September 23, 2015

Halliburton plans more layoffs, now targeting management

Oil field services giant Halliburton is planning more cuts to its workforce, including management positions in North America where the crude slump has been particularly brutal, on top of thousands of layoffs already announced this year.

In an internal memo from the company that was posted on the website of an Austin-based consultant, Halliburton laid out a plan to “flatten” its North American business by eliminating multiple layers of management — a decision that will undoubtedly affect Houston-area employees where the company is headquartered. Halliburton also said it will pursue additional cuts to its headcount as oil patch activity continues to falter.

“These actions are the result of significant deliberations and I realize how difficult these measures are for all of us whether they affect you directly or indirectly,” the memo stated. “While it doesn’t make it any easier, the company is not alone in taking these actions as similar actions are being taken throughout the entire oil and gas industry — service providers and operators alike.”

The planned layoffs add to a growing list of energy job losses that have started to fan out from the oil field to corporate offices around the globe. Worldwide, nearly 179,000 workers have lost their jobs in the downturn, according to data collected by energy recruiter Swift Worldwide Resources.

Read more: http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/09/23/halliburton-planning-more-layoffs-targeting-management-in-north-america/#33445101=0

September 23, 2015

Prosecutors: Pain medicine doc over-prescribed to retiree involved in crash that killed four

CONROE - Montgomery County prosecutors said Wednesday they have charged a pain medicine doctor with numerous drug offenses after they say he wrote too many prescriptions to a retiree who was charged in a fatal crash last weekend that killed a family of four.

Dr. Rezik Saqer was arrested Tuesday night and charged with four counts of fraudulent possession of a controlled substance, three counts of possession of a controlled substance and three counts of diversion of a controlled substance for personal use, court papers show.

At a press conference Wednesday, District Attorney Brett Ligon alleged that Saqer over-prescribed hydrocodone and other pain medication to the retiree, 68-year-old Ronald Cooper, who they said was under the influence at the time of the crash.

Cooper is charged with four counts of intoxicated manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault following a three-vehicle fatal wreck that occurred early Sunday afternoon.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/crime-courts/article/Doctor-charged-in-fatal-Montgomery-County-crash-6524083.php

September 23, 2015

Galveston police chief resigns amid city probe for violating civil rights law

GALVESTON – Galveston Police Chief Henry Porretto resigned Wednesday amid a city investigation into alleged misconduct.

The city issued a two-paragraph news release saying that Porretto had given notice of his retirement, effective Oct. 30. , and that he would remain on leave until then.

City officials said last week that Porretto had been suspended, but declined to give the reason.

After repeated media requests, the administration of City Manager Brian Maxwell said Monday that Porretto was being investigated for allegedly violating Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Galveston-police-chief-resigns-ending-6525085.php

September 23, 2015

Fort Worth funeral home owner found guilty of theft -- Owner ran Ponzi scheme with human bodies

FORT WORTH -- A Tarrant County jury took less than an hour to find an Arlington man guilty of theft for not delivering the funeral home services that he promised.

Dondre Johnson, 41, helped his wife, Rachel Hardy-Johnson, run the Johnson Family Mortuary until July 15, 2014, when police and officials with the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office were alerted that something was amiss at the funeral home.

A subsequent investigation resulted in the removal of eight bodies, in various stages of decomposition, from the funeral home.

Johnson was convicted on two counts of felony theft of $1,500 to $20,000 and faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article36280293.html#storylink=cpy

September 23, 2015

Wendy Davis — another bid for public office?

FORT WORTH -- Wendy Davis — a former Fort Worth state senator and last year’s unsuccessful Democratic gubernatorial candidate — hopes to serve in public office again some day.

But she doesn’t know when, where or for what office.

“I do hope to run again,” she recently told the Rolling Stone magazine, for an article entitled Wendy Davis on Running for Office Again, Life After Defeat. “I have no particular path in mind at this point.

“I am simply keeping myself open for opportunities that make sense.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article36313944.html#storylink=cpy

September 23, 2015

Governor directs transportation agency to fix worst choke points on state’s roads

Photo included because this is what comes up when using the Stop TonyMeow app that replaces any picture tagged with Abbott with a cute kitten instead.

Gov. Greg Abbott today said he’s directing the Texas Transportation Commission to identify – and untangle – the worst road choke points in the state.

“Texans’ quality of life and our state economy are counting on swift success,” the governor said, according to a transcript of a speech made at the Brazoria County Transportation & Infrastructure Summit.

Abbott said that Texans sent a “loud and clear message” with the overwhelming passage last year of a constitutional amendment that will steer billions in additional revenues to the state transportation department. He also urged voters to approve a second amendment in November that will send even more in existing revenues to the state’s highway fund.

“This funding ensures TxDOT has the sustainable, recurring and predictable revenue needed to plan large-scale, multi-year construction projects,” he said.

Read more: http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/2015/09/governor-directs-transportation-agency-to-fix-worst-choke-points-on-states-roads.html/

September 23, 2015

Moose hunter from Plano mauled by brown bear with cubs in Alaska

Authorities say a Plano man mauled by a brown bear while moose hunting in Alaska has suffered serious injuries.

They say a bear with cubs attacked Gregory Joseph Matthews, 47, as he hunted Tuesday evening with his brother at the north end of Skilak Lake in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge. He is expected to survive.

Ken Marsh, a spokesman with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, told the Alaska Dispatch News Wednesday that Matthews had been hunting with his brother, Roger Matthews and that the brothers were about 40 yards apart, making moose calls.

"Early reports indicate that when Greg was attacked, Roger went to his aid," Marsh told the newspaper. "At that point, the bear started toward Roger and Roger fired at the animal twice with a .300 Winchester Magnum rifle. Roger believes he struck the bear both times."

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/plano/headlines/20150923-moose-hunter-from-plano-mauled-by-brown-bear-with-cubs-in-alaska.ece

September 23, 2015

Ted Cruz sets shutdown wheels in motion, says GOP stands for nothing

WASHINGTON–Sen. Ted Cruz promised to delay to a vote on a measure that would fund the federal government and Planned Parenthood, all while criticizing Republican leadership for giving up their leverage to defund the women’s health agency.

His argument: If GOP leadership isn’t willing to risk a government shutdown, they’re surrendering to Democrats.

“When Reagan was president, there were eight partial shutdowns, including six before his historic 1984 reelection,” wrote Cruz, a 2016 presidential candidate who often compares himself to the late president, in a Politico op-ed. “The world didn’t end. But that’s what happens sometimes when a leader fights for his principles.”

Cruz told reporters he would block speedy consideration of Senate government funding legislation that keeps spending levels the same–called a “continuing resolution”–because it doesn’t defund Planned Parenthood. That would force a Saturday session, rare for a legislature that routinely starts its weekend on Thursday evening.

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/09/ted-cruz-sets-shutdown-wheels-in-motion-says-gop-stands-for-nothing.html/

September 23, 2015

Irving clockmaker’s family hires lawyer to investigate ‘hoax bomb’ charge

Two little-known lawyers announced Wednesday that they’ve been hired to investigate police treatment of Irving’s most famous teenager.

Ahmed Mohamed’s family has retained Thomas Bowers, the attorney told reporters Wednesday in the top-floor office of a north Dallas advertising firm.

“There’s a problem when you have a 14-year-old child arrested in school and basically humiliated in front of his classmates, his teachers, his friends and basically the whole world,” said Bowers. “He may be smiling on the outside, but he’s having some issues.”

Ahmed’s family said the now-famous boy has lost sleep since his teacher reported his homemade clock to police, who put him in handcuffs on a quickly dropped “hoax bomb” charge. The lawyers plan to have a medical professional examine the boy while they look into the city and school district’s actions.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/northwest-dallas-county/headlines/20150923-irving-clockmakers-family-hires-lawyer-to-investigate-hoax-bomb-charge.ece

September 23, 2015

Twin Peaks building in Waco, site of deadly shootout, up for sale or lease

Staff photo— Jerry Larson
The former Twin Peaks building can be leased for $350,000 a year plus the cost of insurance and taxes.

The now-infamous Twin Peaks building at Central Texas Marketplace, the scene of a bloody shootout May 17 involving rival motorcycle gangs and law enforcement that left nine dead and led to nearly 200 arrests, has been put on the market.

Greg Blandford with Position Property Group in Dallas has confirmed he is listing the property and plans a “soft” marketing campaign to kick off efforts to find a buyer or lessee. The sales price for the 7,869-square-foot building, which also has a 1,800 square-foot patio, is $4.2 million. It can be leased for $350,000 a year plus the cost of insurance and taxes.

A website identifies Blandford as the Twin Peaks listing agent for East Texas among six zones around Texas. In the wake of the melee in Waco, the Addison-based chain said the property at Central Texas Marketplace would never again be used by Twin Peaks. It also canceled its agreement with the local franchisee to represent Twin Peaks in the Waco market.

Local real estate agents polled by the Tribune-Herald shortly after the shootout had mixed views on whether a prospect would be willing to buy the building and remodel it, or whether the building would need to be demolished to erase any stigma attached to it.

Read more: http://www.wacotrib.com/news/twin-peaks-biker-shooting/twin-peaks-building-site-of-deadly-shootout-up-for-sale/article_42ff2a8a-aa95-564d-8a5f-ace681421715.html