Texas

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Judge OKs Collection of Dead Man's Sperm

Grieving mom wants son, 21, to 'live on'

(Newser) - A Texas judge has granted a grieving mother's wish to have some of her 21-year-old son's sperm collected posthumously, the Austin American-Statesman reports. Marissa Evans intends to have a grandchild from a surrogate mother. "I want him to live on," Evans said of her son, Nikolas, who died...

Mexican Drug Bucks Ensnare Texas County, Sheriff

Border sheriff faces trial for clearing the way for drug traffickers

(Newser) - Starr County on the Texas border is enjoying boom times while the rest of the country is stuck in recession, the Los Angeles Times reports. The county—still one of America's poorest—lies at the center of the cross-border drug trade, and while residents acknowledge that illicit cash has long...

Texas Gov Gets Grief Over Stimulus Rejection

(Newser) - The fallout from Texas Gov. Rick Perry's rejection of $555 million in stimulus funds for unemployment benefits could threaten his re-election bid—but as other politicians cave to public pressure, Perry has yet to waver, NPR reports. "Everything's going to be viewed through that prism," says the editor...

Tiny Town's Move May Redefine Voting Rights Act

Provision in 1965 act prevents moving polling station

(Newser) - A Supreme Court case may soon bring about a momentous change in the nation's voting laws, all because a Texas town of 3,500 moved a polling station three blocks, the Wall Street Journal reports. A local official made the switch to a more convenient location, galled that he needed...

Cop Harassed NFL Player Trying to See Dying Relative

Dallas police officer held Ryan Moats for 13 minutes outside hospital

(Newser) - A Dallas police officer drew his gun on Ryan Moats after the NFL running back ran a red light as he tried to get to the hospital where his mother-in-law was dying of cancer, the Morning News reports. Dashboard video shows officer Robert Powell held Moats, 26, for 13 minutes...

Evolution Education Under Fire in Texas

New textbooks could challenge theory, shape US curriculum

(Newser) - Texas’ Board of Education votes this week on whether to teach a science curriculum that challenges evolution—and the result could affect schools across the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Because Texas is such a huge market, textbook writers often design national material based on state standards. “This...

Texas Gov. Rejects $556M Stimulus for Jobless

Perry says coverage for unemployed would 'drown' businesses

(Newser) - The governor of Texas has rejected $556 million in federal stimulus money for the state's unemployed, saying yesterday it had too many strings attached, reports the Dallas Morning News. Rick Perry, a Republican, said that the federal rules would burden Texas businesses with new commitments; instead they should be able...

After Record US Drought, Bleak Summer Looms

Texas farmers fear poor crops, Calif. preps for increased wildfires

(Newser) - The first two months of this year have been the driest on record in the US, foreshadowing a summer of poor crops and brutal wildfires. Texas farmers have delayed planting corn and cotton, while cattle ranchers have sold off cows they can no longer feed. “It might take me...

Towns, Counties Create Own Stimulus Plans

Economists see mixed results, but local boost can be psychological

(Newser) - Across the US, cities, states, and counties aren’t waiting for Uncle Sam to jumpstart the economy, the Wall Street Journal reports. Many have devised their own, often creative, methods of stimulating local economies. One Texas town, for example, has used its budget surplus to create 250 temporary, low-paying jobs,...

Texas Cops Accused of Racist Highway Robbery

Black motorists given the choice of handing over property or facing felony charges

(Newser) - Cops in a small Texas town are accused of seizing the property of innocent black motorists to pad their salaries, the Chicago Tribune reports. A federal lawsuit alleges that Tehana police have abused the state's asset-forfeiture law—intended to penalize drug-runners—to extort money and other valuables from out-of-town drivers...

FBI Arrests High-Ranking Stanford Exec

Investment officer faces SEC obstruction charges

(Newser) - FBI agents have arrested the chief investment officer of Stanford Financial Group, accusing Laura Pendergest-Holt of obstructing an SEC fraud investigation. The SEC has been investigating allegations of an $8 billion investment fraud involving Texas billionaire R. Allen Stanford's financial group. Pendergest-Holt, arrested in Houston, will appear in court tomorrow....

Preteen Gets Her Last Wish: A Wedding

9-year-old terminal leukemia patient 'marries' best friend

(Newser) - Nine-year-old Jayla Cooper dreamed of her wedding day, and even a grim medical diagnosis couldn't keep her from her wish. The 9-year-old, suffering from an aggressive form of leukemia that has left her with just weeks to live, recently "married" her 7-year-old sweetheart, a fellow leukemia patient at...

Judge Pleads Guilty, Avoids Sex Crime Trial

Kent headed to jail, but won't lose job without impeachment

(Newser) - US District Judge Sam Kent pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice today, as part of a deal that will allow him to duck a messy trial on sex crime charges, the Houston Chronicle reports. He then retired from the bench. “A trial would have been long, embarrassing, and difficult...

Lone Star Political Clout Rides Into Sunset

After fifty years of political clout, Texas has lost its primacy as national king-maker

(Newser) - The booming voices of Texas politics have, for the first time in half a century, fallen silent, writes Bryan Burrough in the Washington Post. After vast deposits of oil wealth propelled Lone Star personalities like LBJ and both Bushes to the White House, as well as several influential leaders like...

On the 7th Day, States Look to Down Blue Laws

Economy tanked, some seek shot of revenue in Sunday booze sales

(Newser) - Recession blues could swallow blue laws, Time reports. State legislatures in Georgia, Connecticut, Texas, Alabama, and Minnesota hope lifting a ban on Sunday alcohol sales will boost revenues. But Christian activists oppose the move, saying cash-strapped families are already feeling pressure. “I don't think we need to add even...

Who Is Sir Allen Stanford (Other Than $8B Scammer)?

(Newser) - Alleged fraudster R. Allen Stanford may not have been a household name before the SEC accused him of skullduggery yesterday, but not because he’s been keeping a low profile. Calling himself “Sir” Allen Stanford ever since he was knighted in Antigua in 2006, the colorful financier is the...

Peanut Corp Closes Texas Plant
 Peanut Corp Closes Texas Plant 
Feb 10, 2009 10:56 AM CST

Peanut Corp Closes Texas Plant

Firm linked to salmonella outbreak suspends operations at 2nd facility

(Newser) - The peanut company at the center of an investigation into a deadly national salmonella outbreak said today that it has suspended operations at a second processing plant. Peanut Corp. of America said in a statement that it was voluntarily suspending operations at its Plainview, Texas, plant while state and federal...

Google Earth Sparks Texas Treasure Dispute

(Newser) - A California man who used Google Earth to locate a 19th century Spanish treasure ship is suing for the right to excavate on private land, ABC News reports. Nathan Smith drove to Refugio, Texas, after spotting evidence—what it was isn’t clear—from a satellite photo. The case of...

'Baby Grace' Mother Gets Life
'Baby Grace' Mother
Gets Life
Feb 3, 2009 1:44 AM CST

'Baby Grace' Mother Gets Life

Trenor found guilty of murder in daughter's beating death

(Newser) - It took a jury less than two hours to find Kimberly Dawn Trenor guilty of capital murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, the Houston Chronicle reports. Prosecutors declined to seek the death penalty, meaning Trenor, 20, will serve life without parole. "She will die in prison with...

Prosecution in 'Baby Grace' Trial to Call Final Witness

Mother faces life in prison for toddler's murder

(Newser) - Prosecutors will call their final witness today in the case against Kimberly Dawn Trenor, the Texas mother accused of beating her 2-year-old daughter to death, the AP reports. The Galveston County medical examiner will testify today as the prosecution finishes presenting evidence that Trenor, 20, with her husband, killed Riley...

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