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Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Not so hot - thank goodness
Around midday the National Weather Service revised its forecast high temperature today for Waco downward, from 98 to 94 — and that turned out to be right on the mark. So, no record tied or broken today (the record was 95).
The high tomorrow is currently forecast to be lower still, though still in the low 90s.
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Sen. Edward Kennedy diagnosed with malignant brain tumor
A cancerous brain tumor caused the seizure Sen. Edward M. Kennedy suffered over the weekend, doctors said Tuesday in a grim diagnosis for one of American politics’ most enduring figures.
“He remains in good spirits and full of energy,” the doctors for the 76-year-old Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.
They said tests conducted after the seizure showed a tumor in Kennedy’s left parietal lobe. Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma, they said.
His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.
Kennedy has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.
“He has had no further seizures, remains in good overall condition, and is up and walking around the hospital,” said the statement by Dr. Lee Schwamm, vice chairman of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Dr. Larry Ronan, Kennedy’s primary care physician.
They said Kennedy will remain in the hospital “for the next couple of days according to routine protocol.”
Kennedy’s wife and children have been with him each day since he was hospitalized. Senator Kennedy’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., plans to stay at the hospital for the time being.
“Obviously it’s tough news for any son to hear,” said spokeswoman Robin Costello. “He’s comforted by the fact that his dad is such a fighter, and if anyone can get through something as challenging as this, it would be his father. So he’s optimistic, he’s hopeful, but obviously he’s concerned.”
President Bush was notified by his staff of Kennedy’s diagnosis at 1:20 p.m.
“He said he was deeply saddened and would keep Senator Kennedy in his prayers,” spokeswoman Dana Perino said.
Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year — and the most common type among adults. It’s an initial diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.
Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types — such as glioblastomas — or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.
— The Associated Press
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Autopsy: No foul play in Coryell County woman’s death
An autopsy of the 44-year-old Coryell County full-time military reservist who was found dead last week in her home revealed no signs of foul play, according to a news release from the county’s sheriff’s office.
Cynthia Lee Tillery was found dead early Thursday morning by a family member inside her home in the 2600 block of Snow Road. Investigators called her death suspicious and ordered the autopsy.
She lived at the home with a nephew, but had no children of her own, said Chief Deputy Joe Blakley II.
The sheriff’s office release says it is waiting for the results of other tests conducted with the autopsy.
“The investigation is still ongoing and will continue until all possibilities of foul play are ruled out,” the release states.
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New chamber building to receive solar panels
Austin-based Green Mountain Energy today announced it will donate 48 solar energy panels for use in the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce’s new headquarters downtown.
The panels should be in place within 30 days, and they will meet about 6.5 percent of the building’s annual energy needs, said Jim Vaughan, chamber president.
The new 14,000-square-foot chamber building is scheduled to open June 6 at South Third Street and Heritage Square. It anchors a $60 million to $75 million mixed-use development taking shape downtown under the name Waco Town Square.
Waco’s chamber is looking to occupy the first LEED-certified building in Waco. It has included touches such as a roof covered partially with greenery to conserve energy and furniture made from companies that support the replanting of forests.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
The energy panels will help the chamber get LEED certification, said Vaughan. Helen Brauner, spokeswoman for Green Mountain Energy, said the company is providing the energy panels throught a program titled the Big Texas Sun Club.
Energy customers donate money to place solar panels on buildings used by nonprofit entities. The Waco chamber will be the 13th building to receive assistance.
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Midway holding reception for new officials
Midway High School will hold a welcome reception for its new principal and athletic director from 4 to 5 p.m. today in the school’s library, 8200 Mars Drive.
Visitors can meet with Chris Allen, who will take over as principal next school year, and Randy Weisinger, the new athletic director.
Allen will replace Sharron Zachry, who is stepping down after 10 years as high school principal but will serve as principal of the new elementary school that is supposed to open in 2009. Allen has been the curriculum coordinator for the University of Texas-University Charter School in Austin and an administrator in the Fort Worth area.
Weisinger, principal at Georgetown High School and a longtime basketball coach, takes over for Angie Wishert, who is now health and physical education coordinator for the school district.
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Waco police arrest man trying to get cab
Around 3:30 a.m. today, Kevin Lewis Waits repeatedly called Waco’s emergency line because “he was frustrated he couldn’t get a cab” to pick him up at the Village Green Apartments on Lake Shore Drive, said Waco police officer Steve Anderson.
Each time, the emergency dispatcher told Waits he had to call a cab service, and that there was nothing police services could do for him, Anderson said.
After it was clear Waits was not going to stop calling 9-1-1, Anderson said, police found the man at the apartments. A cab was waiting outside the complex.
The officer, however, found that Waits did not have the $26 to pay the cab fee, Anderson said. Waits was trying to get to an address in the 100 block of Sixth Street in Waco.
Waits was arrested, but first taken to the hospital because he told an officer that he had taken methamphetamine, Anderson said.
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Court rules U.S. paper money discriminates against blind
A federal appeals court ruled today that the United States discriminates against blind people by printing paper money that makes it impossible for them to distinguish among the bills’ varying values.
The ruling upholds a decision by a lower court in 2006. It could force the Treasury Department to redesign its money. Suggested changes have ranged from making bills different sizes to printing them with raised markings.
The American Council for the Blind sued for such changes but the Treasury Department has been fighting the case for about six years.
— The Associated Press
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Get out the prom vote
Prom has been in full swing for a few weeks now, just check out our prom page. While you’re there, take a moment and cast your ballot in up to six categories.
It’s our third round of voting for funniest photo, cutest couple, sweetest smiles and best dance moves. But we have two new categories: hottest hair and coolest clothes.
Our leader so far in hottest hair, but not by a lot, is this couple:
Out in front by a landslide for coolest clothes is this duo:
Can both maintain their leads? That is entirely up to you, the voter.
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Commissioners look at need for more jail space
McLennan County commissioners today discussed the need for additional jail space, and are seeking proposals for the design and construction of that space to ease overcrowding in the McLennan County Jail.
Officials will decide whether the additional space needs to be added on to the current jail, or if a new jail is needed. During the commissioners court meeting, officials talked about projected population growth in McLennan County to determine how much additional space is needed.
Commissioners plan to meet with Herb Bristow, an attorney who represents the county, to discuss the issue, and will further consider the matter at next Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting.
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Wife of state Supreme Court justice pleads not guilty to burning down home
The wife of Texas Supreme Court Justice David Medina has pleaded not guilty to charges she burned down the couple’s suburban Houston home last summer.
Francisca Medina’s attorney entered the plea during her arraignment on Tuesday in a Houston courtroom. She was accompanied by her husband.
It was her first court appearance since being indicted late last month on three charges: felony arson, felony criminal mischief and state jail felony criminal mischief.
Francisca Medina is free on bonds totaling $42,000.
Both Francisca and David Medina were originally indicted in relation to the June 28 fire that damaged her home and two neighboring houses in Spring. The fire caused about $900,000 in damages. The indictments were dismissed and only Francisca Medina was reindicted.
— The Associated Press
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China quake survivor rescued after 195 hours
A 60-year-old woman has been rescued alive after being trapped for 195 hours — that’s more than eight days — following the earthquake in China, the Associated Press reports.
That’s amazing.
Hong Kong-based Phoenix Satellite Television said the woman, identified only by her last name Wang, survived by drinking rainwater.
The station cited air force officer Xie Ling Long, who said the woman was found conscious Tuesday afternoon, having only suffered a hip fracture and facial bruises.
The report said Wang was trapped in a landslide that swept away a temple in the city of Pengzhou. She was able to initially move, but a later aftershock trapped her between two rocks.
In another report, China said it was struggling to find shelter for many of the 5 million people whose homes were destroyed in last week’s earthquake, while the confirmed death toll rose today to more than 40,000.
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Report: Movie on Davidian standoff in works
As if we need another movie that cements the word “Waco” in most of America’s mind as a negative term, we have this blog item from cinematical.com that a film about the 1993 Branch Davidian standoff, simply titled Waco, is supposed to begin shooting this fall.
British filmmaker Rupert Wainwright has co-written the movie and will direct. He doesn’t have a tremendous track record thus far.
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Fed auctions $75 billion to ease credit stresses
The Federal Reserve has auctioned another $75 billion in loans to squeezed banks in an effort to relieve stressed credit markets.
The central bank today announced the results of its most recent auction — the 12th — since the program to help banks overcome credit problems started in December. Since then, the Fed has auctioned $510 billion.
It’s part of an ongoing effort by the Fed to help ease the credit crunch, which erupted last August and hit a crisis point in March with the near collapse and forced sale of Bear Stearns, the nation’s fifth-largest investment house, to JP Morgan Chase & Co.
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Are Jessica Simpson, Tony Romo still an item?
Here’s a good diversion from “real news.” The New York Daily News, always a fine source for celebrity gossip, has this story about whether the star-crossed duo of Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo are still a couple.
The conflicting reports come as People magazine reports the two were together at her sister Ashlee’s wedding. But beyond that, they haven’t been photographed as a couple for a few weeks, fueling speculation that they have broken up.
Stay tuned.
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Photos from Gatesville house fire
We had a post yesterday about a house fire in Gatesville in which the homeowner was charged with arson.
Reader Shelly Buchkowski had photographs of the blaze, a couple of which we’re posting here. Thanks to her for sending. Looks like the fire was a large one.
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Myanmar begins period of mourning
Myanmar began three days of mourning for some 78,000 cyclone victims today, but some residents frustrated with the junta’s response to the disaster called it a symbolic gesture that lacked sincerity, the Associated Press reports.
Most foreign aid workers were still banned from the storm-devastated area and the United Nations said only 20 percent of the survivors had received some form of international assistance.
Flags at government offices, schools and large hotels were lowered to half-staff, but there was no period of silence. Shops were open as usual and many people in Yangon said they had little idea of what the government-announced mourning entailed. Others were angry.
“I don’t think flying flags at half-mast is going to help. If they are sincere, they should welcome help from everyone,” said Zin Moe, 32, who sells clothes. “They are not letting in aid quickly enough and people are angry.”
The military-led regime said Monday it would allow its Asian neighbors to oversee distribution of foreign relief to survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which battered the country May 2-3.
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And you thought yesterday was hot
We only tied the record high for May 19 yesterday, officially hitting 95 degrees at 3:49 p.m. at Waco Regional Airport and matching the high marks for 1933 and 1956. Forecasters are predicting a real scorcher today, with a high of 98 expected.
That would blow the lid off the previous high temperature for this date, which also was 95 set in 1906, 1933 and most recently, 1996.
I don’t think south-southwest winds of 5 to 10 mph are going to do much to cool us off.
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