Friday, August 29, 2014

Black man taken to jail for sitting in public area

Abbott backs out of debate, accepts new debate invitation Jason Whitely, WFAA and KVUE.com 6:29 p.m. CDT August 29, 2014

Key part of Texas abortion law halted by federal judge By PAUL J. WEBER, Associated Press Published: August 29, 2014, 4:55 pm Updated: August 29, 2014, 7:47 pm

Hospitals Say They've Lost Insured Patients to Urgent Care

Hospitals Say They've Lost Insured Patients to Urgent Care

Opting to skip the wait at hospital emergency rooms, an increasing number of Texans are choosing to use urgent care centers that are popping up in strip malls and shopping districts.

Promoting themselves as cheaper and quicker alternatives to hospital emergency rooms, the clinics cater to patients who need stitches, X-rays of broken bones or treatment of allergic reactions. Some clinics have been around for years, and about 300 open each year across the country.

The increasing number of urgent care centers is proving problematic for Texas hospitals. Hospitals say they are competing with the clinics for the same pool of insured Texans, at a time when they are also getting less money to cover the cost of treating uninsured patients.

“Competition is generally a good thing, but it needs to be a level playing field,” said John Hawkins, senior vice president for government relations for the Texas Hospital Association.

The clinics, he said, are at an advantage because, unlike hospitals, they can treat only patients with insurance or who can pay for the care. The clinics typically do not accept Medicaid, while hospitals are required to treat every patient in their ERs. Urgent care providers contend that they are expanding access to emergency-like care while helping to alleviate long ER wait times, particularly for patients who are not in life-threatening situations.

“Emergency rooms have been great for the country in providing emergency care, but obviously most of us aren’t dealing with true emergencies on a daily basis,” said Dr. Jon L. Belsher, chief medical officer for MedSpring Urgent Care clinics, based in Texas.

In a state with six million uninsured residents, unpaid ER bills contribute to the $5 billion in uncompensated costs, the Texas Hospital Association estimates hospitals are left with each year. Hawkins said this legal responsibility was a financial liability for hospitals struggling with low reimbursement rates from the government on top of uncompensated care costs.

There are more than 450 hospitals in Texas. The Urgent Care Association of America said 435 urgent care facilities are in Texas.

The increased competition comes at a time when hospitals face additional cuts under the Affordable Care Act.

In an attempt to finance an expansion of Medicaid under the health reform law, the federal government is reducing payments to hospitals for uncompensated care. But Texas declined to expand Medicaid to provide health insurance for poor adults, leaving hospitals in the state with less money to serve virtually the same uninsured population.

The state Legislature decided last year to help cover uncompensated care by fully financing a pool of Medicaid payments in the state’s 2014-15 budget to reimburse health care providers for care provided to uninsured and Medicaid patients. But Texas hospitals argue that they are seeing little long-term relief because urgent care clinics are attracting an increasing number of insured patients who would have gone to hospitals.

While the increase in urgent care centers precedes the Affordable Care Act, clinics like MedSpring have grown rapidly in recent years. Since 2011, MedSpring has opened 12 urgent care centers in Texas.

“There is more and more of a need for alternative venues where people can be evaluated and treated,” Belsher said. “And urgent care centers are one of those venues.”

This story was produced in partnership with Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy research and communication organization not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Disclosure: The Texas Hospital Association is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here. 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/29/competing-patients-urgent-care-centers-worry-hospi/.

Battleground Texas 3 hrs · "We believe this state is best when every eligible voter is able to make their voice heard." — Executive Director Jenn Brown Not sure how to register to vote? Watch this video and make sure you're ready to hit the polls this fall: http://j.mp/1qNy3Wp

UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Analysis: To Debate or Not to Debate?

Analysis: To Debate or Not to Debate?

Editor's note: This has been updated to note that the Abbott campaign as accepted another debate offer for Sept. 30.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott reneged on an agreement to a televised statewide roundtable-style debate Friday, accepting a different offer on the same date in a format more to his liking. His representatives told Dallas’ WFAA-TV that the campaign had changed its mind and would only participate in a debate with structured, timed answers and no back-and-forth between the candidates. The station, which had partnered with The Texas Tribune, wanted to stick with a conversational format, and the deal fell apart. But late Friday afternoon, Abbott accepted another debate offer in a format that suits him, from KERA-TV, The Dallas Morning News, NBC/KXAS-TV, and Telemundo 39 on the same date as the WFAA proposal. 

This is not necessarily the end of the matter. Campaigns argue about debates all the time. It has the advantage of showing them in conflict — who doesn’t want to look like a fighter — without getting too close to subject matter that voters actually care about. 

It does tell you something about where the Republicans think they are in this race. Abbott, the state’s attorney general, is essentially conducting an incumbent’s campaign, using his position to dictate the rules of engagement. Wendy Davis, the Democrat in the race, is attacking one of his rulings as a judge and his role in the oversight of a cancer research fund. He is running biographical spots with an endorsement from his mother-in-law. A debate with a big audience, especially one with open interaction between the candidates, would give Davis a forum and a chance to draw a contrast and maybe, get voters to give the race another look. Why fuel an opponent?

And why debate, anyway?

Want to make Texas’ sorry voter turnout look vigorous? Compare it with the number of people who watch political debates on television.

People watch highlight reels, when highlights exist, and otherwise lead their happy and productive lives while minimizing interruptions from ambitious carpers struggling for their attention. If anything newsworthy happens in the debate, they can find out later from professional or amateur or social media. Word will get out, if it needs to.

Those newsworthy events will probably be permanent, too, because nothing ever seems to die on the internet. That increased risk gives candidates new reasons to fear what might go wrong when the public is watching.

Here’s the thing about debates, forums and conversations and whatnot. If your concern is purely competitive — as it is for candidates and the people who work for them — these public appearances are full of opportunity and risk. Underdogs want more debates, so that voters might notice them or front-runners might stumble. Front-runners want fewer of them — for exactly the same reasons.

If your concern is more consumer-oriented — as it is for voters who want to make sure that they are putting the right people in office and that those people know what it is that the voters want — events like these offer a chance to compare and contrast the people seeking office. That one is smart. This one is a jerk. That other one is pretty weird, but charismatic.

Game-changing debates are relatively rare, but debates often produce moments that are important even when they don’t determine the outcome of races. Gov. Rick Perry’s famous “oops” moment during the last presidential primaries was not when his campaign actually came to pieces. His standing among the candidates had already dropped dramatically as voters became concerned about whether he was prepared for the job. “Oops” was mere punctuation, an accident that brought those concerns into sharp focus.

Skipping or limiting debates is both common and, for the candidate hitting the brakes, pretty safe. Perry never debated Bill White before the 2010 general election. George W. Bush only debated once when he was running for re-election in 1998 and did it on a Friday night during football season when the differences between he and Democrat Garry Mauro would draw the least amount of attention. Hardly anyone noticed.

But the Rose Garden strategy — named for keeping the incumbent president at home instead of on the road during an election where mistakes are feared — does not always work. Republican upstart Ted Cruz, running a long-shot campaign for U.S. Senate against Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in 2012, accepted every invitation he could, whether it involved 100 people at a fish fry or a handful of people in a small-town civic club. And he beat the drum about it, to the point where Republican voters were asking openly why Dewhurst was ignoring them and ducking chances of appearing with Cruz. It was a year built on grass roots, and Dewhurst missed the signals.

Abbott, limiting debates, is keeping with a long line of candidates in Texas races who have decided the risks of public debates outweigh the rewards of voters’ attention to those events.

This year, when state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, decided to interrupt Dewhurst’s plans for re-election, he did what Cruz had done. This time, Dewhurst appeared at dozens of forums with Patrick and the other candidates in the primary. Voters decided to go with the new guy, illustrating the risk to an incumbent who shares the spotlight.

Patrick, who wanted voters to compare the candidates during the primaries, has apparently decided enough is enough. Now that he is the Republican nominee and the front-runner, his opponent, Democrat Leticia Van de Putte, is clamoring for more debates.

Patrick has agreed to one. That, his campaign says, is plenty.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/29/analysis-debate-or-not-debate/.

Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Abortion Regulation

Federal Judge Strikes Down Texas Abortion Regulation

Editor's note: This story has been updated througout.

A federal judge on Friday struck down new requirements for Texas abortion facilities — a decision that could have shuttered all but a few abortion clinics in the state. The standards were set to go into effect Monday.

The lawsuit was brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of several abortion providers, asking U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel of the District Court for the Western District of Texas to block the last provision of House Bill 2, which would have required abortion facilities to meet the same standards as ambulatory surgical centers. Those include minimum sizes for rooms and doorways and having pipelines for anesthesia.

The law, which was passed by the Republican-led Legislature last year, included several strict abortion regulations that are already in effect. 

In his ruling, Yeakel wrote that the law's ambulatory surgical center requirements "burdens Texas women in a way incompatible with the principles of personal freedom and privacy protected by the United States Constitution for the 40 years since Roe v. Wade." 

Yeakel also said the state had reached a "tipping point" in limiting access to abortion in the state when viewed in the context of the other state-imposed regulations. The regulations Yeakel mentioned include a 24-hour waiting period for abortions and requiring doctors to perform a sonogram on a woman at least 24 before she has an abortion.

"The court is firmly convinced that the State has placed unreasonable obstacles in the path of a woman's ability to obtain a previability abortion," Yeakel wrote.

Advocates of abortion rights quickly celebrated Yeakel's decision, admonishing the state's Republican leadership for attempting to "eradicate access to safe, legal and timely abortion care."

"There was no justification for the medically unnecessary regulations in HB2, no demonstrated problem with safety in our state’s already well-regulated abortion clinics," said Heather Busby, director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas.

State Sen. Wendy Davis, the Democratic candidate for governor, said the ruling was a "victory for women's health care."

"These decisions should only be made between a woman, her doctor and her God — not Austin politicians like Attorney General Greg Abbott, who would make abortion illegal even in cases of rape and incest," said Davis, whose hours-long filibuster last summer pushed the law regulating abortions into the national spotlight.

The move temporarily stalled the bill, but the Legislature passed about a month later.

Lauren Bean, spokeswoman for the Texas attorney general's office, said the state would "seek immediate relief" from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Abbott is the Republican gubernatorial candidate.

A request for comment from Abbott's campaign wasn't immediately returned.

Opponents of abortion said they were confident that the 5th Circuit would uphold the provision. 

"We are disappointed that the court did not uphold House Bill 2 in its entirety," said Joe Pojman, executive director of Texas Alliance for Life. "This means that beginning Sept. 1, women considering abortion will not receive all of the protections from threats to their health and safety that were intended by the Legislature and Governor [Rick] Perry."

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said in a statement that Yeakel's ruling "undermines a concerted effort to improve health care for women in Texas" by improving safety standards at abortion clinics.

During five days of trial earlier this month, the clinics argued that the final provision would have created an unconstitutional barrier for women seeking access to abortion, leaving no abortion providers south or west of San Antonio. State attorneys contended that there wasn’t enough evidence that the rules create an “undue burden” for the majority of women seeking abortions.

There are currently 19 abortion clinics in Texas — down from 40 before the bill took effect. Six of the existing abortion facilities in Texas, all in major cities, meet the requirements, and Planned Parenthood is expected to soon open an additional clinic in Dallas.

Abortion providers previously unsuccessfully challenged the law’s admitting privileges provision, which requires all doctors who perform abortion procedures to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of an abortion clinic.

The current lawsuit also asked the court to suspend the admitting privileges requirement for two clinics that shut down because of it: Whole Woman’s Health in McAllen and Reproductive Services in El Paso. 

In his decision, Yeakel ruled in favor of granting the two clinics an exemption from this provision of the law. He wrote that women in these community would be "most heavily" affected because of long travel distances that could exceed 500 miles, high poverty levels and "other issues uniquely associated with minority and immigrant populations."

In light of the ruling, Amy Hagstrom Miller, CEO and founder of Whole Woman's Health, said her team is working to reopen the McAllen clinic in the next two days.

"We can reopen our McAllen clinic and see the women who need us in that community," Hagstrom Miller said during a call with reporters. "We already had at least two women that we knew were already traveling from McAllen all the way to San Antonio to get care this weekend. and they were the first people we called."

Christine Ayala contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/29/federal-judge-strikes-down-texas-abortion-regulati/.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Real human skull donated to Austin Goodwill; APD investigating - MyFoxAustin.com | KTBC Fox 7 | News, Weather, Sports

Real human skull donated to Austin Goodwill; APD investigating - MyFoxAustin.com | KTBC Fox 7 | News, Weather, Sports

Amber Alert: Four Missing Children left alone in daycare vehicle - FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston

Amber Alert: Four Missing Children left alone in daycare vehicle - FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston

Transgender Man Attacked in Montrose Wants Hate Crime Charges | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Transgender Man Attacked in Montrose Wants Hate Crime Charges | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

After Tiller | POV | PBS

After Tiller | POV | PBS

Immigration Judge Calls Courts ‘Alternate Legal Universe’

Immigration Judge Calls Courts ‘Alternate Legal Universe’

The Opinion Pages | OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR How to Get Kids to Class To Keep Poor Students in School, Provide Social Services By DANIEL J. CARDINALIAUG. 25, 2014

http://nyti.ms/1AP758b

DACA Immigrants confront Rubio

Houston-area school districts explain student cellphone fines Author: Aaron Wische, News Executive Producer Amy Davis, Investigative Reporter/Consumer Expert, adavis@kprc.com Published On: Aug 25 2014 10:40:04 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 25 2014 10:15:00 PM CDT

Move-in day must wait at apartment complex near UH 350 residents in temporary quarters as semester starts, construction continues By Erin Mulvaney August 26, 2014 | Updated: August 26, 2014 10:43pm

9-year-old girl accidentally kills shooting instructor with Uzi The Mohave County sheriff’s office has released this video of Vacca and the 9-year-old girl at the shooting range moments before the fatal accident.

The Emmys 2014: Robin Williams Tribute (Highlight)

The Emmys 2014: Robin Williams Tribute (Highlight)

Republicans Open Up Wider ‘Expectations Gap’ Ahead of Midterms

Republicans Open Up Wider ‘Expectations Gap’ Ahead of Midterms

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

HP Recalls 5 Million Laptop Power Cords | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

HP Recalls 5 Million Laptop Power Cords | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Davis Calls for Expanded Technical Job Training

Davis Calls for Expanded Technical Job Training

Saying she wants to expand Texas high schoolers’ access to technical job training programs, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis has announced a plan to create a Career-Technical Coordinating Board.

The plan is the latest in a string of education reform proposals from Davis. It also includes recommendations on college affordability and improving graduation rates.

Davis promoted the proposal Tuesday at an event in San Antonio, saying she hoped to build cooperation among "local industries, community and technical colleges" in helping prepare Texas students for the the technical jobs of the future, according to the proposal.

"At the very time when we need an educated workforce to lead the economy of the future, we need to put quality education within reach for Texas families," Davis said.

The campaign of her Republican opponent, Greg Abbott, noted that Davis' proposal did not mention how much the plan would cost.

“Sen. Davis continues to present talking points and press releases dressed as policy proposals that contain few details, lack any cost information and will grow the size of government,” said Amelia Chassé, an Abbott campaign spokeswoman. “If this were an assignment, her grade would be ‘incomplete.’ Texans deserve a leader that presents real solutions, not more slogans and fuzzy math."

Davis said she would work with the Legislature to “find the resources in existing resources to be able to carry forth” the proposal.

Education has been a common talking point on the campaign trail in the governor's race. Davis frequently mentions her 2011 filibuster to try to block $5.4 billion in spending cuts that lawmakers eventually made that year to public education. Though some of those funds were restored in 2013, Davis has continued to press the issue while taking aim at Abbott, who, as attorney general, has defended those cuts in court against a coalition of school districts. 

Abbott has proposed that parents should be allowed to more easily petition for changing the management of poorly rated schools. He has also discussed increasing parents’ access to school performance data, among other proposals.

Davis' latest proposal also commits to "achieving full funding" for the TEXAS Grant program to provide financial assistance for students, as well as a sales tax exemption for college textbooks.

"We made this state strong by investing in our schools and making them affordable," Davis said.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/26/davis-education-plan-includes-technical-job-traini/.

Could Medical Marijuana Laws Cut Painkiller Deaths? | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Could Medical Marijuana Laws Cut Painkiller Deaths? | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

The Witness FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, IT WAS MICHELLE LYONS’S JOB TO OBSERVE THE FINAL MOMENTS OF DEATH ROW INMATES—BUT WATCHING 278 EXECUTIONS DID NOT COME WITHOUT A COST. by PAMELA COLLOFF SEPTEMBER 2014

http://www.texasmonthly.com/story/michelle-lyons-witness-to-278-executions-in-texas?fullpage=1&src=longreads

Judge Emmett Unveils New Plan to Save the Astrodome | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Judge Emmett Unveils New Plan to Save the Astrodome | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Judge Emmett Unveils New Plan to Save the Astrodome | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Judge Emmett Unveils New Plan to Save the Astrodome | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Monday, August 25, 2014

"My Night Out"

What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die? | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

What Happens to Your Online Accounts When You Die? | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Van de Putte Calls for Expanded Medicaid Coverage

Van de Putte Calls for Expanded Medicaid Coverage

Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte vowed to overturn Republican opposition to expanding the state's Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act if elected lieutenant governor, saying the state should act to protect poor, uninsured adults.

The San Antonio Democrat's “Texas First Health Care Plan,” which she announced Friday at the Davila Pharmacy in San Antonio where she works as a pharmacist, attempts to close the coverage gap created when Texas lawmakers refused to expand Medicaid eligibility under the federal health reform law. She says expanding Medicaid is the “right choice” for the sky-high rate of uninsured Texans.

“As lieutenant governor, I’ll forge a Texas solution to draw down federal funds back to Texas taxpayers, protect Texas businesses, and expand access to affordable health care in our state,” Van de Putte said in a statement. “One out of every four Texans lacks health insurance. That system is unsustainable, bad for business, and bad for Texas families.

She contends that changing the state’s Medicaid program to insure poor adults — a feat that would require Republican support in the Legislature — could include cost-sharing between the state and beneficiaries, consisting of co-pays, income-based premiums on health plans, or using federal funds to purchase private insurance.

Most of the Legislature's Republicans have staunchly opposed the federal health reform law and its optional Medicaid expansion provision, calling the joint federal-state insurer of poor children and the disabled a “broken system.” Gov. Rick Perry has gone as far as calling the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion provision “federal blackmailing.”

Had Texas expanded Medicaid to cover young adults, the federal government would have covered 100 percent of the cost for three years, eventually reducing its coverage to 90 percent. The federal government currently provides Texas with $60 in matching funds for every $40 the state spends on Medicaid services.

“Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of refusing this federal funding is that Texas taxpayers are left paying for the cost of treating those without insurance,” Van de Putte’s plan reads.

Her Republican opponent, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston, has steadfastly opposed the federal health reform law and expanding Medicaid. His spokesman, Alejandro Garcia, said Van de Putte's health care proposal proves that she is "on the wrong side of the issues" because she has aligned herself with "failed policies."

"Leticia Van de Putte continues to recklessly champion Obamacare, which has punished the business community and embarrassed the federal government since day one," Garcia said, adding that Patrick would seek "flexibility and efficiency" within the existing Medicaid system in Texas.

Last year, lawmakers considered a few alternatives to Medicaid expansion, including a private market substitute and a proposal to request a block grant from the federal government to reform the current program.

While none received enough support to become law, the Legislature is likely to take up the issue again when it convenes in January. 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/22/van-de-putte-calls-alternative-medicaid-expansion/.

Watch the VMAs Honor Robin Williams With Coldplay-Assisted Tribute Video ARTICLESVMA By Chris Payne | August 24, 2014 10:55 PM EDT

Every Human Has a Price

Can online courses replace a campus education?

Can online courses replace a campus education?

Houston Newsmakers August 24: Is Perry indictment politics or criminal? Author: Khambrel Marshall, Meteorologist, kmarshall@kprc.com Published On: Aug 22 2014 01:30:24 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 24 2014 06:40:50 PM CDT

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Houston Newsmakers August 24: Is Perry indictment politics or criminal? Author: Khambrel Marshall, Meteorologist, kmarshall@kprc.com Published On: Aug 22 2014 01:30:24 PM CDT Updated On: Aug 24 2014 06:40:50 PM CDT

http://www.click2houston.com/community/newsmakers/houston-newsmakers-august-24-is-perry-indictment-politics-or-criminal/27683458

My PSA for Human Trafficking class.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

How Eating Tacos and Drinking Beer Helps Keep Abortion Safe and Accessible By Nicole Pasulka | Takepart.com August 22, 2014 5:48 PM Takepart.com

http://news.yahoo.com/eating-tacos-drinking-beer-helps-fund-abortion-providers-214841405.html

“This is a war”: A conflict photographer takes on the rapidly escalating poaching crisis

“This is a war”: A conflict photographer takes on the rapidly escalating poaching crisis

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Ferguson, MO and Police Militarizati...

Sylvia Garcia State Senator talks about Barbara Gardner's Qualification ...

"Manuel"

Battleground TX Executive Latino Leadership Program Guest: Sen. Leticia ...

Friday, August 22, 2014

Firefighters injured when ice bucket challenge goes awry - WOAI News 4 San Antonio - Top Stories

Firefighters injured when ice bucket challenge goes awry - WOAI News 4 San Antonio - Top Stories

Glenn Hegar is "proud" he cut our schools

Facebook post about Ferguson leads to firing http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2014/08/21/facebook-post-about-ferguson-leads-to-firing/14415813/

Another senior citizen victim of the knockout game - FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston

Another senior citizen victim of the knockout game - FOX 26 News | MyFoxHouston

Mikey's #TacoOrBeerChallenge!

Houston Will Be Part Of National Voter Registration Drive | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Houston Will Be Part Of National Voter Registration Drive | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Native American Tribe Wins Victory in Fight over Religious Freedom | KRGV.com | CHANNEL 5 NEWS | Breaking News Breaking Stories

Native American Tribe Wins Victory in Fight over Religious Freedom | KRGV.com | CHANNEL 5 NEWS | Breaking News Breaking Stories

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND DURING CONSTRUCTION ON MALL PROPERTY Construction work was halted on the Brazos Mall property after the discovery

Oops! Rick Perry does it again, can’t remember his two felony charges

Oops! Rick Perry does it again, can’t remember his two felony charges

TEENS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES SCREAMING FOR ONE DIRECTION

Russell Brand Takes Ice Bucket Challenge, Nominates Sean Hannity

The Real Death Valley

The Brief: Restoration of Funding for Public Integrity Unit in Limbo by John Reynolds Aug. 22, 2014

The Brief: Restoration of Funding for Public Integrity Unit in Limbo

The Big Conversation

The Houston Chronicle is reporting that in the days before Gov. Rick Perry's indictment over his veto of funding for the public integrity unit, the Travis County district attorney's office had requested the next Legislature to restore most of the unit's funding.

The indictment, though, has made moving the unit out of the DA's office a cause among some Republicans. The Chronicle's Mike Ward quotes new Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson as in favor of such a move.

"I have never thought this unit should be placed as an attachment to the Travis County District Attorney's Office," Nelson said. "I am certain we will have extensive discussions during the next legislative session regarding where they should be placed, but we need to move them somewhere less partisan."

Ward reported that DA Rosemary Lehmberg requested $6.7 million for the unit for the next fiscal biennium. That's less than the $7.5 million in funding vetoed by Perry. With the developments of this week, though, even the unit's defenders are skeptical that the funding would be restored.

State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, told Ward that "if I were working over there, I'd probably be looking for a job."

And ahead of today's arraignment, Perry's lawyers on Thursday said that an investigation into the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas had nothing to do with Perry's veto of funding for the Public Integrity Unit. The Tribune's Terri Langford wrote that Perry's lawyers said an affidavit produced by a former investigator in the Travis County DA's office supported their position.

Progress Texas PAC Director Glenn Smith told Langford that CPRIT was just one of many reasons that Perry had for vetoing the funding, which he described as an attempt to "illegally grab control" of the Travis County district attorney's office.

Trib Must-Reads

A Week After Perry's Indictment, Legal Case Begins, by Terri Langford

Analysis: For Perry, It's All in the Timing, by Ross Ramsey

Efforts to Raise Teacher Certification Standards Falter, by Morgan Smith

Attorneys Struggling to Help Migrants Navigate Legal System, by Julián Aguilar

Elsewhere

Defiant Perry sounds alarm on Iraq, San Antonio Express-News

Texas Car Lender Is Accused of Distortion in Subprime Inquiry, The New York Times

New UT chancellor McRaven wants to mend relationship with lawmakers, Austin American-Statesman

Ethics Commission takes aim at Texas dark money, San Antonio Express-News

Ryan: Hensarling 'high on the list' for Speaker, The Hill

Billionaires silent on immigration after big push, Politico

GOP reps pick Lubbock attorney Burrows as House 83 candidate, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Quote to Note

"What’s happening right now, they are being fed a steady diet of border wars and Fox News referring to the area as experiencing an illegal immigrant invasion."

— Greater Mission Chamber of Commerce CEO George Myers on the need for a three-year public relations campaign to reassure Winter Texans that the area remains safe

Today in TribTalk

Cruz's big lie about the border, by José Rodríguez

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    A Conversation With UT System Regent Wallace Hall, on Sept. 4 at The Austin Club

•    A Conversation With Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa and Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri, on Sept. 10 at The Austin Club

•    The full program has been announced for the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival, which runs from Sept. 19-21 at the University of Texas at Austin. Featuring 10 tracks, 44 sessions and over 200 speakers, this weekend is not to be missed!

•    A Conversation With U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, on Sept. 24 at the UTSA Downtown Campus in San Antonio.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/22/brief/.

Davis Releases Second Attack Ad, On Cancer Agency by Jay Root Aug. 22, 2014

Davis Releases Second Attack Ad, On Cancer Agency

Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis is launching a second TV attack ad in the Texas governor’s race, this time criticizing Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott for his ties to companies that got cancer research grants and the role his office played in overseeing the awards.

The ad quotes a cancer survivor who says Abbott was “charged with overseeing the state cancer research fund’’ while faulting him for not preventing corruption in the awards process. 

“He let his wealthiest donors take tens of millions in taxpayer dollars without proper oversight,” the man in the ad says.

The Abbott campaign intercepted the ad on YouTube before it aired on TV and blasted the Davis campaign Friday evening for running a “deceptive” attack out of desperation. 

The Davis campaign confirmed the ad would begin running Saturday.

Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch noted recent reports indicating that a prosecutor who helped conduct a CPRIT criminal investigation had found no evidence of corruption by any member of the CPRIT board.

Hirsch also accused Davis of hypocrisy, saying she had used her position as senator for personal gain in her work as an attorney with public sector clients.

"If there is a candidate who is guilty of pay-to-play politics, it’s Sen. Davis, who has consistently sold her position to pad her personal bank account,” Hirsch said. “This ad is yet another case of a desperate, losing campaign playing fast and loose with charges that have already been debunked.”

 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/22/davis-releases-second-attack-ad-cprit/.

Nuts! Hazelnut Shortage Could Affect Nutella Prices | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Nuts! Hazelnut Shortage Could Affect Nutella Prices | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

Thursday, August 21, 2014

New Information Might Help Send Rick Perry Straight to Prison

New Information Might Help Send Rick Perry Straight to Prison

George Strait takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!!!!!!! | KJ and Friends on KJ 97

George Strait takes the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!!!!!!! | KJ and Friends on KJ 97

Mayor plans to allow food trucks downtown By Katherine Driessen August 20, 2014 | Updated: August 20, 2014 8:31pm

myFOXaustin 2 hrs · Unisex bathroom may be coming to all Austin businesses. Do you think the city should require single-stall bathrooms to be “gender free”? http://bit.ly/1rp7L2Y

Majority of Houstonians Support Astrodome Demolition, Survey Reveals | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Wendy Davis vows to end statute of limitations on sexual assault cases

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Breaking: The contraception mandate benefits women

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Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The Ferguson Fellowship by The Huffington Post — Beacon

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The Danger of Parental Notification of Abortion Laws - Wellness & Empowerment - EBONY

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Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Military brother surprising his little brother who is sleeping | Jare on Q102

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Man Arrested, Accused of Posing as Police Officer | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Perry Booked on Abuse of Power Charges, Goes Out for Ice Cream | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Perry Expected at Travis County Courthouse News Event Tue Aug, 19 2014 6:00 PM EDT — Tue Aug, 19 2014 7:00 PM EDT

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Perry defiant on arrival for arraignment http://www.wfaa.com/home/Perry-defiant-on-arrival-for-arraignment-271914481.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

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Perry To Be Booked, Have Mug Shot Taken - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

Perry To Be Booked, Have Mug Shot Taken - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

A Texas Democrat Tries to Fix the Border http://shar.es/1nKccC via @thedailybeast

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KPRC Local 2 6 hrs · At the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, Houston ISD will implement an initiative to make sure every student gets lunch at school.

Speak Up For Education and Kids 2 hrs · "A teacher in North Carolina has raised nearly $80,000 to feed students from low-income families in Ferguson, Mo., who would ordinarily be getting free lunches at public schools in the St. Louis suburb but can’t because the start of the 2014-15 school year has been delayed twice as a result of civil unrest."

David Letterman Remembers Robin Williams

Perry Expected to be Booked Today http://new.livestream.com/KXAN/events/3048982" target="_blank">http://new.livestream.com/KXAN/events/304898

Perry Expected to be Booked Today

http://kxan.com/live-stream/

Rick Perry expected to turn himself in this afternoon By Patrick Tolbert Published: August 19, 2014, 11:09 am Updated: August 19, 2014, 2:44 pm

http://kxan.com/livestream-rick-perry-booking/

KXAN Austin News shared a link. 3 hours ago While RickPAC’s first video featured the #bordercrisis, this one's focused on "setting the record straight." #PerryIndictment

RickPAC Ad Defends Veto, Features Lehmberg's Arrest

RickPAC Ad Defends Veto, Features Lehmberg's Arrest

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/19/rickpac-ad-defends-veto-features-lehmbergs-arrest/.

Perry Expected to be Booked Today

Perry Expected to be Booked Today

Editor's note: This story has been updated with comments from Travis Count officials and former Perry staffer David White.

Travis County deputies say they expect Rick Perry to be booked between 4 and 6 p.m. on Tuesday — the same window when supporters are expected to rally at the courthouse in defense of the Texas governor as he fights two felony indictments.

The deputies said if Perry arrives after 5:30 p.m. — the time they close to the public — members of the media will not be allowed to film the booking, and the mugshot will not be available until Wednesday. 

Two Republican operatives also confirmed a rally would take place at around 5 p.m. outside the courthouse. Sid Miller, the Republican nominee for agriculture commissioner, has said on his Facebook page that he’ll be there.

“It’s our understanding that the governor is going to be booked at 4:45 p.m. this afternoon,” said Todd Smith, a consultant for Miller. “I don’t know if any other statewides will be there, but Sid will be there.”  

Perry’s office has not confirmed that the governor will be booked Tuesday — a process that generally involves a mug shot and fingerprinting. His lawyers have promised to inform the media about it ahead of time. 

Perry's arraignment — when the charges are formally levied against him — is scheduled for Friday. 

Another Republican official who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Texas Tribune that plans were being made to get supporters to the courthouse Tuesday afternoon.

“They’re organizing a rally at 5 p.m.,” the official said.

David White, a GOP consultant who served as Perry's political director during the governor's 2010 re-election campaign, was among those urging a pro-Perry demonstration. White sent out an email to fellow conservatives, asking them to show their support for his former boss. He said he sent the email at his own initiative, with no direction from Perry or his allies. 

"I just e-mailed a bunch of my friends to come show their support for Governor Perry," White said. "This indictment is outrageous and is uniting both Republicans and Democrats in denouncing the prosecution as politically motivated. Governor Perry exercised his constitutional right to veto legislation, and I believe without a doubt he will be vindicated.”

White included a map of the courthouse in his widely circulated email, which was simply addressed to "friends."

"Tomorrow is our turn to rally around Governor Perry. A group of supporters are gathering outside the courthouse tomorrow after the Governor goes through the “booking process,” where he will hold a press conference," White wrote in the email.

"Governor Perry has done so much for our state and stood up against the abuse of government power. Please come stand with him so that we can show the country that we will NOT PUT UP WITH THIS!" 

After word leaked about a pro-Perry rally, Democrats began mobilizing people to get to the courthouse to stage a counter-protest. They will call on the governor to pay his own legal bills instead of asking taxpayers to pick up the tab, according to a top Democratic operative.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/19/rally-perry-planned-courthouse/.

Meet the Group That Sparked the Perry Indictment by Aman Batheja Aug. 19, 2014

Meet the Group That Sparked the Perry Indictment

Seated at the conference table in Texans for Public Justice’s Austin office, director Craig McDonald reminisces about the liberal-leaning group’s work 11 years ago investigating then-U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Then a knock comes from the other side of the office.

Someone is outside. McDonald’s shoulders tense.

TPJ’s only other full-time staffer, research director Andrew Wheat, can't respond because he is on the phone. McDonald reluctantly answers the door, relieved to see a friendly face on the other side. After a moment, he returns to the conference table.

“We’re scared about nut balls coming by,” he explains. “We’ve had so much hate mail so we’ve locked the doors.”

Much like the frenzied period after Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed his first indictment against DeLay in 2005, McDonald and TPJ are in the eye of a growing political storm. This time, the attention comes from the complaint they filed against Gov. Rick Perry in June, which yielded a felony indictment last week charging Perry with coercion of a public servant and misuse of official capacity.

“The DeLay stuff got us a decent amount of hate mail,” McDonald said. “But I’ve never seen a reaction like this.”

TPJ describes itself as a “a nonpartisan group that tracks the influence of money and corporate power in Texas politics.” Since 1997, McDonald and his tiny staff has made a name for itself digging through public records, while drawing fire from critics who accuse TPJ of doing the dirty work of Democrats while not being transparent about its own financial backing.

“Texans for Public Justice has always been a political attack machine masquerading as a public interest group,” said Sherry Sylvester, communications director of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a longtime TPJ critic. “This latest outlandish political attack on Gov. Perry should be dismissed as more of the same from this duplicitous front group.”

TPJ didn’t plan to delve into the complex game of political chicken going on between Perry and Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg near the end of last year’s legislative session. Lehmberg had been immersed in a political scandal since April, when a video of her aggressive behavior during her drunken driving arrest drew national attention. TPJ had stayed out of the drama until June 10, when McDonald read in the Austin-American Statesman that Perry was threatening to veto the state's funding of the Public Integrity Unit, housed in the Travis County DA’s office, unless Lehmberg resigned. Perry has said he only acted within the authority he has under the state Constitution.

“We decided [to get involved] that Tuesday morning,” McDonald said. “I said to Andrew, ‘This has got to be illegal. The governor can’t threaten the district attorney to do something that is out of his power. She doesn’t work for him. Never has.’”

Soon after, TPJ filed its complaint against Perry, hours before Perry vetoed the PIU's $7.5 million budget.

Perry and his legal team have made his right as governor to veto state funding, and Lehmberg’s behavior during her drunken driving arrest, as central to the indictment. Various national political reporters and pundits have dismissed the indictment as overreaching or politically motivated, often pointing, like Perry, to a governor’s right to use his veto power.

McDonald said those critics are missing a crucial point: TPJ’s original complaint was filed before Perry implemented his veto because the veto is irrelevant.

“The threats are the issue, and I think that’s what the grand jury listened to,” McDonald said. “The only role the veto played and the only reason it’s relevant is that’s the club he held over his head to try to get her to leave her job. The veto is a side player to this. It’s not the subject of the charges.”

McDonald, 64, launched TPJ in 1997 after more than 20 years of work that he described as focused on “campaign reform and accountability.” Raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., McDonald served more than three years in the military during the Vietnam War before returning home to study political science and philosophy at Grand Valley State (now Grand Valley State University).

After working several years as a community organizer in west Michigan, he moved to Washington, D.C., in 1978 to work for Public Citizen, a consumer rights advocacy group founded by Ralph Nader. McDonald helped launch several of the organization’s state offices, including the Texas office in 1984. He stayed with the group until the early 1990s, including several years as its lobbying director.

In 1997, McDonald launched Texans for Public Justice to expose the connection between money and politics at a time when tracking Texas campaign finance records required far more time and resources than it does today, with much of the information online. The group’s first report, released in 1998, traced $14.6 million in donations made to members of the Texas House.

“We had dozens of interns here going through the dusty paper records, documenting how much money came to each member,” McDonald said. “And the reaction to that was about as negative as to the Perry indictment.”

Over the years, TPJ has also filed dozens of complaints against elected officials, mostly Republicans but also some Democrats. The majority of the complaints have been filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. Before last week, the complaint that had drawn them the most attention came in 2003, when TPJ noticed discrepancies between paperwork filed by DeLay’s Texans for a Republican Majority PAC with the Texas Ethics Commission and the IRS.

The group filed a criminal complaint with the Travis County district attorney’s office, which eventually led to the 2005 indictments of DeLay on criminal conspiracy and money laundering. The next year, DeLay resigned from Congress, but has maintained that he did nothing wrong. The legal case has continued for nearly a decade. Last year, DeLay’s conviction was overturned by the Texas Court of Appeals. That judgment was appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which heard arguments earlier this year.

McDonald predicted that DeLay would prevail given the Republican leaning of the court, though he maintains that DeLay did break the law. DeLay has dismissed the saga as politically motivated.

“I think he has paid already a great price,” McDonald said. “It’s 12 years later, and we’re still going to court hearings about it.”

Both McDonald and Wheat say they expect the Perry case to take years as well.

Perry and his defenders have decried the investigation as partisan in nature, with some citing TPJ’s funding from the Open Society Foundations as proof. The OSF was founded by George Soros, a billionaire investor with a long history of supporting Democrats.

TPJ only reveals its institutional funders, which makes up about half of its total budget, according to McDonald. Along with OSF, TPJ cited funding from The Piper Foundation, The Sunlight Foundation, The Winkler Family Foundation and Good Jobs First in its 2013 annual report.

McDonald said his group doesn’t reveal its individual investors for fear of political retaliation. He said he doesn’t consider that policy in conflict with the group’s work in highlighting the impact of money in politics because TPJ does not get involved in elections.

“We have some good-size donors who are involved in lots of regulated activities in Texas,” McDonald said. “Many of our donors these days come from the high-tech community, and the younger progressives.”

Sylvester noted that a leaked tax return from TPJ in 2005 revealed Texas trial lawyers as major contributors.

“Their attacks on conservatives in general and tort reformers in particular serve the narrow special interests of the liberal personal injury trial lawyers who have spent millions on efforts to defeat tort reform leaders like Rick Perry and roll back lawsuit reforms in Texas,” Sylvester said.

McDonald did not deny that he opposes Texas’ past tort reform legislation and that TPJ was launched “as somewhat a reaction to the tort reform movement.” Yet he argued that too much is made of the group’s funding, which usually hovers between $200,000 and $300,000, according to federal filings. Since the recession, even drawing that much support has been a challenge. The group has only raised $130,000 so far this year, he said. TPJ used to have five staffers but now only has three, one of them part-time.

“It’s not like we’re high rollers,” McDonald said. “None of the staff here has been paid in the last three months. We don’t have any money.”

As proof of his reason to be worried about retaliation against his backers, McDonald pointed to an intense IRS audit that TPJ was subject to in 2005, and eventually exonerated. The audit was later traced back to a lawyer close to DeLay.

“So our paranoia and our donors’ paranoia about retribution isn’t paranoia,” McDonald said. “It’s real.”

Disclosure: The Winkler Family Foundation is a major donor to The Texas Tribune. The Open Society Foundation was a major donor to The Texas Tribune in 2010. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/19/group-behind-perry-indictment-previously-pursued-d/.

Playlist Republicans THE CYCLE 08/18/14 Will Perry’s indictment stick? Professor Rick Hasen and Doug Thornell discuss Gov. Rick Perry’s federal indictment, and why it may be hard for prosecution to obtain enough evidence.

Setting The Record Straight: It's The Veto Threat That Matters in Rick Perry's Indictment by: Katherine Haenschen Tue Aug 19, 2014 at 00:00 PM CDT

GOP still hates contraceptive coverage, is OK with letting poor women look at birth control in stores

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Monday, August 18, 2014

Reporter: Closet Burglar Comes Forward, Says ‘Designer’ Loot Was Fake | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Perry indictments puts Travis County DA in national spotlight Shannon Murray, KVUE 5:45 p.m. CDT August 18, 2014

http://www.kvue.com/story/news/local/2014/08/18/indictment-puts-lehmberg-in-national-spotlight/14259553/

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Video: Perry's Legal Team Slams "Outrageous" Indictment

Video: Perry's Legal Team Slams "Outrageous" Indictment

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/18/perrys-legal-team-calls-indictment-outrageous/.

Perry Legal Team Addresses Indictment News Event · More event details ... Mon Aug, 18 2014 4:00 PM EDT — Mon Aug, 18 2014 5:00 PM EDT

Prosecutor: "No Date" on When Perry Will Be Processed by Terri Langford Aug. 18, 2014

Prosecutor: "No Date" on When Perry Will Be Processed

The special prosecutor who secured an indictment last week against Gov. Rick Perry said Monday that he's still discussing with defense attorneys about how and when Perry will be processed. 

"There's some discussions with no date or time," said Michael McCrum, the San Antonio attorney appointed to be special prosecutor in the case. 

Last Friday, grand jurors indicted Perry on two felony counts that accuse him of overstepping his authority with how he removed $7.5 million from the state's anti-corruption unit when Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg — whose office houses the unit — refused to step down after a 2013 drunken driving arrest. Perry has denounced the indictment, saying they were without merit and that he was acting with his constitutional right as governor.

McCrum issued a summons, not an arrest warrant, for Perry to be processed. He said he does that in cases with an unlikelihood of a flight risk. But it's unclear whether Perry will have a mugshot and fingerprints taken. 

Linda Estrada, with the Travis County district clerk's office, said any appearance by Perry at the Travis County Criminal Justice Center, where bookings typically take place, would not be happening Monday. 

"All those decisions are going to be made by the judge," Estrada said.

Staffers with state District Judge Julie Kocurek's office could not be immediately reached. 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/18/will-gov-perry-be-booked/.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

App Puts Help for Suicidal Veterans One Click Away | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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The case for high-speed rail in Texas By Peter LeCody, Aug. 17, 2014

After Suing Obama Indicted Rick Perry Now Believes Political Disputes Don’t Belong in Court By: Jason Easleymore from Jason Easley Sunday, August, 17th, 2014, 11:47 am

Video: Perry Talks Indictment, Border, 2016 by Alana Rocha Aug. 17, 2014

Video: Perry Talks Indictment, Border, 2016

The day after blasting an indictment against him as political theatrics, Gov. Rick Perry appeared on Fox News Sunday, saying he stands behind his decision to veto funding for the state's public integrity unit.

Perry made the line-item veto on integrity unit funding last year after Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, whose office oversees the unit, refused to resign after her drunken driving arrest. 

"I stood up for the rule of law in the state of Texas," Perry told Fox News Sunday host Shannon Bream. "And if I had to do it again, I would make it exactly the same decision." The governor noted that some Democrats have questioned the felony charges he's facing.

During the interview, Perry also spoke about immigration, border security and whether he's looking at the 2016 presidential race.

Watch the interview here:

 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/17/video-perry-talks-indictment-border-security-and-2/.

Katy Teacher a Finalist for National Excellence Award | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Mayor Annise Parker ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

CHRIST, PRATT Chris Pratt’s Ice Bucket Challenge Is the Best by Far BY JOANNA ROBINSON AUGUST 17, 2014 4:49 PM

http://www.vanityfair.com/vf-hollywood/2014/08/chris-pratt-ice-bucket-challenge

Malala Fund 11 hrs · Edited · Watch this sneak peek of Malala's appearance tomorrow on ABC's "Good Morning America." In this video excerpt, Malala answers questions from girls she's inspired. Tune in to ABC stations during the 830am ET half hour tomorrow for the full "GMA" Malala interview with Amy Robach and the girls. We'll post the full interview later here on Facebook.

Saturday, August 16, 2014

800,000 That's how many Latinos turn 18 each year and become eligible to vote. But to leverage the power of Latino Millennials, everyone must register to vote. Register to vote and spread the word. There is power in numbers. Make your voice heard!

http://www.votolatino.org/rockthevote

Synthetic Pot ‘Smacked!’ Prompts State of Emergency in New Hampshire | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Increased Child Poverty Rate Disproportionately Impacts The Nation's Youngest Learners | By Sara Neufeld Posted: 08/15/2014 12:35 pm EDT Updated: 08/15/2014 12:59 pm EDT

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ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

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Davis: Sobrevivientes Se Merecen Justicia

The Murder of Black Youth Is a Reproductive Justice Issue | The Nation

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Texas Betrayed: Abbott, Perry and the Cancer Fund Scandal

Day After Indictment, Perry Issues Statement News Event · Less event details Date Sat Aug, 16 2014 2:00 PM CDT — Sat Aug, 16 2014 3:00 PM CDT About Gov. Rick Perry, who was indicted Friday on two felony counts related to his veto of public integrity unit funding, addressed the allegations Saturday at the Capitol.

Day After Indictment, Perry Issues Statement News Event · Less event details Date Sat Aug, 16 2014 2:00 PM CDT — Sat Aug, 16 2014 3:00 PM CDT About Gov. Rick Perry, who was indicted Friday on two felony counts related to his veto of public integrity unit funding, addressed the allegations Saturday at the Capitol.

45 Years Later, Houstonian Recalls ‘Woodstock’ Experience | News 92 FM | Official Site for Houston News, Traffic, Weather, Breaking News

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Perry Fires Back, Calls Indictment a Political Ploy

Perry Fires Back, Calls Indictment a Political Ploy

A steamed Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Saturday decried a Travis County grand jury's indictment of him on two felony counts, saying allegations that he abused his power by threatening to veto funding for the state's anti-corruption unit were politically motivated.

"We don’t settle political differences with indictments in this country," Perry said in a short press conference. "It is outrageous that some would use partisan political theatrics to rip away at the very fabric of our state’s constitution. This indictment amounts to nothing more than abuse of power and I cannot and I will not allow that to happen." 

Perry — who followed through on the threat because Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg, who had pleaded guilty to drunken driving, refused his request to step down — said his actions were protected by the state Constitution, and that he and his attorneys would aggressively fight the charges. They include abuse of official capacity, which carries a potential penalty of five to 99 years in prison, and coercion of a public servant, which has a penalty of two to 10 years. 

"I intend to fight against those who would erode our state’s constitution and laws purely for political purposes and I intend to win," he said. "I’ll explore every legal avenue to expedite this matter. I am confident that we will ultimately prevail, that this farce of a prosecution will be revealed for what it is. And those responsible will be held accountable." 

The legal inquiry began last summer after an ethics complaint was filed alleging that Perry had improperly used a veto to deny funding for the unit, which is housed in the Travis County district attorney’s office and focuses on government corruption and tax fraud. 

The indictment seriously complicates Perry's possible presidential ambitions and casts a pall on what had been a few big weeks for the Texas governor. He had made national headlines for railing against the Obama administration for a perceived lack of response to the humanitarian crisis on the Texas-Mexico border, then reallocating funds to send National Guard troops there himself.

Now, he's in the spotlight for being the first Texas governor indicted in almost a century. 

Michael McCrum, the special investigator in the case, said he expected that the governor would come to court, be arraigned and be given official notice of his charges sometime in the coming week.

 

 

 

 

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2014/08/16/perry-fires-back-calls-indictment-political-ploy/.

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