TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalDallas Man Arrested for Warning Johns that "Prostitute" Was Actually a Vice Cop
Some might argue that Gary Lee Young was performing a public service as he hung around the parking lot of the Dallas International Street Church on South 2nd Avenue earlier this month. The Lord's work, if you will.
Not long after midnight on January 9, Young watched a would-be john get arrested by an undercover vice cop posing as a prostitute. When the 45-year-old saw that another man was likely to take the bait, he hollered at the cop.
"Ooh, girl, we know you the police," he yelled, according to a police incident report. "You get on out of here."
The faux hooker, as well as several other police officers who were also present, weren't happy to have their cover blown, and they told Young to shut up. When he wouldn't, they placed him under arrest.
Young spent four days in jail on a charge of "interference with public duties," a class B misdemeanor.
More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2014/01/dallas_man_arrested_for_warnin.php .
Grapevine Has Effectively Banned Child Molesters
For a portrait of the Kafkaesque nightmare criminal residency restrictions can create, go read about the permanent sex offender camp that took root several years ago beneath Miami's Julia Tuttle Causeway. Thanks to a local ordinance barring them from living within 2,500 feet of any place that children congregate, there was quite literally nowhere else for them to go.
It stands as an object lesson in how not to do public policy. It's a lesson that Grapevine has yet to learn.
Last week the Grapevine City Council, citing a "frightening and high" risk of recidivism, unanimously passed an ordinance barring those convicted of sexually assaulting a child from living within 2,000 feet of places where kids "commonly gather." This includes, but is not limited to, schools, parks, day cares, public swimming pools, hiking and biking trails and "video arcade facilities."
Look at a map of Grapevine, take note of all the parks and schools and kid-centric businesses, add in about 20 licensed child care centers, several of them operating out of people's homes, and a registered sex offender's housing options more or less disappear.
More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2014/01/grapevine_bans_molsters.php .
[font color=green]A 2,000 foot buffer does seem to be excessive. Similar restrictions exist in the Las Colinas subdivisions of Irving. Meanwhile, a few years ago when doing a computer search for RSOs, the southern part of Irving lit up like a Christmas tree.[/font]
Human Rights Campaign endorses Democrat Wendy Davis for Texas governor
Wendy Davis may not have endorsements from LGBT groups in Houston or San Antonio. But she now has the backing of the nation’s largest LGBT civil rights group.
The Human Rights Campaign announced the endorsement late Tuesday in a news release, saying Davis “has a stellar record on LGBT equality and also has a history of putting Texas’ families first.” It’s relatively rare for HRC to endorse in gubernatorial races, but this marks the second consecutive cycle in which the group has done so in Texas. Four years ago, HRC endorsed Democrat Bill White. The endorsement paves the way for Davis to receive financial contributions and campaign volunteers from HRC.
“Wendy Davis has been a champion for equality for all, whether it is the working poor or LGBT Texans,” HRC President Chad Griffin said in the release. “Her dedication to the underdog and commitment to fairness for all Texas families make her the right choice for Governor.”
The release notes that state Sen. Davis, D-Fort Worth, has sponsored bills to ban anti-LGBT employment discrimination and bullying. It also notes that her likely Republican opponent, Attorney General Greg Abbott, “has a history of taking anti-equality positions” — including his opinion saying domestic partner benefits are illegal and his opposition to an LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance in San Antonio.
More at http://www.lonestarq.com/breaking-human-rights-campaign-endorses-wendy-davis-texas-governor/ .
Construction worker killed in accident at Baylor stadium site
[div style="width:40%;"]
Rescuers late Tuesday pulled the body of a construction worker from the Brazos River after he and another worker plunged into the river when a boom being used to build a new pedestrian bridge collapsed Tuesday afternoon.
Waco police Sgt. W. Patrick Swanton said two workers were strapped to a boom working on the bridge that will connect the $260 million McLane Stadium to Baylor University’s campus when the boom suddenly fell into the river just after 4 p.m.
One worker was able to unharness himself and was pulled from the water. He was treated for hypothermia at Providence Medical Center, Swanton said.
Waco firefighters and state game wardens searched the river Tuesday evening with sonar equipment in an effort to locate the boom and missing worker.
More at http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/baylor/construction-worker-killed-in-accident-at-baylor-stadium-site/article_e105204e-4e9d-560d-bd85-e15b9a03972f.html .
Stockman walks out on Obama
WASHINGTON — Confession: I looked and looked for Rep. Steve Stockman in the House chamber tonight and couldn’t spot him.
His office says he walked out on the president’s State of the Union speech.
“Tonight I left early after hearing how the President is further abusing his Constitutional powers. I could not bear to watch as he continued to cross the clearly-defined boundaries of the Constitutional separation of powers,” Stockman said through an aide.
The rest of the statement:
After five years in office Obama refuses to admit his policies have failed. He instead demands we double down on the bitter class warfare that has left Americans jobless and hopeless.
Obama’s plan for higher taxes and more spending is a blueprint for perpetual poverty. The last thing America needs is more of the Democrats’ class warfare that has left our economy a barren landscape.
Even worse, Obama has openly vowed to break his oath of office and begin enacting his own brand of law through executive decree. This is a wholesale violation of his oath of office and a disqualifying offense.
Source: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/stockman-walks-out-on-obama.html/
Video, documents raise new questions in high school student Taser case
A grainy but dramatic security video raises new questions about the actions of a Bastrop County deputy sheriff who used his Taser on a high school student, resulting in brain damage to the 17-year-old, and casts doubt on official statements about what happened that day last fall.
In the video, Noe Nino De Rivera does not appear to be displaying any aggressive physical behavior toward two deputies at Cedar Creek High School and may have been backing away when one of the two deputies fired his Taser, causing Rivera to fall backward and hit his head on the hallway floor.
Sheriff’s officials said at the time that deputies were trying to break up a fight between two girls and that Rivera tried to interfere and acted aggressively. But the video makes it clear that the fight had been over for at least several minutes when the deputy arrived and used his Taser on Rivera.
-snip-
Rivera was initially taken to a hospital in Bastrop, but when his condition worsened, he was airlifted to Austin, where he was taken into emergency surgery to repair a severe brain hemorrhage. Rivera spent 52 days in a medically induced coma, according to Loewy.
He said this week that Rivera’s condition was life-threatening, that he nearly died several times and that the family’s medical bills have topped $1.5 million. Rivera was out of the hospital briefly but was recently readmitted.
“He will have to deal with the effects of a traumatic injury the rest of his life,” Loewy said.
The video is at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/video-documents-raise-new-questions-in-high-school/nc5h6/ . The detailed story is behind the paywall at http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local/video-documents-raise-new-questions-in-high-school/nc5h4/ .
[font color=green]Why are they picking on a short guy wearing a pink shirt that weighs 130 pounds?[/font] 
Hegar (R) raises another quarter million this month for comptroller race
Comptroller candidate Glenn Hegar, who likes to portray himself as the Republican with the most cake, has more cake.
Late Tuesday, Hegar said that earlier this month, he raised nearly $262,000 in a span of just over three weeks.
As of Jan. 23, Hegar had nearly $2.7 million of cash, the state senator from Katy said in a release.
A spokesman said Hegar has more money, has rounded up more endorsements and has won more straw polls — such as the Denton County GOP’s, on Monday night — than any of his three Republican rivals for the comptroller post being vacated by Susan Combs. They are Rep. Harvey Hilderbran of Kerrville, Debra Medina of Wharton and former Rep. Raul Torres of Corpus Christi.
More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/hegar-raises-another-quarter-million-this-month.html/ .
[font color=green]Hegar was the senator that introduced the bill in the Texas Senate during the special sessions that placed additional restrictions on clinics that provide abortions and caused many of them to close.
The only candidate in the Democratic primary for comptroller is Mike Collier, a corporate financial executive. There will also be a Green Party and a Libertarian candidate in the general election.[/font]
Texas Emerging Technology Fund recipient files for bankruptcy
AUSTIN – An energy storage company that received public funds from Gov. Rick Perry’s Emerging Technology Fund and President Barack Obama’s administration has filed for bankruptcy.
As reported by greentechmedia.com, Xtreme Power, Inc. has hired a New York firm to find a purchaser as it attempts to reorganize.
In March, 2007, the governor’s office announced a $2 million award to the Kyle-based company to develop a system to store and deliver large quantities of electric power.
Created in 2005 at Perry’s urging, the tech fund uses tax dollars to help high-tech start-ups.
More at http://watchdogblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/texas-emerging-technology-fund-recipient-files-for-bankruptcy.html/ .
[font color=green]Another affirmation of Gov. Perry's economic policies. I hope that there is minimal disruption among the employees.[/font]
Dallas Police Officer Arrested, Accused of Sex Assault While On-Duty
A Dallas police officer has been arrested, accused of sexually assaulting a woman while on duty.
According to the Dallas Police Department, Officer La'Corie Johnson, was on duty when he stopped a woman on the 3200 block of Larga Drive on Sept. 9, 2013. Police said Johnson told the woman she had an outstanding warrant for her arrest and that if she had sex with him he wouldn't take her to jail.
Police said Johnson then drove to a nearby location where the officer forced the woman to have sex. The woman was later released at another location, police said.
After the woman reported the incident to police, an Internal Affairs investigation was opened.
More at http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Dallas-Police-Officer-La-Corie-Johnson-Arrested-Accused-of-Sex-Assault-While-On-Duty-242459901.html .
ETA: Additional report at http://www.wfaa.com/news/crime/Dallas-officer-arrested-for-on-duty-sex-assault-242455031.html .
Rocker Ted Nugent's League City appearance draws criticism; subsidized by hotel occupancy tax funds
Ted Nugent, a popular rocker but somewhat polarizing political figure, is coming to League City in a fundraiser for wounded veterans.
The Salute to Heroes Patriot Dinner and Concert, scheduled for 7 p.m. April 12 at South Shore Harbour Resort, will raise funds for Operation Finally Home -- a New Braunfels-based nonprofit that builds homes for disabled service members or surviving families of the fallen.
The city council voted Dec. 17 to commit up to $20,000 in League City hotel occupancy tax funds to support the event.
The event will "enhance and promote tourism and the promotion of the arts, and will raise funds with Operation Finally Home...," said League City spokeswoman Kristi Wyatt via email on Tuesday.
More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Rocker-Ted-Nugent-s-League-City-appearance-draws-5182159.php .
Nugent's provided a delusional response stating, "I was not drafted during the Viet Nam War but I have served my country and the warriors to the best of my ability my entire adult life. My critics should be ashamed of themselves. I will continue to thank and connect with my warrior BloodBrothers anyway."
Profile Information
Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,102
