December 12, 2011
Suspected Jewel Thief Dishes with Reporter
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram lands an interview with John O’Brien, the main suspect in the “rooftop burglaries.”
2011 – Page 2 of 23
December 9, 2011
Mexican Authorities Tortured an El Pasoan Prisoner
A Texas man serving time in a federal prison in Juárez was beaten and abused by soldiers.
Critters
December 9, 2011
Furry Friday: How to Feed 6,000 Zoo Animals
The Houston Chronicle offers a glimpse into the how the Houston Zoo’s industrial kitchen operates.
December 9, 2011
UT Law Dean Asked to Resign
As a compensation scandal unfolds, the University of Texas Law Dean, Larry Seger, resigned at the request of university President Bill Powers.
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2011
Is Perry’s “Anti-Gay Ad” Having Its Intended Impact?
People are definitely talking about the controversial “Strong” ad, which has Perry’s own team divided, but will its message get him votes in Iowa?
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2011
Macy’s Draws Fire for Its Dressing Room Policy
A Florida activist group files a complaint after a San Antonio employee was dismissed for refusing to let a transgender customer use the women’s changing room.
December 8, 2011
Win the Weekend: What Texas is Talking About
Whether you’re talking to teens about politics or on a date with a baseball fanatic, we’ll give you something to talk about.
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2011
Former Houstonian Faces Lashing in Saudi Arabia
Shaima Jastaniah, who lived in Houston for ten years, could be flogged for driving the black BMW SUV she had shipped to Saudia Arabia from Texas.
Politics & Policy
December 8, 2011
AP critiques Perry’s latest Iowa spot
The Perry campaign has a huge ad blitz under way in Iowa, aimed at the state’s influential evangelical/social conservative community. The campaign has spent some $2 million, according to the Associated Press. The spot was designed to be controversial. It stretches the facts on several points, and it is very
Music
December 8, 2011
Two Texans Get Overdue Props From Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Gilmer native Freddie King and England-to-Austin transplant Ian McLagan’s old bands get the nod from Cleveland.
Business
December 7, 2011
OSHA Files Whistleblower Lawsuit Against Whole Foods
The federal agency claims that Whole Foods’ Miami store fired an employee for complaining about a ruptured sewer line.
December 7, 2011
Another Earth? Scientists Discover a Habitable Planet
Kepler-22b is situated in the “Goldilocks” zone, which could make it just right for maintaining life.
Food & Drink
December 7, 2011
Woman Fights for Three Meals a Day in Prisons
An Austin woman worried about the health of her father, an inmate at the Eastham Unit, is petitioning the prisons to feed inmates three meals every day.
Politics & Policy
December 7, 2011
How the media could save Perry
As the ranks of Republican candidates thin with Herman Cain’s decision to suspend his campaign, the remaining serious candidates are reduced to three: Romney, Gingrich, and Perry. No, I haven’t forgotten Ron Paul. I just dismiss him as a contender. He can get his share of the votes, but he
Politics & Policy
December 7, 2011
The University of Texas Registers .XXX Domain Names
On Tuesday dot-XXX domain names went on sale, prompting major universities, sports teams, and politicians to purchase URLs to protect their public image.
December 7, 2011
Dust Bowl Texas: The Drought’s Impact on Groundwater, State Parks, and Horses
The drought leaves nothing untouched. This week the ongoing drought impacts the state’s groundwater, state parks, and horses.
Politics & Policy
December 6, 2011
Can the Republicans redistrict in 2013?
Sure. The House can pass a bill that draws new Republican districts and does away with old Democratic districts. What lawmakers can’t do, though, is do away with minority districts. Those are protected under the Voting Rights Act. If the mapmakers do away with minority districts, they are flirting with retrogression.
Politics & Policy
December 6, 2011
A vote for RGIII
It will be a huge injustice if anyone other than Robert Griffin III wins the Heisman trophy. The other finalists are Stanford’s Andrew Luck, Alabama’s Trent Richardson, Wisconsin’s Montee Ball, and LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu. There is one huge difference between all of these worthy players and Griffin. Luck, Richardson,
December 6, 2011
Plano Model, Blogger Severely Injured By Plane Propeller
Good Morning America interviewed Lauren Scruggs’s parents about the condition of their daughter, who lost a hand after walking into a plane propeller.
BBQ Joint Reviews
December 6, 2011
The Salt Lick Bar-B-Que
I’ve often thought that the Salt Lick is a joint that serves very respectable smoked meat, and is vastly overrated at the same time. The wait for a table on this sprawling campus of barbecue can exceed and hour, but no worries as you can enjoy drinks and live music
December 6, 2011
Remembering the Yogurt Shop Murders
Twenty years ago today, four teenage girls were murdered at an “I Can't Believe It’s Yogurt” in Austin, and the killers have yet to be caught.
December 6, 2011
Texas Has More Snow Than Chicago
From Abilene to El Paso to Amarillo, see photos of the snow that lightly coated North and West Texas.
The Culture
December 5, 2011
MFAH Lands Star Director from Met
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Gary Tinterow is packing his bags for the Bayou City to head the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
Energy
December 5, 2011
Decision Delayed on the Fate of a Tiny Lizard
The feds have postponed their decision on whether to add the dunes sagebrush lizard to the endangered species list until mid-2012.
Politics & Policy
December 5, 2011
Perry courts Cain supporters
Politico’s Ben Smith noted yesterday that Rick Perry’s Facebook page appeals to Cain voters to switch their allegiance to Perry in the wake of Cain’s suspension of his presidential campaign. There is a photo of Cain and Perry, with the phrase “Both Washington Outsiders” between them.
December 5, 2011
The Weekend’s Best Investigative Reporting
From squatters in Tarrant County to the far-reaching influence of the American Legislative Exchange Council, we’ve rounded up (and broken down) some of the best enterprise stories from around the state.
Politics & Policy
December 5, 2011
San Antonio court files unusual supplemental order
This is quite remarkable. The San Antonio court that drew the redistricting maps for Congress, the state House, and state Senate issued a supplemental order that amounts to a defendant’s brief on its own behalf. With no prompting from a higher court, the district court launched into an explanation of
Politics & Policy
December 5, 2011
Seliger calls out Michael Quinn Sullivan
The Amarillo state senator published an op-ed piece in the Midland Reporter-Telegram on Sunday called “Who Will Watch the Watchers,” in which he criticizes Sullivan for what he calls “fraudulent misrepresentation of voting records” by him and his “misnamed special interest group,” Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.Sullivan had
Food & Drink
December 5, 2011
New York City Has “Interesting” Frito Pie
Yeah, that’s probably the right word for it. New York’s food blog, Grub Street, shows us nine of the city’s “most interesting Frito pies.”
Sports
December 4, 2011
The Texas Football Coaching Carousel
Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman marches on as gossip swirls about University of Texas’s Mack Brown’s departure and University of Houston’s Kevin Sumlin’s future.
Sports
December 4, 2011
Fightin’ Words: Hal Mumme Lays Into Craig James
The football coach at Abilene’s McMurry University, and pal to Mike Leach, had a few less-than-Christian words for Craig James and his son, Adam.
Politics & Policy
December 4, 2011
Political obit: Scott Hochberg
What a huge loss for the Legislature. Hochberg knew more about school finance than any other member, and yet he never used his immense store of knowledge to get the better of anyone, or to gain a partisan advantage for Democrats. He was a completely square shooter, and it is
Business
December 2, 2011
Enron: Ten Years Later
It’s been exactly one decade since the energy company filed for bankruptcy, forever changing Houston and the U.S. economy.
Politics & Policy
December 2, 2011
Carona’s advice to Abbott
Earlier today, a message appeared in the comment thread for “Abbott vs. the DOJ” under the heading, “Senator John Carona says,” offering blunt words of advice to Attorney General Abbott about his handling of the redistricting case(s). I called Sen. Carona’s Capitol office to ascertain if the author of the
December 2, 2011
Bum Steer of the Week: A Case of Fowl Play Turned Deadly
A man murders a beloved turkey that lived in a New Braunfels park.
Politics & Policy
December 2, 2011
Abbott v. the DOJ
Let me see if I understand this. First, Abbott wants to avoid submitting the Texas redistricting maps for preclearance at the Department of Justice. He tells everybody that he has figured out how to bypass the DOJ by going to the D.C. Circuit and moving for summary judgment from Republican-friendly
Business
December 2, 2011
Drop in Juárez Murder Rate Is Bad for Funeral Business
The El Paso Times reported that as Juárez’s murder rate drops, funeral homes suffer, a story that elicited horrified reactions from the community.
Politics & Policy
December 2, 2011
What is Perry’s message?
Perry’s recent comments in New Hampshire about federal bureaucrats–that he would send them to “some really god-awful place” if he failed to implement his policies–may not seem like a big deal, but it does indicate something important: how far he has strayed off-message. Remember, this is a candidate whose
Health
December 2, 2011
Lubbock, Dallas Among the Top Eight Artery-Clogged Cities
Prevention magazine blames fast food, steakhouses, and barbecue joints for the high obesity rates.
Sports
December 1, 2011
Win the Weekend: What Texas Was Talking About This Week
Whether you’re drinking with politicos or dining with your parents, we’ll give you something to talk about to make you sound informed.
The Culture
December 1, 2011
Furry Friday: Red Headed Kittie
Willie Nelson’s classic album Red Headed Stranger gets “The Kitten Covers” treatment, but which other Texas albums deserve to be profiled?
Politics & Policy
December 1, 2011
Why Did Mitt Romney Visit with Bush 41?
Nothing to see here. The presidential candidate just dropped by George H.W. Bush’s Houston home today for a friendly visit.
Eat My Words
December 1, 2011
Do Good, Eat Well, and Stockpile Some Cheer for the Upcoming Holiday Season
It’s not too late to snag a couple of seats for the twelfth annual Stephan Pyles Celebrity Chef Dinner in Dallas this coming Sunday evening, December 4, sponsored by the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. This year the line-up of star chefs from across Texas includes Stephan Pyles
December 1, 2011
Key Apollo 13 Document Sells for Pretty Penny at Auction
The checklist that astronaut James Lovell scratched out to calculate his crippled spacecraft’s reentry into earth’s orbit fetched $388,375 at auction in Dallas on Wednesday.
The Culture
December 1, 2011
Joel Osteen Developing Reality Show Series
Megachurch pastor and televangelist Joel Osteen, who is no stranger to the camera, will step his exposure up a notch by starring in a new reality show, tentatively titled Pack Your Bags.
Sports
December 1, 2011
Will the Post-Lockout Dallas Mavericks Be Able To Defend Their Title?
A new collective bargaining agreement and the potential loss of Tyson Chandler, the team’s defensive star, may mean a tough road head for the reigning NBA champs.
BBQ
December 1, 2011
Franklin BBQ Gets Twitter Homage
A new Twitter parody account dubs acclaimed Austin pitmaster Aaron Franklin “Barbecue Jesus.”
Art
December 1, 2011
Six Must-See Museums and Collections
Six members from Women for the Arts share which museums, collections, and venues travelers should not miss.
The Culture
December 1, 2011
The Drop Everything List
The Mavs vs. the Heat, Lavelle White in Austin, RG3 takes on the Alamo Bowl, and Hayes Carll plays the John T. Floore Country Store . . .
Sports
December 1, 2011
The Texas Quarterback Boom Continues
Robert Griffin III, who led Baylor to its best season in decades and won the Heisman Trophy, is the latest stick of dynamite in the Texas quarterback boom.