October 2, 2013

Former Texas SC Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson joining appellate law firm

Wallace B. Jefferson, the day after stepping down as chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, announced that he will be joining a boutique law firm with offices in Dallas, Houston and Austin.

Along with Jefferson, his former staff attorney Rachel Ekery, will also be joining Alexander Dubose & Townsend LLP.

The firm will be renamed to add Jefferson into their letterhead. Both Ekery and Jefferson will begin on Nov. 18.

-snip-

Jefferson was the first black chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court.

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/wallace-jefferson-joining-appellate-law-firm.html/ .

October 2, 2013

Lyceum poll: Abbott ahead in run for governor, but half of all Texans not yet tuned in

A new Texas Lyceum poll indicates that Attorney General Greg Abbott is the clear front-runner to become the state’s next governor. But, according to the survey, which was in the field for two weeks in September, half of all Texans have yet to even think about who they support or express a preference.

The poll found that among registered voters, Abbott held a 29 to 21 percent advantage in a potential matchup against Democratic state Sen. Wendy Davis, who is expected to announce her candidacy for governor Thursday.

But, “50 percent hadn’t yet thought about it enough to have a preference. Not surprisingly, Democrats and black respondents expressed a preference for Davis while white respondents, independents, men, and Republicans expressed a preference for Abbott. Hispanics showed a slight preference for Davis, and women expressed a very slight preference for Abbott that is within the margin of error,” the pollsters said.

According to the Lyceum survey, conducted by University of Texas professor Daron Shaw and UT PhD candidate Joshua Blank, “The good news for the GOP is that these numbers translate into an edge of between 8 and 16 points, assuming undecided voters break proportionately. The (potentially) good news for the Democrats is that roughly half of the potential electorate hasn’t thought enough about the election yet to have an opinion.”

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/lyceum-poll-abbott-ahead-in-run-for-governor-but-h/nbDCW/ .

October 2, 2013

Cornyn Lies: Under Democrats, Texas Will Become Dystopian Failed State

So far, the turn-Texas-blue group Battleground Texas' primary public function has been to serve as a Kim Jong-un-like bogeyman for Republican politicians to campaign against. Leave it to U.S. Senator John Cornyn, desperately trying to convince us that he's just as crazy as junior colleague Ted Cruz, to take this conceit to its logical conclusion. In his new campaign ad, he offers a dystopian vision of an all-but-failed state that emerges as soon as Democrats gain a foothold in state government.

Cornyn's vision has only one flaw: He leaves out the zombies.

Source: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2013/10/cornyn_under_democrats_texas_w.php

[font color=green]What a piece of fear-mongering shit![/font]

October 1, 2013

Michael Brown's divorce trial sidelined by bankruptcy case

Insurance has lapsed on this yacht purchased by former hand surgeon Michael Brown with $715,000 in financing from Iberia Bank, according to court documents.

Michael Brown's divorce from his fourth wife, Rachel Brown, has been delayed by his bankruptcy case.

Scheduled to begin Sept. 30 in Harris County's 309th State District Court, the former hand surgeon's divorce trial is on hold until the stay triggered by the bankruptcy case is lifted, a court official said.

Michael Brown, who now lives in Miami, has not yet returned to Houston, officials said.

Brown filed for bankruptcy in January in Florida but withdrew the request the next month. The case was reinstated Sept. 23 with a transfer from Miami to Houston.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Michael-Brown-s-divorce-trial-sidelined-by-4860127.php?cmpid=hpts .

October 1, 2013

All Dallas ISD students will now get free breakfast and lunch

Every Dallas ISD student will be able to eat meals at school for free, the district announced Tuesday.

The district got approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which manages the free and reduced school meals program, to let all DISD students no longer have to pay. The change is expected to save the district money by eliminating about 40 temporary positions and reducing paperwork.

“It’s a wonderful benefit,” said Dora Rivas, DISD’s executive director of food and child nutrition services. “It’s about paperwork and efficiencies, but I think the biggest winners in this are going to be students.”

The new program applies to every student, whether they are from a low-income family or not. It only applies to meals and not snacks and other items. It started Tuesday.

More at http://educationblog.dallasnews.com/2013/10/all-dallas-isd-students-will-now-get-free-breakfast-and-lunch.html/ .

October 1, 2013

Fredericksburg students crown a friend with Down syndrome

Libby Klein, left, stands with her escort Lane Williams after being crowned Homecoming Queen of Fredericksburg High School Saturday night.

FREDERICKSBURG — After spending the weekend as royalty, Libby Klein resumed her friendly, upbeat and down-to-earth existence Monday at Fredericksburg High School.

But the euphoria persists from the affectionate gesture of classmates who elected her homecoming queen Friday during halftime of the Billies' 16-13 defeat of the Llano Yellow Jackets.

“The crown makes me feel perfect,” said Klein, a senior with Down syndrome. “I wanted the crown so badly because I didn't have one.”

Klein, 19, was the clear winner over four other would-be queens for the honorary title that this year carries special significance.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Fredericksburg-students-crown-a-friend-with-Down-4857696.php .

October 1, 2013

Thief claims underwear selection was not to his ‘liking’ in 1 of 7 panty raids

MIDLAND, TEXAS--A Midland thief with an apparent penchant for women’s panties perused a former classmate’s unmentionables, but found that “none were to his liking,” according to his arrest affidavit.

Samuel Castrellon, 22, of Midland, was being held on a $25,000 bond for a first-degree felony charge of burglary of a habitation with intent to commit another felony. He posted bond and was released on Friday.

Castrellon was arrested Aug. 29 on a second-degree felony charge of burglary of a habitation for breaking into a residence. He gave a recorded confession and admitted to burglarizing seven different homes, according to the affidavit.

Castrellon does not burglarize homes for jewelry or electronics, but for women’s underwear, according to the report. In all of the alleged burglaries, Castrellon knew the women, watched their homes and when the opportunity presented itself, he entered the homes to steal their underwear, according to the affidavit.

Castrellon said during one of the burglaries at a residence in the 4300 block of Pasadena Drive, he jumped the fence and broke the back door window and entered the house. But he didn’t take any panties because “none were to his liking,” according to the report.

More at http://www.mywesttexas.com/news/crime/article_c480c9c2-27ef-11e3-bdb5-001a4bcf887a.html .

[font color=green]As an accomplice in the traditional panty raids of college life it is necessary to point out that beggars can't be choosers when pilfering ladies panties. FWIW, all of the panties were willingly provided by the female coeds and none of them were at risk of harm.[/font]

October 1, 2013

Anthony Bourdain attacks NM 'Frito pie' dish

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Insults dished out by food critic Anthony Bourdain on an episode of CNN's "Parts Unknown" have stirred up outrage in New Mexico.

The sharp-tongued chef and writer lashed into the "World Famous" Frito pies sold at Santa Fe's Five & Dime General Store's snack bar - a tourist attraction and a mainstay in the city's historic plaza.

The dish, according to Bourdain, tasted as if it were made with canned Hormel Chili and a "day-glow orange cheese-like substance."

He also charged that the local favorite isn't even a New Mexico meal, but rather a Texas creation. He said New Mexicans should leave the recipe to the Texans.

"New Mexico, you have many wonderful things," Bourdain said. "I think, let Texas have this one."

More at http://www.elpasotimes.com/latestnews/ci_24206132/anthony-bourdain-attacks-nm-frito-pie-dish .

October 1, 2013

Ted Cruz Wants To Replace Obama, Not Obamacare

Ted Cruz doesn't want to replace Obamacare, he wants to replace President Obama.

Ted Cruz made his appearance at this year's Texas Tribune Festival in front of a "Come and Take It" flag, ironically it was via Skype and he was actually in Washington D.C. It was though, the perfect metaphor for a conversation that gave insight into the real reasons behind his grand stand on the Senate floor -- his campaign for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

This act of self-aggrandizement has drawn some parallels to what Wendy Davis did this summer but besides polar opposite motivations (preserving access to care vs. denying it) Ted Cruz defied both his party and the majority of individuals who do not support the Affordable Care Act.

Even though Texas has the highest uninsured population, Cruz will personally benefit greatly with Republican primary voters by appearing as the one individual who made a last stand against the funding of Obamacare.

More at http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/14151/ted-cruz-wants-to-replace-obama-not-obamacare .

October 1, 2013

Former Enron exec indicted in fraud case

A federal grand jury indicted a former Enron executive on fraud charges and concealing assets connected to his 2008 bankruptcy.

The indictment against Jeffrey Adam Shankman was returned on Monday, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magdison's office said.

Federal officials said Shankman, 46, orchestrated a scheme to conceal assets from his creditors and the trustee appointed to oversee his case, officials said.

On Monday, Shankman could not be reached comment.

More at http://www.chron.com/business/enron/article/Former-Enron-exec-indicted-in-fraud-case-4858122.php?cmpid=hpbn .

[font color=green]Does anybody else notice that Shankman has a penchant for fraud and bankruptcy? I guess it was OTJ training.[/font]