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Thursday, April 10, 2008
President, Laura Bush going back to Dallas
Laura Bush announced today that she and her husband will move from their Crawford ranch back to the D/FW area after a 14-year absence, according to this Dallas Morning News story.
In the “who-didn’t-see-that-coming-department,” the DMN’s political blog uses the opportunity to take a potshot at Waco.
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Report: $11 million deal for Va. Tech victims
Families of the victims in the Virginia Tech shootings have reached an $11 million settlement with the state, lawyers said today. The deal is designed to prevent future lawsuits.
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Scott & White seeks prostate cancer patients for trial
Scott & White Hospital is looking for men with recurring prostate cancer to take part in a clinical trial. Here’s the release:
TEMPLE, Texas - (April 10, 2008) Scott & White has begun recruiting patients with recurring prostate cancer to participate in a clinical trial that uses a PSA (prostate specific antigen) activated chemical injected into the prostate that attaches to prostate cancer cells and causes cell death.
“This is an important and exciting step in this process,” said Dr. Scott Coffield, the principal investigator, a urologist and professor of surgery at Scott & White. “We are trying to determine if this agent is effective in destroying cancer cells in the prostate using varying doses of the agent, which has demonstrated safety in an earlier trial.”
To be eligible to participate in this study, a patient must have been diagnosed with prostate cancer that has recurred after completing treatment by external beam radiation therapy or radioactive seed implant.
Protox Therapeutics, Inc., a Canadian company, developed the drug and has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a Phase IIa clinical trial. According to Protox officials, PRX302, as the agent is currently called, is injected into the prostate where it turns into a potent cell-killing toxin when it comes in contact with PSA-producing cells.
The purpose of this study is to determine therapeutic activity of different concentrations of PRX302 at increasing volumes as well as the safety and tolerance among study subjects after injection into the prostate. The study is expected to enroll 30 subjects.
Scott & White’s Genitourinary Cancer Team/Scott & White Cancer Center in Temple is the primary study site for this trial. Participants will receive screening, laboratory testing, a procedure to administer the agent, and up to nine follow-up visits.
According to American Cancer Society data, prostate cancer strikes more than 230,000 men in the U.S. each year, resulting in approximately 30,000 deaths.
In a Phase IIa clinical trial, an investigational drug is tested in a small group of people to evaluate the drug’s safety, determine what the range of safe dosage is, and to identify side effects. An investigational drug is one that is under study but does not have permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or any regulatory authority to be legally marketed and sold. If approved by regulators, additional clinical trials may be conducted on larger groups for further evaluation and to gather more information, to help determine safe use of the drug, and if it will eventually be approved for general use.
In addition to the recurrent prostate cancer, other requirements must also be met to be considered for participation in this clinical trial. For more information on enrolling in this clinical trial, contact research coordinators Nancy Bowman or Richard Castillo at 866-226-3534, or visit the study’s Web site.
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Study: Diabetes in middle age increases Alzheimer’s risk
A Swedish study has found that men who develop diabetes in middle age may be at greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a Washington Post story.
“Our results have important public health implications given the increasing numbers of people developing diabetes and the need for more powerful interventions,” study author Dr. Elina Ronnemaa, of Uppsala University, said in a statement.
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U.S. trade deficit widens
A Commerce Department report today said that the U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly rose for a second straight month in February as a big jump in imports of foreign-made cars offset the first decline in oil imports in a year.
The trade deficit rose by 5.7 percent in February to $62.3 billion, the highest level since November. Analysts had forecast that the deficit would decline, believing that a severe economic slowdown in the United States would cut demand for imports.
However, imports of goods and services shot up 3.1 percent to an all-time high of $213.7 billion, reflecting a big surge in imports of foreign cars. Exports also set a record, rising by 2 percent to $151.4 billion, reflecting strong gains in the sale of American-made heavy machinery, computers and farm goods.
In other economic news, the number of newly laid off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week after having hit the highest level in more than two years in the previous week.
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U.S. airstrikes in Iraq target militants
A U.S. airstrike targeted a building in Baghdad’s Sadr City today, hours after American soldiers clashed with Shiite militants in fighting that left 15 people dead, police and the U.S. military said.
The renewed violence coincided with the congressional testimony of the Bush administration’s top two officials in Iraq — Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker. Petraeus recommended a pause in drawing down U.S. troops in Iraq while the security situation remains unstable and President Bush is expected to follow his recommendation.
But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki disagreed with Petraeus’ proposal to delay further U.S. troop withdrawals, citing the growing capabilities of Iraq’s own security forces.
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Robinson bat-maker Sellers mentioned in NY Times piece
The New York Times has a feature today on “Texas Country Reporter” Bob Phillips, who is a bit of an institution in the Lone Star State for his features on our people and places.
Robinson’s Rob Sellers is mentioned, albeit briefly, in the story as one of the examples of the types of stories Phillips tackles on the show. Sellers, known as the “Bat Man of Robinson,” makes custom baseball bats in his off-hours.
The story says that Phillips plans to seek a national audience in January with a second show called “On the Road with Bob Phillips.” Shooting starts next month. Among his first stories is the person who fills the cracks in Mount Rushmore.
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Violence doesn’t keep Nepal voters from polls
Nepalis voted today in a historic election that was intended to bring communist insurgents into the country’s democratic mainstream and expected to end the world’s last Hindu monarchy.
Violence marred the days preceding the country’s first vote in nine years. Two men were killed, including an independent candidate, a polling station was torched and another candidate escaped an assassination attempt.
Voters across the country were undeterred, however, lining up before dawn to cast ballots.
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‘Above-average’ year for hurricanes forecast
A noted hurricane researcher predicted that rising water temperatures in the Atlantic will bring a “well above average” storm season this year, including four major storms.
The updated forecast by William Gray’s team at Colorado State University calls for 15 named storms in the Atlantic in 2008 and says there’s a better than average chance that at least one major hurricane will hit the United States.
Of course, these are just predictions. Seems like last year’s forecast was pretty far off the mark.
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Report: Couric, CBS may part early
That’s two years before her contract expires. Both CBS News executives and people close to Couric say that the “CBS Evening News” anchor may make an early exit from the network.
CBS executives are under pressure to cut costs and improve ratings for the broadcast, which trails rival newscasts on ABC and NBC by wide margins.
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Lungless frog found in Indonesia
For those with an interest in scientific curiosities, there’s this story about a frog found in a remote part of Indonesia that has no lungs and breathes through its skin. It’s a discovery that researchers today said could provide insight into what drives evolution in certain species.
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Police Activities League solicitation is scam
Sgt. Melvin Roseborough, the new public information officer with the Waco Police Department, has sent out a news release warning residents about a phone scam:
Waco Police Department has received calls from concerned citizens, which have been contacted by a male identifying himself as Michael requesting donations to the Waco Police Activities League.
Citizens receiving calls from persons requesting donations to the Waco Police Activities League are advised to not give any personal information or make contributions. Currently there are no active fundraisers by the Waco Police Department or by the Waco Police Association, and there is not any currently active Police Activities League at Waco Police or surrounding agencies.
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More flight cancellations expected
This week’s flight cancellations by American Airlines are likely to spread to other U.S. airlines in the weeks ahead as federal regulators step up a by-the-book review of carriers’ compliance with maintenance and safety orders issued in recent years.
Trib business editor Mike Copeland wrote today about the effect the cancellations have had on Waco travelers.
“If we do uncover any safety issues from these audits, the carriers will have to make a business decision as to how to deal with the issue,” Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Les Dorr said.
Midwest Airlines today became the latest airline to ground planes and cancel flights to re-inspect a wiring harness, the same issue that has forced American to cancel more than 2,400 flights.
The Dallas Morning News said that air travelers at DFW Airport were getting more frustrated with the delays.
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Reports from this morning’s storms
First, from comments on earlier posts:
Vicky: Storm hit suddenly in West at about 4:10AM. We were driving around about 15mph, and we could not see 5 feet in front of us. The winds were extremely high and the rain was going sideways. Immediately we saw some downed branches. The storm has died down significantly at this point [4:28 am].
Daniel: There’s a huge tree, oak I think, that is uprooted in the 3500 block of Colcord. It looks like it missed the house and missed a car in the driveway by just feet.
Kasia: The awning at Souper Salad was partially ripped off and torn up this morning when I went by.
KH: I have several old trees in my backyard, and hardly ever escape damage during a big storm. This time it was a huge tree at the back of the house. It split in half and is covering a big portion of my backyard, but luckily it missed any power lines. Disposing of it will be interesting and challenging, once I find out where to start! I thought I might have lost the tin roof on my deck outside my bedroom since the wind kept bouncing it up and down, but the noise I heard must have been the tree. The storm left one half of the tree still standing, so I guess the next storm will take care of that! I didn’t see any other damage in our neighborhood and no felled limbs on my way to work.
As noted earlier, Waco airport reported a gust of 66 mph at 4:02 am. Here’s a National Weather Service map with some of the other storm reports. The tornado sighting on I-35 near Temple remains officially unconfirmed right now, pending a damage survey.
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Character actor Stanley Kamel dies
Longtime TV actor Stanley Kamel, who has played a number of creepy characters and most recently was the long-suffering psychiatrist on Monk, has died of a heart attack at age 65.
Here’s his obit and a photo by the Los Angeles Times. His name might not be familiar, but once you see his face you’ll know you’ve seen him before. Internet Movie Database has 119 entries for roles he’s played.
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3,000 customers in county without power
About 3,000 customers scattered throughout McLennan County are without power right now (8:50 a.m.), according to an Oncor official, but that number should keep dropping quickly throughout the morning.
As many as 3,500 customers in the county were without power after the storms passed through this morning, said Mike Cain, area manager for Oncor.
“It’s real busy and real hectic for our crew members,” he said of efforts to restore power countywide.
Those without power should call the number on the back of their electric bill and have their account number ready, he said.
Of course, if you are without power right now, you’re not able to turn on your computer to read this blog post anyhow.
— Erin Quinn
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Waco firefighters at an intersection near you
The annual Fill-the-Boot campaign by International Association of Fire Fighters Local #478 to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association should be getting under way this morning.
Firefighters are scheduled to be out at three intersections — Imperial and Hewitt drives, Franklin Avenue and New Road, and Bosque Boulevard and Valley Mills Drive — from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Friday.
Waco firefighters last year raised over $19,000 for the Fill-the-Boot campaign. Funds collected assist MDA in providing medical services at the local clinic at St. Catherine’s Center in the Providence Healthcare Network, youth summer camps at Greene Family Camp in Bruceville and Camp John Marc in Meridian, research grants, support groups and public education seminars at no cost to local families.
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Report your storm damage
Did this morning’s rain and winds cause any damage in your neighborhood? Trib entertainment writer Carl Hoover reported a downed power line at the intersection of Fort Avenue and 42nd Street.
I had to take a different route to dropping my son off at school this morning because a neighbor’s tree was lying across East Fairway Road in the 7800 block, and traffic cones were rerouting vehicles. Workers were already at the site starting to clear it.
I didn’t think we got that much rain or wind in my neighborhood to blow over a tree, but the felled tree, and it a decent-sized one, says otherwise. Luckily, it fell away from the house.
Storms appeared to have been worse in West Texas and the Dallas-Fort Worth area where at least 180,000 homes and businesses lost electricity, according to the Associated Press. TV this morning was reporting that parts of Temple and Belton suffered damage.
Officials say no injuries were reported early Thursday in North Texas, but several residences in DeSoto and Allen suffered damage.
What problems did you awake to this morning?
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Weather knocks out power to many
Parts of McLennan County, including China Spring schools, have been reported to have been without power after a night of sleep-disrupting thunder, battering rain and wind gusts that registered up to 66 mph.
China Spring Independent School District officials report this morning that the start of school was postponed until 9 a.m. after two campuses — elementary and intermediate — were without power. While power has been restored, the entire district will start at that delayed time.
Calls placed to representatives of energy companies have not yet been returned.
Power outages and road closures have been reported across Bell County, where a tornado was reported, but has not yet been confirmed, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service reports this morning.
Waco, which has no more rain expected in the immediate forecast, received .67 of an inch of rain overnight.
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China Spring campuses delay start
The overnight storms have knocked out electrical power at the China Spring elementary and intermediate schools this morning, the second time in recent days that has happened.
Because of the outage, all campuses — even the middle and high schools — will delay their starts until 9 a.m.
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Falls/Limestone storm warning canceled
AT 704 AM CDT THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM THAT PROMPTED THE WARNING WEAKENED AND WAS NO LONGER SEVERE…THUS THE WARNING HAS BEEN CANCELED.
RADAR INDICATED THAT HEAVY RAIN…SMALL HAIL…AND GUSTY WINDS WERE STILL POSSIBLE FROM THE THUNDERSTORM.
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Falls/Limestone storm warning (update)
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 730 AM CDT FOR NORTHERN ROBERTSON…EAST CENTRAL FALLS AND EASTERN LIMESTONE COUNTIES…
AT 649 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BREMOND…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 57 MPH.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR… KOSSE BY 655 AM CDT… THORNTON BY 700 AM CDT… GROESBECK BY 710 AM CDT…
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Limestone County storm warning update
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 545 AM CDT FOR LIMESTONE COUNTY…
AT 532 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL…AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THIS STORM WAS LOCATED 5 MILES WEST OF FORT PARKER STATE PARK…MOVING EAST AT 41 MPH.
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR… FORT PARKER STATE PARK AND TEHUACANA BY 540 AM CDT… MEXIA BY 545 AM CDT…
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Send us your storm reports
What happened out there? What kind of damage are you seeing? Hail? Rain totals? Comment here or e-mail news@wacotrib.com.
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Limestone County storm warning
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS…
UNTIL 545 AM CDT
AT 458 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL…AND DAMAGING WINDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES NORTHWEST OF MEXIA TO 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF GROESBECK…AND MOVING EAST AT 42 MPH.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR… GROESBECK BY 510 AM
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Storm warning update, 4:48 am
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR FALLS…LIMESTONE…EASTERN MCLENNAN AND SOUTHEASTERN HILL COUNTIES…
AT 443 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL… AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF HUBBARD TO RIESEL TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF GOLINDA…MOVING EAST AT 34 MPH.
VERY STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. SEEK SHELTER AWAY FROM WINDOWS!
A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR PORTIONS OF FALLS COUNTY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR… TEHUACANA…FORT PARKER STATE PARK…MARLIN AND COOLIDGE BY 500 AM CDT…
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Falls County tornado warning
…A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR FALLS COUNTY…
AT 442 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A DEVELOPING TORNADO. THIS TORNADO WAS LOCATED 5 MILES EAST OF LOTT… MOVING EAST AT 51 MPH.
VERY STRONG WINDS ARE POSSIBLE. SEEK SHELTER NOW AWAY FROM WINDOWS!
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR… MARLIN BY 450 AM CDT…
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Storm warning update
…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 500 AM CDT FOR NORTHEASTERN BELL…FALLS…LIMESTONE…EASTERN MCLENNAN AND SOUTHEASTERN HILL COUNTIES…
AT 434 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL… AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 4 MILES EAST OF MALONE TO 5 MILES WEST OF RIESEL TO 5 MILES EAST OF TROY…MOVING EAST AT 34 MPH.
VERY STRONG WINDS ACCOMPANY THIS STORM. SEEK SHELTER AWAY FROM WINDOWS!
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR… RIESEL BY 440 AM CDT… MART BY 445 AM CDT… LOTT BY 450 AM CDT… TEHUACANA…FORT PARKER STATE PARK…MARLIN AND COOLIDGE BY 500 AM CDT…
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KXXV reports large tornado on ground at I-35
Between mile markers 305 and 306.
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Tornado warning, Bell and Falls
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
TORNADO WARNING FOR… NORTHEASTERN BELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS… FALLS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS…
UNTIL 500 AM CDT
AT 416 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A DEVELOPING TORNADO NEAR TEMPLE..MOVING EAST AT 50 MPH.
THE TORNADO WILL BE NEAR… LOTT BY 435 AM CDT… ROSEBUD BY 440 AM CDT… MARLIN BY 450 AM CDT…
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Severe storm warning for Waco area
Waco airport is reporting winds gusts of 65 mph…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN FORT WORTH HAS ISSUED A
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR… NORTHEASTERN BELL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS… FALLS COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS… SOUTHEASTERN HILL COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS… LIMESTONE COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS… MCLENNAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS…
UNTIL 500 AM CDT
AT 404 AM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE METEOROLOGISTS DETECTED A LINE OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING PENNY SIZE HAIL…AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH. THESE STORMS WERE LOCATED ALONG A LINE EXTENDING FROM 8 MILES NORTH OF WEST TO 4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WOODWAY TO 3 MILES NORTHWEST OF MORGAN`S POINT RESORT…AND MOVING EAST AT 35 MPH.
THIS EXTENDS THE WARNING FOR SOUTHERN HILL COUNTY.
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE NEAR… WEST AND WACO BY 410 AM BYNUM…LORENA…NORTHCREST AND LACY-LAKEVIEW BY 415 AM TROY…ROBINSON AND BRUCEVILLE-EDDY BY 420 AM GOLINDA BY 430 AM