Texas

13 - 12:46am

Texas gas prices up as holiday nears

Texas gas prices up as holiday nears HOUSTON — Retail gasoline prices across Texas have risen 2 cents as travelers prepare for the long Memorial Day holiday weekend. 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 gallon. Amarillo has the most expensive gasoline in Texas at $3.74 per gallon. The association survey found Corpus Christi with the cheapest gasoline at $3.33 per gallon.

Drug testing for unemployment passes Texas House 05/23/13 - 12:30am

AUSTIN — 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 questionnaire to see whether they are at risk of abusing drugs. If there is reasonable suspicion, the Texas Workforce Commission would require a drug test.

Texas and region 05/23/13 - 12:23am

AUSTIN A spending bill crucial to a complex Texas budget deal contains an extra $200 million to public schools as pledged by Senate negotiators. The bill unveiled late Wednesday has created a standoff between the House and Senate during what has been a tense final week of the 140-day legislative session. House Democrats were wary of the Senate keeping classroom spending in the bill. The House was reluctant to take action on a separate — but equally crucial — component of a multilayered budget compromise until seeing the Senate measure.

Boy Scout leaders to vote on lifting gay ban 05/23/13 - 12:22am

GRAPEVINE — As protesters made one last stand, the Boy Scouts of America’s leadership began a conference Wednesday that was expected to culminate in a long-anticipated vote on whether to allow openly gay Scouts — a decision that, either way, could deeply affect the organization’s membership and funding.

Veterans parade float driver says train seemed still before crash 05/23/13 - 12:22am

The driver of a parade float involved in a train wreck that killed four war veterans in West Texas told investigators the oncoming train appeared to be stationary and that he didn’t notice anything was wrong until he saw people jumping from the float, according to documents released Wednesday.

After steady heckling, Perry meets with protesters 05/23/13 - 12:21am

AUSTIN — Hecklers demanding that Texas expand the Medicaid program under the White House-backed health care law repeatedly interrupted a speech by Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday, then descended on his office for a meeting to keep pressing their case. Perry was speaking at an Austin business forum and had barely begun singing the state’s pro-entrepreneurial praises when a woman shrieked “Expand Texas health care!” After nobody moved to throw her out, she asked, “What do you think about that?” Visibly embarrassed, Perry replied, “Expand Texas health care. I gotcha.”

Timothy Cole bill not likely to pass Texas Legislature this session 05/23/13 - 12:26am

Proposal gain traction each session, but not likely to pass in 2013

AUSTIN — Last week, Gov. Rick Perry invited Sens. Rodney Ellis, Robert Duncan and other legislators to the signing of the Michael Morton Act, a measure aimed at preventing wrongful convictions in Texas. “Texas is a law-and-order state, and with that tradition comes a responsibility to make our judicial process as transparent and open as possible,” Perry said during the signing ceremony of Senate Bill 1611, authored by Ellis, D-Houston, and Duncan, R-Lubbock.

Federal judge orders hearing next week on redistricting maps 05/23/13 - 12:24am

The 83rd Texas Legislature session ends Monday, but Sen. Kel Seliger and other key players in the two-year redistricting fight will likely stay in South Central Texas for a few more days

AUSTIN — The 83rd Texas Legislature session ends Monday, but Sen. Kel Seliger and other key players in the two-year redistricting fight will likely stay in South Central Texas for a few more days. A federal court in San Antonio — one of three tribunals weighing in on the constitutionality of the maps the Republican-dominated Legislature approved in the 2011 session over the strong objections of the Democratic minority — has ordered them back in court on Wednesday, May 29.

Divorce clause keeps lesbians from living together 05/22/13 - 12:59am

Law keeps lesbian pair from living together

Law keeps lesbian pair from living together MCKINNEY — A judge has ruled a North Texas lesbian couple can’t live together because of a morality clause in the divorce papers of one of the women. The clause is common in divorce cases in Texas and other states. It prevents a divorced parent from having a romantic partner spend the night while children are in the home. If the couple marries, they can get out from under the legal provision, but that is not an option for gay couples in Texas.

House moves to delay budget vote 05/22/13 - 12:42am

AUSTIN — The Texas House has voted to again delay voting on a must-pass component of a Texas budget deal, raising more indications of unease with the Senate. Republican state Rep. Jim Pitts moved late Tuesday to postpone a vote on a new water fund. Pitts says House members want time to review another bill that is equally essential to a compromise on a roughly $100 billion new budget. House members voted 148-1 to go along. House Democrats want to make sure the Senate keeps a pledge to put an extra $200 million for public schools in a separate spending measure.