two women that he sexually assaulted them as juveniles in North ...

Enerjex sells off oil leases in Eastern Kansas

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:59:39 -0400

EnerJex Resources has sold off two non-core oil leases for $450,000. EnerJex Resources Inc., a domestic oil producer, has sold two non-core oil leases in Eastern Kansas for $450,000. The properties are located outside of EnerJexs core operating areas, and their transaction is expected to lower the companys unit-operating expenses, company officials said Wednesday. The company did not identify the ...

Which brands are the most valuable in the world

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:53:21 -0400

Apple is the world's most valuable brand, worth an estimated $185 billion. Apple Inc. is once again the worlds most valuable brand, worth an estimated $185 billion. Thats the latest estimate from the analysts at BrandZ, who just released its 2013 list of the 100 most valuable brands. Coming in second was Google Inc., whose brand is worth an estimated $113.6 billion. The study, commissioned by ...

Valero refinery in Oklahoma unaffected by tornado

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:51:55 -0400

A file photo of a Valero refinery. Company officials announced that its refinery in Ardmore, Okla. was unaffected by the recent tornado. Valero Energy Corp. said its refinery in Ardmore, Okla., was unaffected by the tornado that tore through the nearby town of Moore on Monday, killing at least 24 people. All employees at the 87,400 barrel-per-day refinery are safe and accounted for, company ...

Texas House remembers Sherman Hemsley

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:36:56 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Legislature has honored actor Sherman Hemsley, the man best known for playing the role of George Jefferson on The ...

Valero spinoff CST reports gain in quarterly income

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:22:44 -0400

CST Brands Inc., the company that owns 1,900 Valero Corner Stores, posted a gain in first quarter net income. San Antonio-based retailer CST Brands Inc., a recent spinoff from refiner Valero Energy Corp., on Wednesday posted a 33 percent profit increase for its first quarter as a public company. CST (NYSE: CST) operator of the Valero Corner Stores retail outlets reported earnings of $21 million ...

Nueces County commissioners look at Austin legislation

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:18:55 -0400

CORPUS CHRISTI -- The Nueces County Commissioners Court is meeting Wednesday to hear a slew of updates on legislation affecting its jurisdiction. The windstorm insurance bill died, but a new windstorm bill could be introduced if lawmakers were called back to Austin during the summer by Gov. Rick Perry, said Coastal Windstorm Taskforce chairman Charlie Zahn. A bill that would allow ...

Hot summer means high demand for power

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:14:36 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Its time to start planning for high temperatures and possible power outages. The start of another hot summer and expected spikes in electricity demand has the Electric Reliability Council of Texas advising the states businesses and residents to conserve energy. ERCOT is responsible for overseeing the states electricity grid and meeting the demands of 23 million Texas customers 85 ...

Six Flags ready to get off economic roller coaster

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:08:58 -0400

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is one of the theme parks that is benefitting from an influx of capital investment. Six Flags has endured more than its share of economic uncertainty over the last several years. The theme park company, which operates Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio, was saddled with deep debt by previous management, which drove it into bankruptcy. Then came the recession, which cost ...

Apple to build U.S.-made Macs in Texas

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:55:49 -0400

Fingerprint sensor? See what Apple Inc. has planned for the next iPhone. Production for iPhone 5S expected to begin this summer. When Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook announced late last year that the tech company wanted to bring some manufacturing back to the United States, it raised the question of where? Now we know: Texas. Cook talked about location during his Senate committee appearance yesterday, ...

Texas reaches settlement with Penguin over E-books

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:54:53 -0400

Texas and 32 other states have reached a multistate antitrust settlement with Penguin Group (USA) Inc. over allegations that the company colluded with Apple Inc. over E-book pricing. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott and 32 other states and territories have agreed to settle their antitrust lawsuits against Penguin Group (USA) Inc. over allegations Penguin and Apple Inc. colluded to manipulate ...

Killer of off-duty Houston officer loses appeal

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:50:44 -0400

HOUSTON (AP) — The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has rejected an appeal from a Vietnamese refugee sent to death row for the slaying of a Houston police officer shot during a robbery while working his off hours as a clerk at his family's convenience store.The state's highest criminal court Wednesday refused an appeal from 36-year-old Chuong Duong Tong as improper and dismissed ...

Drug-testing OKd for jobless benefits

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:42:04 -0400

Creighton said the proposed law was carefully designed to be constitutional, adding that only first-time applicants working in occupations that require drug tests would undergo screening. Applicants who test positive could ask for a retest or keep their benefits if they enroll in a treatment program within seven days. Otherwise, the person could reapply after 30 ...

Goodman Networks Multiband agree to $116M merger deal

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:42:03 -0400

Goodman Networks Executive Chairman John Goodman and Scott Pickett, CMO and executive vice president of strategic planning and mergers and acquisitions. Plano-based Goodman Networks is acquiring Multiband Corp. in an all-cash deal valued at roughly $116 million, the companies announced Wednesday. Goodman Networks, a privately held provider of telecommunications networks, will pay $3.25 per ...

FaceCake unveils breakthrough technology at Austin Fashion Week with The Swivel

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:37:35 -0400

technology continues to move into the modern era, subsequent industries are nipping at one another's heels. The demand to remain a front-runner is taxing; companies are forced to merge assets and ideas to remain at the head of their class. One example of this progressive thinking is the breakthrough technology of the Swivel, created ...

Cannes The Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:37:00 -0400

I. First, Something About the Badges (Then We’ll Get to the Coens) Someday I’m going to write a song and call it "Ballad of the Blue Badge." I haven’t figured out a rhyme scheme yet, let alone a melody, so please allow this outline to suffice: At Cannes, the color of your badge determines the ease with which you’re able to gain entry to any of the 1,001 ...

Search Underway after Deadly Texas Twisters

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:35:43 -0400

Massive cleanup is underway in Texas after a swarm of 16 tornadoes ripped through the state Wednesday night. At least six people are dead and several are still missing. Entire neighborhoods are still cordoned off as rescue teams and police with cadaver dogs to search for survivors in the debris. The storms battered the region, turning homes into rubble. The devastation is spread across four ...

Drug-testing for jobless benefits passes

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:33:02 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) The Texas House has approved a bill that allows the state to drug test unemployment applicants. But Democrats successfully used a parade of stalling tactics to run out the clock on a similar measure mandating such screening for welfare applicants. Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, sponsored the proposal approved late Tuesday night. It would require applicants to answer a ...

Dont make this common social-media mistake

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:32:39 -0400

Never put social media in a corner, said Birmingham Business Journal guest blogger Joey Beachum. When it comes to using social media for a business, there are a lot of mistakes that most people know to avoid bad-mouthing a customer, deleting a critical comment or posting risqu pictures on the official company accounts, to name a few. However, what about mistakes we dont even know we are making? ...

Central Freight Lines is going CNG for its truck fleet

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:25:07 -0400

Two of the trucks operated by Central Freight Lines that run on CNG. Another giant fleet is going with compressed natural gas Waco-based Central Freight Lines, Inc. recently purchased 100 CNG trucks and will add a CNG fueling station to its facility in Fort Worth later this year. The 2014 Freightliners run on 100 percent CNG as opposed to many diesel conversions that run on dual-fuel, a mixture ...

1 killed 3 students hurt in school bus accident

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:24:48 -0400

WILLS POINT, Texas (AP) -- One driver has been killed and three students injured when a car drifted into oncoming traffic and struck a school bus in East ...

Texas pastor pleads guilty to online soliciting

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:24:39 -0400

MARSHALL, Texas (AP) -- An East Texas pastor faces up to 10 years in prison for an online chat from church with an alleged 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a Louisiana ...

NCAA upholds penalty of ex Texas Southern coach

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:17:46 -0400

HOUSTON - The NCAA Division I Infractions Appeals Committee has upheld a three-year show-cause order for former Texas Southern football coach Johnnie Cole.Cole was given the order for failing to promote an atmosphere for compliance and the order prohibits him from all on- and off-campus recruiting activities until October 2015. He contested that finding, but the committee found that the ...

Medical device developer Inova Labs raises $12M financing

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:09:45 -0400

Inova Labs Inc. has completed a $12 million round of financing from six investors. Austin-based Inova Labs Inc. has completed a $12 million round of financing. The medical device developer collected the capital from six investors, according to a Wednesday filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Inova Labs, which launched in 2002, is an affiliate of International Biophysics Corp., ...

Mental health exam ordered for ex-paramedic

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:07:19 -0400

WEST, Texas-A judge in West Texas has ordered that a mental health evaluation be done for a former paramedic who's accused of possessing bomb-making material. The Waco Tribune-Herald reports ...

IRS official Lerner I did nothing wrong invokes her 5th amendment rights

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:06:21 -0400

WASHINGTON -- The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups has told Congress she did nothing wrong and has invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. Lois Lerner, who heads the office that decides whether groups qualify for tax exemptions, invoked her Fifth Amendment right against ...

Flamingos ready for pick up at South Texas Botanical Gardens Nature Center

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:06:21 -0400

photos by Paul Iverson/Special to the Caller-Times Artist Tracy Mazour decorated these "Flockettes" for the annual Flamingo Fandango ...

Corpus Christi woman pleads guilty Tuesday to tax fraud of more than $560000

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:06:11 -0400

Rhonda Hartmann was indicted in September on three counts of making or presenting fraudulent tax refund claims in 2006, 2007 and ...

KCI marketing new post-surgical wound-care device

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:05:39 -0400

Kinetic Concepts Inc. has released a new medical device that should help patients recovery from surgery faster with fewer infections. The device is known as the Prevena Peel and Place Dressing with V.A.C. Therapy Connector. The company cited two recently published independent studies on the Prevena system that showed favorable clinical outcomes in patients at risk for post-operative ...

IRS Official Lois Lerner I Have Not Done Anything Wrong

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:37:37 -0400

"I have not done anything wrong," she said. "I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations. And I have not provided false information to this or any other congressional committee."Lerner adds that she invoke her 5th Amendment right and "will not answer any of the questions or testify ...

Woman dies after being struck by car while crossing Arlington street

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:06 -0400

The victim was identified as Becky Breaux, 57, of Arlington, who died at a local hospital shortly after the incident, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office website on ...

Maybe some good things will come from all the “scandals”

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:05 -0400

were saved, or the fact that the Benghazi post was more a CIA operation than a diplomatic one. CIA operatives posing as diplomats are nothing new, but that could explain the need for talking points. I’d like to know more about that than the things congressional committees are ...

A day after Oklahoma’s disaster some Tea Partiers’ top concern is the IRS

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:05 -0400

bud@star-telegram.com One day after a devastating Oklahoma tornado, some Tea Party groups chose prayer and relief work over a scheduled IRS ...

Fort Worth considering new pay arrangement for injured officer

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:05 -0400

FORT WORTH — The city is considering withdrawing extended leave pay for a police officer who remains paralyzed after being shot on the job more than 10 years ago, a move that would effectively force her into medical retirement and pare what she makes today, the officer and the president of the Fort Worth Police Officers Association said ...

FBI Man fatally shot in Boston bombing probe

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:34:00 -0400

Investigators stand outside an apartment complex where a man was fatally shot when a team of FBI agents swarmed his home early Wednesday, May 22, 2013, in Orlando, Fla. The FBI says the man, being questioned by authorities in the Boston bombing probe, was fatally shot when he initiated a violent confrontation. (AP Photo/John ...

Solar plane departs Phoenix on 2nd leg of US trip

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:25:11 -0400

PHOENIX — A solar-powered plane is flying from Arizona to Texas on the second leg of a trip across the United States. The Solar Impulse is making the first attempt by a solar airplane capable of flying day and night without fuel to fly across the U.S. The plane took off from Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport at 4:47 a.m. MST Wednesday and is scheduled to arrive in Dallas ...

Texas-based Airmans Family Takes Steps to Help Tornado Victims

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:24:10 -0400

By Air Force Airman 1st Class John D. Partlow47th Flying Training Wing LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas, May 22, 2013 Efforts to help people who were injured or lost their homes began almost immediately after a deadly tornado struck Moore, Okla., May 20. One of those willing to help was Air Force Tech. Sgt. Shane Buss, the 47th Flying Training Wing's equal opportunity noncommissioned ...

Defense begins in Texas judicial bribery scandal

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:11:19 -0400

BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) -- Federal prosecutors have rested in the corruption trial of a former South Texas district attorney charged with helping a crooked ...

Austin co. develops 3-D food printer for NASA

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:03:31 -0400

Astronauts may chow down on food produced through a 3-D printer in the near future. An Austin tech company has won a $125,000 grant from NASA to develop a 3-D printer that creates food for astronauts. Systems and Materials Research Corp. received the funding to research combining powders to produce a digital recipe. The printer-produced food would have the same texture and smell as real food, The ...

Live on Caller.com Whats happening Wednesday

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:52:37 -0400

COASTAL BEND -- The Coastal Compass Education and Career Resource Center will have its formal opening Wednesday at La Palmera Mall. According to the officials, the facility is expected to help Coastal Bend residents "discover their direction" while preparing for college or workforce. Our Elaine Marsilio will be there for the 1:30 p.m. opening and we expect to hear from Corpus ...

Diabetes-friendly recipe Baked Ziti

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:52:28 -0400

CORPUS CHRISTI -- BAKED ZITI Yields 4 servings INGREDIENTS 1 lb 96 percent lean ground beef cup chopped onions 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup water cup no-added-salt tomato paste 1 tsp. Italian seasoning 1/16 tsp. black pepper 4 oz dry ziti 2 oz fat-free shredded mozzarella cheese DIRECTIONS 1 Preheat oven to 350F. In a 10 inch skillet over medium heat, cook the beef, ...

Texas bill that modifies concealed handgun licenses moves to House

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:52:26 -0400

AUSTIN -- Concealed handgun license holders in Texas would be allowed to carry a revolver or semi-automatic pistol, regardless of what they trained with on the shooting range under a bill advancing in the Texas Legislature. Current law certifies license holders to carry only the type of gun they used to get their license. The bill by Sen. Craig Estes, a Wichita Falls Republican, would allow ...

Jodi Arias speaks to jury doesnt want death penalty

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:52:09 -0400

In this image made from pool video provided by APTN, Jodi Arias reacts during the reading of the verdict in at Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix, Wednesday, May 8, 2013. Arias was convicted of first-degree murder in the gruesome killing of her one-time boyfriend in Arizona after a four-month trial that captured headlines with lurid tales of sex, lies, religion and a salacious relationship ...

House gets ready for major budget vote

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:39:35 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) In the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature, a furious final week is being dominated by distrust, deadlines and delays. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he takes House leaders at their word, and that delicate pieces of a complicated budget deal will be passed. A big test comes Wednesday. That is when the House is expected to finally take up a new state water plan that is crucial to a ...

Massive tornadoes that hit Oklahoma Texas blamed on stubborn jet stream

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:19:21 -0400

View results The same weather phenomenon that brought unusually cold temperatures to the East Coast this spring is being blamed for the massive and devastating tornadoes that tore through Oklahoma this week: A jet stream that refused to leave.Weather forecasters tracked this year’s jet stream - the pattern of high-altitude winds - as moving farther south, and staying farther south, for a ...

Tim Duncan Tony Parker and San Antonio Spurs survive Game Two overtime to beat Memphis Grizzlies

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:08:35 -0400

Spurs lead series 2-0 The San Antonio Spurs clung on to beat the Memphis Grizzlies in Game Two overtime to take a 2-0 Western Conference finals series lead.For three quarters the Grizzlies looked like they were going to be on the end of a second successive blowout, down by 15 points at half-time and going into the final stanza still down by 12. Tony Parker had a playoff career high 18 assists to ...

Even small business is bigger in Texas

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:58:35 -0400

As more entrepreneurs flock to the state, experts are pointing to a combination of growth-friendly conditions that have small businesses growing in, and messing with, ...

Senate OKs legislation to cut business taxes

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:56:48 -0400

The Texas Senate passed three bills on Tuesday to cut business taxes. The Senate version of House Bill 500 gives businesses with revenue of less than $1 million a permanent exemption from paying the state's franchise tax, and gives all businesses a 5 percent rate cut over the next two years, the Austin American-Statesman reports. House Bill 800, which gives companies a choice between a ...

Lufkin restaurant worker hit by lightning dies

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:35 -0400

LUFKIN, Texas (AP) -- An East Texas restaurant worker standing outside the eatery and holding an umbrella during a storm has died after being hit by ...

Largest NC school district names 3 finalists

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:30 -0400

CARY, N.C. (AP) -- North Carolina's largest school district is picking a superintendent among three finalists from Texas, Virginia Beach, and the state's second-largest school ...

Suspect in Dallas-area double slayings found in NM

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:53:29 -0400

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (AP) -- A man suspected of killing his girlfriend and her teenage daughter at their Dallas-area home has been captured in New ...

Boy Scouts to open two-day meeting in Texas to decide whether to allow openly gay Scouts

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:46:28 -0400

GRAPEVINE, Texas - The Boy Scouts of America will convene a two-day meeting of 1,400 local leaders to consider changing its long-standing ban on allowing openly gay boys to don the Boy Scouts uniform. Officials of the Irving, Texas-based organization are scheduled to open the first of the ballots cast on whether to allow openly gay Scouts. Scouting officials propose allowing openly gay Scouts ...

Charge investigation of Texas fertilizer blast hampered by in-fighting

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:38:30 -0400

The federal safety agency investigating the West Fertilizer Company explosion in Texas has accused other investigators of hampering his agency's work. Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board said in a letter that the Texas state fire marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives blocked access to key witnesses for three weeks after the April ...

Second phase of Mary Rhodes Pipeline going smoothly official says

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:35:41 -0400

Indeed, our Regional Water Planning Group has used money from the state to pay a consultant to study sources of groundwater and other alternative means of increasing and insuring our area's water supply for many years. To hire another consultant at the City's expense would only duplicate the efforts. In fact, the City Council long has had a delegate to Region N: Mark Scott. Did he quit? ...

Jackson too creepy for Clippers MAY 22

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:34:08 -0400

Lakers executive Jeanie Buss. While the source insisted it wasn't a reflection on Jackson's coaching ability, it would simply be "too creepy" for ...

LeBron knows Indy can beat the Heat MAY 22

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:34:07 -0400

Heat by not calling Miami just another team. LeBron is looking for an emotional edge because he knows Miami's physical edge is much less ...

Sixers owner would consider Bynums return MAY 22

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:34:07 -0400

Sixers have exclusive rights to negotiate with [Bynum], who earned $16.5 million despite not playing at all last season due to knee injuries. Free agency begins July 1. ... If ...

COTA to city of Austin help us win X Games bid

Wed, 22 May 2013 08:25:16 -0400

Sixteen of the competing X Games athletes live in Austin, COTA President Steve Sexton told City Council, the Statesman reports. Circuit of The Americas is asking the city of Austin to endorse ESPN's summer X Games so the sports facility can apply for money from Texas' Major Events Trust Fund. COTA President Steve Sexton estimates the circuit may seek about $800,000 a year from the fund, ...

Council shelves plan for Austin Energy independent board

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:47:26 -0400

Mayor Lee Leffingwell said the current plan to create an independent board would add bureaucracy, making things less efficient. The plan to create an independent board to oversee Austin Energy has been grounded, as concerns rise over whether such a board would add bureaucracy and make things less efficient. I think for the good of the Utility, we would be better off just withdrawing this whole ...

Hip hop artist Timbaland invests in Austin app developer

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:47:19 -0400

An Austin-based music software company has received backing from hip hop heavyweight Timbaland. The artist and music producer is the lead investor in a $500,000 investment in Open Labs Inc., which develops StageLight, an app that enables users to create music on a standard PC, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Timbaland, whose real name is Timothy Mosley, said he has been involved with the ...

Giant solar plane flying into DFW Airport tonight

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:44:41 -0400

The SolarImpulse aircraft will land at D/FW Airport at 1 a.m. Thursday morning and will be on display for the public from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. The SolarImpulse aircraft will make history Wednesday as it flies nonstop from Phoenix to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg took off today at 4:45 a.m. from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is expected ...

Austin woman gets 50 years for attack on ex-spouse

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:42:31 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- A Central Texas woman has been sentenced to 50 years in prison for beating and shooting her ex-husband amid a child custody ...

J.C. Penney secures $2.25B loan with stores Plano HQ

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:36:06 -0400

J.C. Penney has backed a $2.25 billion loan with some of its real estate holdings. J.C. Penney Co. is expected to complete a deal on Wednesday that will allow it to borrow $2.25 billion from investors in a loan that is secured by some of the retailer's 1,000 stores, distribution centers and even its Plano headquarters. The Wall Street Journal reported the loan, which is expected to carry a ...

PASA opens theater complex in North San Antonio

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:30:06 -0400

Performing Arts San Antonio is holding a June 8 gala to celebrate the grand opening of its new theater-arts complex. Performing Arts San Antonio (PASA) has announced the grand opening of its new facility on the citys North Central Side. The complex is located at 15705 San Pedro Ave. The space will include a 100-plus theater with a large performing stage and 24-foot ceilings. The facility will ...

Corpus Christi City Council mulls options to avoid downtown flood insurance hikes damage

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:25:33 -0400

"Engineering Director Dan Biles presented three routes the city can take as the Federal Emergency Management Agency prepares to formally release drafts of its floodplain maps. An early version of the map labels downtown as a flood zone, and properties there could be required to purchase a combined $2.3 million annually in additional insurance if the council takes no action to make ...

Dish warns of national security issues if SoftBank buys Sprint

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:18:04 -0400

Dish Network has brought up national security as an issue should SoftBank acquire Sprint Nextel. Dish Network Corp.'s courting of Sprint Nextel Corp. took on a tone of international intrigue as the Colorado-based satellite entertainment company played up rival SoftBank's Corp.'s ties to China. The Kansas City Business Journal reported that an anti-SoftBank website funded by Dish ...

Texas to drug screen unemployment benefit recipients

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:15:05 -0400

Individuals in Texas who receive unemployment benefits will soon be subjected to drug testing, as a result of the passage of Senate Bill 21. Small-business advocates in Texas are hailing the passage of a bill that would allow drug testing for recipients who receive unemployment insurance benefits. Business owners are paying into a fund thats become increasingly expensive, NFIB/Texas Executive ...

Samsung spends $48M for 10 percent stake in Pantech

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:01:48 -0400

Samsung has bought a 10 percent stake in Pantech. In a move that surprised some analysts, Samsung Electronics has bought a 10 percent stake in rival Korean handset maker Pantech Co. The Wall Street Journal said Samsung's stake cost $48 million and is a sign that Samsung intends to follow a new strategy of investing in rivals and making acquisitions with some of the massive amount of cash the ...

Palmetto Bank taps San Antonios IPI for wealth-management services

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:04 -0400

Investment Professionals Inc. has been selected to provide wealth-management services for The Palmetto Bank. Investment Professionals Inc., a San Antonio company that offers of investment services to community banks, has landed a new client. San Antonio-based IPI will provide wealth-management services for The Palmetto Bank, a $1.1 billion community-oriented bank in Greenville, S.C. The bank is ...

Premont ISD gets new life with AM-Kingsville partnership

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:16:59 -0400

TODD YATES/CALLER-TIMES Michelle McClery, Premont school board members, wipes tears from her eyes after the announcement that Michael Williams, Commissioner of Education, had approved a proposal to the Texas Education Agency in a memorandum of understanding that establishes an academic partnership between Premont-ISD and Texas A&M University-Kingsville Tuesday during a press conference at ...

Column Play ball with Goodell and NFL _ or else

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:12:43 -0400

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell speaks during a news conference at the NFL football spring meetings in Boston, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise ...

Bay Bowl San Francisco to Host 50th Super Bowl

Wed, 22 May 2013 03:28:23 -0400

BOSTON ...

Feds vs. feds over Texas blast

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:26:16 -0400

Federal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel’s chairman said.In a May 17 letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer, U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso asked the California Democrat to help the board ...

Wolf set for first big league start vs. Parker As

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:06:47 -0400

Ross Wolf will not have an easy task in his first Major League start. The 30-year-old, who has 25 big league appearances but none in a starting role, will face the Athletics, who have won five straight games and are going for a series sweep of the Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. Wolf will be starting in place of Nick Tepesch, who was scratched from the start with a blister on his right middle ...

Lyles starts in rubber match against Shields Royals

Wed, 22 May 2013 02:06:43 -0400

The names and places change every five days, but the story for James Shields has been mostly the same lately. He pitches deep into the game, shutting down the opposing lineup for seven or eight innings, and he doesn't get much to show for it. The Royals will have a chance to flip the script and reward Shields with a win Wednesday night against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. Shields has ...

Welfare drug testing fails after stall

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:55:41 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) - More than an hour of delaying tactics from House Democrats has blocked a vote on a hotly debated bill that would have mandated drug testing for some welfare applicants. Lawmakers earlier Tuesday night approved a measure requiring some people seeking unemployment insurance to undergo drug screening. But a proposal requiring such testing for people enrolled in Temporary Assistance for ...

Royals end skid with 7-3 win over Astros

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:20:14 -0400

Mike Moustakas tied it with an RBI single before George Kottaras walked with the bases-loaded to drive in the go-ahead run in a four-run eighth inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 7-3 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night to end a four-game skid.The Royals trailed 3-0 and couldn't get much going offensively until the seventh when they cut the lead to one on RBI singles by ...

Arlington High grad gets full-ride scholarship from Bill Gates’ foundation

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:19:06 -0400

ARLINGTON — Derek Rodriguez broke into a happy dance last month in a corridor at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport as he and other members of the Arlington High School Band waited to board a flight to New ...

Water plan complicates passage of budget deal in Texas House

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:19:05 -0400

AUSTIN — Legislative leaders confronted more delays Tuesday in trying to finalize a state budget agreement as House members deferred action on one key component a far-reaching water plan to sidestep a fatal ...

Darvish cant save the Rangers in 1-0 loss to As

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:04:17 -0400

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish threw a cut fastball, then turned and watched the ball go over the wall. That homer by Yoenis Cespedes was the only run Darvish and the Rangers allowed, but that was all the Oakland Athletics needed to win 1-0 behind seven scoreless innings by rookie pitcher Dan Straily. "Initially, I didn't think it was a home run," Darvish ...

Norris effort Paredes first homer cant lift Astros

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:57:58 -0400

KC@HOU: Paredes launches a three-run homer to right HOUSTON -- Astros starter Bud Norris was forced to leave Tuesday night's game after six scoreless innings with tightness in his lower back. That discomfort couldn't have caused Norris nearly as much pain as what he watched unfold after he was gone. The Royals took advantage of Norris' absence and pounced on the bullpen, ...

Chemical Safety Board says ATF Texas fire marshal blocking its probe of fatal plant blast

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:49:50 -0400

WACO, Texas - Federal agents and the state fire marshal have effectively barred a federal safety panel from the site of a Texas fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people and injured about 200 others, hampering its investigation, the panel's chairman said. In a May 17 letter to Sen. Barbara Boxer, U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairman Rafael Moure-Eraso asked the California Democrat to help ...