Texas governor candidates take day at different speeds

Bill White showed up Saturday morning at his Houston campaign headquarters in jeans, a lavender shirt and chocolate-colored ostrich boots, ready to knock on doors and ask for votes. Rick Perry just knocked off. He canceled a tentatively set foray into East Texas and instead went to College Station to watch the Aggies play the Red Raiders. Both candidates for governor said the race is yet to be won, but there were telling signs that the polls might be right and that Perry, the Republican, has an insurmountable lead that will take him to an unprecedented third full term.



Slater and Hoppe trace the candidates' last days of campaigning: http://dallasne.ws/bTRZcy

Driver, Madden at 1st airing of AZ immigration law

Dallas area Reps. Joe Driver and Jerry Madden sat on a conservative group's task force that drafted Arizona's controversial immigration law, National Public Radio reported today.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/a9TICa

Call Central Casting -- or Copenhagen

Garrett on Pasadena election's boost to Danish economy...
http://dallasne.ws/988izl

Poll shows Rick Perry with 12-point lead over Bill White in Texas governor's race

AUSTIN – Defying the anti-incumbent mood across much of the country, Republican Rick Perry holds a double-digit lead over Democratic challenger Bill White and appears headed to a record third full term as Texas governor. With just days to go before the election, White has been unable to close the gap with Perry, whose anti-Washington message and appeal to an energized tea party movement has paid dividends.

http://dallasne.ws/beWdMW

Tea Party Caucus created in Legislature

Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston on Thursday announced that he and other conservative members of the Legislature will form a Tea Party Caucus for the upcoming session to promote positions supported by Tea Party members in Texas. Patrick said members are still being recruited and the full caucus membership will be announced at a political rally near the start of the session in January.
http://dallasne.ws/dBzY2y

South Texas lawmaker Kino Flores found guilty on tampering, perjury charges

AUSTIN – State Rep. Kino Flores, a South Texas lawmaker accused of using his elected position to sell legislative favors, was convicted Wednesday on all 11 counts of tampering with government records and perjury. A Travis County jury convicted Flores, 52, of five counts of misdemeanor tampering with a governmental record, four counts of felony tampering with a governmental record and two counts of misdemeanor perjury in deliberations that began Tuesday. Flores did not testify.


via The Associated Press: http://dallasne.ws/blKcVQ

Texas death row inmate freed after prosecutors drop charges 1992 multiple murder

HOUSTON – A man sent to Texas death row for the 1992 slaughter of a central Texas family became a free man Wednesday after prosecutors dropped the capital murder charges against him. Anthony Graves walked out of the Burleson County Jail in Caldwell on Wednesday afternoon after 16 years behind bars. He had been convicted of helping Robert Earl Carter kill Bobbie Joyce Davis; her 16-year-old daughter, Nicole; and four grandchildren between the ages of 4 and 9 in the family's Somerville home. The family was stabbed, shot and bludgeoned with a hammer and their house doused with gasoline and set ablaze.

(AP) http://dallasne.ws/aZj4kb

LBJ's 'daily diary' as president now online

The LBJ Library & Museum today posted more than 14,000 pages of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's "daily diaries" on the library's website. It's searchable.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/bcXZhm

LBJ diaries here: http://dallasne.ws/cWXczd

Former attorney Trevor Rees-Jones is new member of GOP's billionaire donors club

WASHINGTON – The wealthy donors who have poured millions into groups supporting the Republican effort to retake Congress include several Texans who are go-to donors for every election. But one donor from Dallas is a new entrant to this exclusive club of politically active billionaires: Trevor Rees-Jones.  
Dave Michaels has the story. http://dallasne.ws/9Fs8PF

Texas governor candidates Bill White, Rick Perry clash over schools

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry says Texas' public schools are good and getting better. His Democratic challenger, Bill White, says schools have suffered at the hands of the Republican incumbent for a decade and need help from new leadership.
http://dallasne.ws/b7GmiD

Wash's way: A look inside Ron Washington's path to the top

Let's start today by showing some love for Washington:

SAN FRANCISCO – Ron Washington is almost home. Rather, he's across San Francisco Bay from the last stop of his prior life. He was a 54-year-old baseball gypsy then, the Oakland A's cocksure, cussin' third base and infield coach. Four years later, he's a World Series manager. Perhaps that bears repeating, with emphasis on World and Series, as Washington leads the Rangers into Game 1 tonight against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park.

Brad Townsend reports: http://dallasne.ws/baHr5d

Houston trial lawyer rides to House Dems' rescue? Why, it's ele-Mostyn-ary, my dear Watson.

With Houston trial lawyer Steve Mostyn's money, mostly, the House Democratic Campaign Committee is working furiously to protect Democratic state reps and put a few challengers over the top.

The law firm of Mostyn provided 79 percent of the nearly $950,000 that the group raised between Sept. 24 and Oct. 23, according to its latest money report.


http://dallasne.ws/dDuj0X

Redistricting hopes of GOP backed by cash

State and national Republican groups are investing heavily in preserving the Texas House's GOP majority -- clearly with an eye to redistricting next year, according to campaign finance reports published today on the Texas Ethics Commission's website and previous news reports.


At least $1.2 million recently flowed from Virginia-based American Crossroads, co-founded by strategist Karl Rove , to the Virginia-based Republican State Leadership Committee, run by former national GOP chairman Ed Gillespie.

Garrett takes a look: http://dallasne.ws/9uSIy0

2 are cautiously optimistic Legislature will allow concealed carry at Texas colleges

A bill to allow guns in college campus buildings died in the last legislative session, but supporters say they're cautiously optimistic about its chances next year.



In 2009, "We did have overwhelming support in the Texas Legislature," said Scott Lewis, Texas Legislative Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, noting that the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 20-11 and that 75 representatives signed on as co-authors.

http://dallasne.ws/aUUGZA

Texas Gov. Rick Perry raises $8.4 million, challenger Bill White raises $3.7 million in latest reporting period

AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Rick Perry spent $15 million on television ads in a blistering spending spree in the final weeks of the Republican’s campaign against Democratic challenger Bill White.

The governor tapped a handful of reliable big-dollar donors to finance the late-campaign push, including Houston homebuilder Bob Perry (no relation), who gave $600,000 directly and another $3 million through a GOP governors group backing Perry.

The latest report, covering four weeks of fundraising through Oct. 23, means Perry has raised at least $36.6 million to win re-election.

White collected $3.7 million in the latest period, bringing to $25 million the amount he has raised to unseat the 10-year incumbent. He spent $6 million during the period, leaving him with $487,000 in the bank.


http://dallasne.ws/94KiVX

Republicans drop plans for ad blitz to help Bill Flores unseat Chet Edwards in U.S. House District 17

WASHINGTON – The Republican Party has scrapped plans for a costly last-minute TV blitz on behalf of congressional nominee Bill Flores.


Democrats said the move signals that Republicans are giving up hope of unseating Rep. Chet Edwards. But Flores disagreed, saying that it means he's in such good shape, the national party can devote its resources elsewhere.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said today that the National Republican Congressional Committee canceled all of the advertising time it had reserved with stations in the Dallas, Waco and Bryan media markets.

Mason: http://dallasne.ws/aZ7RKd

Perry, White take shots at each other over immigration

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry and challenger Bill White swapped charges over immigration Monday, each accusing the other of failing to keep Texans safe from illegal immigrants and sex offenders crossing the porous border from Mexico.

Slater: http://dallasne.ws/d5iX3B

Legislature likely to cut deep to meet possible $25 billion budget gap

AUSTIN – Texas faces a budget crisis of truly daunting proportions, with lawmakers likely to cut sacrosanct programs such as education for the first time in memory and to lay off hundreds if not thousands of state workers and public university employees.

Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/cDIiNg

GOP congressional candidate Stephen Broden says he would not rule out violent overthrow of government

WASHINGTON — Republican congressional candidate Stephen Broden stunned his party Thursday, saying he would not rule out violent overthrow of the government if elections did not produce a change in leadership.
Melanie Mason reports: http://dallasne.ws/9tPtOz

Million-dollar man Bob Perry puts $7 million into Karl Rove group

Houston homebuilder Bob Perry continues as the million dollar man for Republicans in this year's elections. Perry contributed $3.5 million in recent weeks to the Republican Governors Association, setting up a potential big-money late-campaign donation to Rick Perry (no relation).
...
Perry has given $7 million to Karl Rove's national political committee, American Crossroads, which is targeting Democrats in congressional races.
http://dallasne.ws/cTw3L0

Election Wrap Up: What's Next for Texas

On November 4, top Texas political journalists will offer analysis of the November 2 races and predictions for Texas at the LBJ Center for Politics and Governance


Learn more here: http://dallasne.ws/dvE1WX


Our own Bureau chief, Christy Hoppe, along with Kronberg from The Quorum report, Hu from the Texas Tribune and Burka from Texas Monthly will be on hand.

Perry technology calls out your name

The latest email missive sent by the Rick Perry shows some cutting-edge technology that is creating interest from other campaigns across the country.


If you've signed up to be kept informed of events, new ads and other campaign info, as I have, then you probably got something in your email this morning.

Hoppe: http://dallasne.ws/bpxz9g

World's longest cat -- Stewie -- measures 4 feet

"Hendrickson says Maine Coons are known as "the gentle giants" of the cat world."

(Some Rodential Americans were overheard disputing this claim)

Two area GOPers are lawsuit reformers' faves

Mesquite House GOP challenger Cindy Burkett is the favorite Republican legislative hopeful of the deep-pocketed Texans for Lawsuit Reform, according to a new study. At least, for now.

Burkett, who's trying to oust freshman Rep. Robert Miklos, D-Mesquite, received nearly $108,000 from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, which seeks to limit civil lawsuits over personal injury and other "torts." Texans for Public Justice, a nonprofit group that tracks campaign money, analyzed contributions made through Sept. 23.


Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/9owS4a

Bill White says Rick Perry's donors got special treatment in Teacher Retirement System investments

AUSTIN – Democrat Bill White said Tuesday that Gov. Rick Perry's appointees have pressured managers of the Teacher Retirement System to invest in companies benefiting the governor's political donors. White circulated a whistle-blower's memo that alleges insider deals and special treatment for Perry allies in the way teacher retirement money has been invested.  
Slater: http://dallasne.ws/ct8fhR

During Texas gubernatorial debate, opponents pile it on no-show Rick Perry

AUSTIN – Democrat Bill White debated the governor who wasn't there Tuesday, accusing Rick Perry of enriching his political friends and leaving the state in fiscal trouble.

Slater reports: http://dallasne.ws/dtsa7o

Election foe attacks Eddie Bernice Johnson on scholarship scandal

WASHINGTON – Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson's challenger is unleashing a two-week ad blitz focused on her misuse of scholarship funds – an ad blitz financed largely through donations that began to pour in after reports that the Dallas Democrat steered college aid to grandsons and other ineligible relatives.

Gillman, Mason report http://dallasne.ws/aBrtFY

Perry plays it safe, does little talking, while White takes aim at rival

Many believe Perry's campaign is playing it safe. He has eschewed editorial boards and is refusing to debate. His campaign is limited to a few stops a day, mostly for positive, staged announcements or small gatherings of supporters. No fatigue-fueled mistakes.

Bill White's campaign is about fixing a target on Perry while rolling down the aisles of state problems – dropouts, higher education costs, border security. He wants to engage voters on how to fix Texas and has attacked his opponent for promoting himself and helping his friends.
http://dallasne.ws/9QC2bU

Farouk Shami endorses Rick Perry

Former Democratic governor candidate Farouk Shami jumped party on Monday and endorsed Republican Rick Perry for re-election. Shami, who while announcing his candidacy last November said he was a "Democrat all the way to the bone," nevertheless bolted from his party's nominee Bill White with the endorsement.

http://dallasne.ws/dc95S3

Stimulus, Texas Republicans, and playing it both ways: new report offers yet more examples

The nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity has dug out more evidence of Republican lawmakers from Texas and across the country quietly prodding the federal government to release stimulus money for pet projects -- even as they hammered Democrats for the stimulus as wasteful or even an illegitimate use of federal authority.
Todd Gillman reports: http://dallasne.ws/9FUbpi

John Cornyn, Rick Perry, et al early vote

The state's GOP star-power gathered to kick-off the voting season outside a Mexican restaurant, where smashing President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was the breakfast order of the day.

http://dallasne.ws/bqKRm6

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson shoots from the lip

Jerry Patterson at an early voting GOP rally managed to jump from national politics into the acrimonious contest for Agriculture Commissioner, telling incumbent Todd Staples that if he were running against Democrat Hank Gilbert, "I think I would have shot him by now, if I was you."

Hoppe: http://dallasne.ws/aRrMKT

Question raised about Texas Forensic Science Commission chairman's partiality

The leader of the Texas Forensic Science Commission struggled against panel members on Friday over his public statement about an arson investigation, which raised questions about his impartiality. At the panel's board meeting, the commission's chairman John Bradley said publicly calling Cameron Todd Willingham a "guilty monster" was within his First Amendment rights.

Mulvaney was there http://dallasne.ws/9sdgmk

Houston homebuilder Bob Perry donates $3.5M to Republican Governors Association

AUSTIN – Rick Perry’s biggest campaign donor has given $3.5 million to the Republican Governors Association, potentially setting up an infusion of campaign cash in the final days of the governor’s reelection race. Houston homebuilder Bob Perry (no relation) is one of several Rick Perry donors to the GOP group in the last quarter.

Slater reports: http://dallasne.ws/awB0L6

Ex-director of Texas technology fund, donor pitched alternative fuels venture to officials

The former director of Gov. Rick Perry's technology fund office has joined with a controversial beneficiary of the fund to seek meetings with current and former state officials about an alternative fuels venture. A state representative, a former land commissioner and the head of a state board all said Thursday that they have talked with Alan Kirchhoff and David G. Nance within recent months about a business arrangement the two were proposing.

Drew, McGonigle report: http://bit.ly/cyqvXq

Sagging real estate values widen state deficit

Decreased commercial and industrial property values, an anemic economy and other factors have pushed forecasts of the Texas' real estate values into slightly bearish territory, state officials told House lawmakers today. And that translates into LESS property tax for school districts, which pulls down MORE state aid for public schools and that means a BIGGER state budget shortfall.

Garrett reports: http://bit.ly/9VzDNJ

Time Warner goof brings back 'bad' Tony Goolsby

 A glitch at a cable TV company serving Richardson , Garland and North Dallas caused attack ads against former Rep. Tony Goolsby from two years ago to run by mistake last week.

Garrett: http://bit.ly/bNPLQV

Fort Worth City Council member Joel Burns' message to gay teens is heartfelt, resonating

Jacquielynn Floyd reports: http://bit.ly/9X6h8c

Rick Perry says he's 'close' to donor whose firm got tech grant

Gov. Rick Perry acknowledged Wednesday that he has a "nice, close personal relationship" with a major campaign donor whose company was awarded $4.5 million in state technology funds despite its failure to win approval from a regional screening board. The governor defended the funding as permissible under the law and said he was not concerned that the award made in August to Convergen Lifesciences Inc. of Austin, founded by David G. Nance, might appear improper.

McGonigle, McNeill and Drew: http://dallasne.ws/9QQDFZ

Zedler draws fire for not reporting contributions

Former Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, failed to list about $36,000 of contributions from conservative backers on his latest campaign finance report, a Zedler spokesman acknowledged today. Zedler's trying to win back his seat from Rep. Chris Turner, D-Burleson, in southern Tarrant County.

Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/cgRt4B

Veteran Rep. Warren Chisum entering race to challenge Texas House Speaker Joe Straus

AUSTIN — Veteran Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, formally announced Wednesday he’s running for House speaker.

Garrett reports: http://dallasne.ws/dxZI7v

A look back at some of our coverage:

July 25, 2010


Murky land deals mark Gov. Rick Perry's past

http://dallasne.ws/d1MxjO



July 25, 2010

Perry's property buyer in '07 land deal was influential but 'invisible'

http://dallasne.ws/byWE3d





Sept 30, 2010

Rick Perry appointees lavish governor with campaign cash

http://dallasne.ws/9FVLJ6



Oct 03, 2010

Perry's tech fund aided firms with ties to his donors

http://dallasne.ws/b1ALu6



Oct 04, 2010

Perry says innovator who's also donor deserved tech funds

http://dallasne.ws/bIKcNs



Oct 13, 2010

Perry donor's start-up firm got $4.5M without regional board's OK

http://dallasne.ws/b425G9

Perry donor's start-up firm got $4.5M without regional board's OK

Gov. Rick Perry approved a $4.5 million award from the state's technology fund to a company founded by a major campaign donor despite the company's failure to win the endorsement of a regional screening board, The Dallas Morning News has learned. The money was awarded in August to Convergen Lifesciences Inc., founded by Perry contributor David G. Nance. Convergen was allowed to bypass a key part of the Texas Emerging Technology Fund's extensive process for vetting applications, and to proceed for approval to a statewide advisory board appointed by Perry.
Steve McGonigle, James Drew and Ryan McNeill for The Dallas Morning News  http://dallasne.ws/b425G9

Bill White does a riff on Jon Stewart

Rallies are all the rage. Even pre-rally, copycat rallies. So much so that Democrat Bill White is planning one on the University of Texas campus. It's going to be next Tuesday, just a few hours before White goes toe-to-toe with Libertarian Kathie Glass and Green Party candidate Deb Shafto in the only televised statewide debate of governor candidates. (Sorry everybody that you'll miss Glee. That's the real conflict preventing Rick Perry from attending).
Hoppe: http://dallasne.ws/9MqUYV

White challenges Perry's motives

White questioned Perry's ethics Monday in front of the Texas Ethics Commission and during a speech to the Dallas Democratic Forum.
http://dallasne.ws/c3rIVD

Evaluating teacher effectiveness is evolving

"...with millions in federal money aimed at rewarding the nation's best teachers, school districts are searching for ways to identify them. Recent studies also point to teacher quality as a key to solving lagging student performance."
Jessica Meyers reports: http://dallasne.ws/docmL5

Court tosses reprimand for Judge Sharon Keller in execution appeal case

AUSTIN, Texas – A special court of review on Monday dismissed a public reprimand of Texas' top criminal courts judge, who closed her court at 5 p.m., preventing attorneys from filing a last-minute appeal hours before their client was executed. The disciplinary case against Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller came after she closed the court on Sept. 25, 2007, as attorneys for twice-convicted killer Michael Wayne Richard tried to submit their appeal.


Associated Press: http://dallasne.ws/aMTVxB

Speaker Straus helps out 6 with rough campaigns

AUSTIN – Speaker Joe Straus has swooped in to help troubled colleagues, giving more than $700,000 over the summer to six fellow Republicans struggling with self-inflicted political wounds. GOP Reps. Linda Harper-Brown of Irving and Joe Driver of Garland are among those receiving big help from the speaker, according to finance reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission this week.

Garrett delves into campaign finance reports to get the story http://dallasne.ws/aHUIPp

Perry touts accomplishments to state NAACP

KILLEEN, Texas – Gov. Rick Perry, before speaking Friday to the Texas State NAACP, spent some uncomfortable moments on stage as a national civil rights leader pointedly criticized tea parties and secession – two subjects that hit close to home with the governor.

And in a conference rife with talk about past civil rights injustices, many defended under the banner of state's rights, Perry dropped his usual anti-Washington message. Instead, he touted his appointments of minorities to key state positions and advances in education.

http://dallasne.ws/dvkKOL

On the road with Perry and White: Washington, education, football and lots of jabs

For Rick Perry and Bill White, it's the near-end of a long race that has cost $50 million so far and taken them to the farthest precincts of Texas – from small-town squares to urban centers, burgeoning suburbs to the flat high plains
Hoppe and Slater on the campaign trail: http://dallasne.ws/bdFW8V

Details emerge on Toomey's pro-Greens push

New direct expenditure reports on the Texas Ethics Commission website show that Gov. Rick Perry's former chief of staff, lobbyist Mike Toomey (right, AP photo), spent about $10,500 last winter and spring on an abortive effort to help the Green Party win a spot on Texas' general election ballot next month.
http://dallasne.ws/bBx5Y1

GOP lawmaker finds lack of consumer complaints about federal health law 'very surprising'

 During a Texas House committee hearing today, Rep. Susan King found herself stopped by the last page in the state insurance commissioner's written testimony. Commissioner Mike Geeslin, who'd been talking about the federal health care overhaul, concluded with a bullet point saying there'd been no complaints to his department's consumer services unit about the federal law.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/a8NGHK

Parkland Memorial Hospital and its clinics could treat more patients, but lose existing funds

AUSTIN – Parkland Memorial Hospital and its 11 neighborhood clinics could treat more patients but lose existing funds under the federal health care overhaul and several recent state proposals, the hospital's chief told a House panel Thursday. Ron Anderson, president and CEO of the Parkland Health & Hospital System, said he welcomes many features of the federal law, including an expected addition of 1.2 million poor adults to the state Medicaid program in 2014.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/bleOk8

Exclusive: Bankruptcy of Edwards challenger Bill Flores' business cost taxpayers $7.5 million

WASHINGTON — The Republican challenger who has assailed Rep. Chet Edwards for supporting taxpayer bailouts once led his company through a bankruptcy that let it avoid a $7.5 million debt to the U.S. government. Although Bill Flores, a retired Bryan energy executive, has said all creditors were fully repaid with interest, court records show otherwise. The 1992 bankruptcy allowed Marine Rig 200 Inc. to repay just $3 million of $10.5 million owed to the U.S. Maritime Administration, which held the mortgage on a drilling rig the company owned.

Dave Michaels reports: http://dallasne.ws/cGqVh3

Texas octogenarian arrested on voter fraud charge

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- An 81-year-old San Antonio woman has been arrested on charges that she used her dead sister's identity to vote a second time in the 2008 general election.
http://dallasne.ws/9eza1S

National expert criticizes Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to release emerging technology fund documents

Ryan McNeill in the DMN Investigates Blog:
A national open government expert criticized Gov. Rick Perry's refusal to release documents that would show whether his donors are involved in other companies that received state technology fund dollars. The governor is being "condescending" toward the public by refusing to release the records, said Joey Senat, an associate professor at Oklahoma State University's School of Media and Strategic Communication, during a phone interview on Tuesday.
http://dallasne.ws/9qtTC6

What do Tom DeLay, Kay Bailey Hutchison & Bill White have in common?

Slater knows:
Turns out, Tom DeLay , Kay Bailey Hutchison and Bill White all have a friend in famed Houston crriminal lawyer Dick DeGuerin . White is calling for an investigation into state business subsidies to political contributors of Gov. Rick Perry. And DeGuerin agrees. DeGuerin joined the dustup today over The Dallas Morning News report that top Perry political contributors benefited from $16 million in taxpayer dollars from the governor's high-tech fund.
http://dallasne.ws/d3075l

Sales tax numbers finally moving up

Comptroller Susan Combs just announced the state collected $1.57 billion in sales tax last month, up by nearly 7 percent from a year earlier. "This increase is significantly larger than recent monthly gains, which have been in the zero to 2 percent range," Combs said. "Sales tax increases were posted across almost all sectors, including oil and gas, construction, manufacturing, wholesale trade, retail trade and restaurants."

http://dallasne.ws/bbkbXb

Media awash in nasty ads from Texas governor candidates Perry and White

AUSTIN – From newspapers to radio, from TV to online, the political ad blitz is reaching a feverish pitch in Texas. And, unlike earlier spots filled with smiling faces and courtly comments, the new ones are awash in nasty, finger-pointing charges.

Christy Hoppe and Wayne Slater report:
http://dallasne.ws/cYiqI2

DA wants judge in Cameron Todd Willingham arson case to step down from hearing

From the Associated Press:
The district attorney whose office prosecuted a Texas man who was executed for setting fire to his home and killing his three daughters asked a judge to recuse himself from a hearing that could declare the executed man innocent. Navarro County District Attorney R. Lowell Thompson filed a motion in state district court in Austin late Monday asking that Judge Charlie Baird recuse himself from Wednesday's hearing in the case of Cameron Todd Willingham. 

http://dallasne.ws/b0vztP

Budget cuts imperil Texas HIV drug program

AUSTIN – Unless lawmakers dig deep, Texas may pull back a lifeline that keeps about 15,000 people alive. The Texas HIV Medication Program, which supplies life-sustaining anti-retroviral drugs to people with HIV or AIDS who can't afford them, will run out of money in the next two years and be forced to cut off enrollment, tighten eligibility or stop covering some drugs unless the state provides an additional $23 million, officials said.
http://dallasne.ws/c1C9Gr

Poll: Texans tend to be fiscally conservative, socially moderate

AUSTIN – Texans tend to be fiscally conservative, but are relatively moderate when it comes to many social issues, a new poll by the Texas Lyceum found.
http://dallasne.ws/aPYkjO

Link to the poll on Texans' attitudes: http://dallasne.ws/bXa2GZ

Perry taps big-dollar donors; White's cash comes from unions, lawyers

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry tapped scores of big-dollar donors – including some who have business before the state or have benefited from taxpayer subsidies – to raise $8 million in the last three months for his re-election race. The fundraising blitz leaves Perry with $10 million in the bank going into the final weeks of the campaign. Democratic challenger Bill White collected $4.7 million in the latest period and has $2.75 million in cash on hand. White got sizable donations from labor unions, trial lawyers and the Democratic Governors Association, which has invested heavily in the race amid party hopes the 10-year incumbent governor might be vulnerable.

Slater reports: http://dallasne.ws/aqJiBO

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott calls for statewide foreclosure freeze

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott asked loan servicing companies on Monday to suspend all foreclosure activities over concerns about the accuracy of foreclosure documents. In a letter sent to 27 companies that service mortgage loans in Texas, Abbott's office demanded the immediate suspension of foreclosures, selling foreclosed properties and evicting people living in those properties.
The AP reports: http://dallasne.ws/bLjmMv

Perry says innovator who's also donor deserved tech funds

Part 2 of investigation into Governor Perry's administartion of Emerging Technology Fund. McGonigle and Drew report:

Austin entrepreneur David G. Nance and Gov. Rick Perry say they are big fans of each other. Nance has taken Perry hunting. Perry's son owned stock in Nance's former biotech company. Nance wrote fat checks to Perry's campaigns and pet projects.



Nance also is one of a number of large Perry campaign donors – he has contributed $80,000 since 2000 – whose companies have received millions of dollars from the Texas Emerging Technology Fund. The Dallas Morning News reported on Sunday that more than $16 million from the tech fund has gone to firms with officers or investors who were major Perry contributors.

http://dallasne.ws/bIKcNs

In tight race for Texas governor, a few voting blocs stand out

Texans are bucking tradition in the matchup between Republican Rick Perry and Democrat Bill White. Women, Hispanics, young urbanites and upbeat voters are highly sought-after in elections, and most tend to lean Democratic.

Kim and Meyers have the story: http://dallasne.ws/a1Hjwo

Concealed handgun permits on rise in Dallas-area suburbs

Suburban residents, including women, worried about crime are flocking to obtain concealed handgun permits, according to training school operators and state records.

Garrett, Trahan report: http://dallasne.ws/bvHGDL

Oh yeah! We turned 125 today!

I was just a young lad back then...
http://www.dallasnews.com/125th/

School districts freed of deseg reporting requirements

Most Texas school districts will no longer have to report information on student transfers or have student and staff assignments monitored by the Texas Education Agency for desegregation purposes. Under an order issued this week by a federal judge in Tyler, all but nine rural school districts will be freed of certain restrictions involving student transfers that have been in place since 1971 under a federal court ruling issued that year.
Stutz: http://dallasne.ws/dtcCV5

Rick Perry's new best friend: Barack Obama

For those wondering why Rick Perry was so anxious to meet President Obama on an airport tarmac in Austin recently, here's why: film footage of the brief encounter is part of Perry's new TV ad about border security.
Slater: http://dallasne.ws/9ZVuFE