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Sarah Palin stepping down as Alaska governor this month
Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin made a surprise announcement Friday that she is resigning from office at the end of the month without explaining why she plans to step down, raising speculation that she would focus on a run for the White House in the 2012 race.
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Texas gas prices drop prior to holiday
Just in time for the July 4th holiday weekend, retail gasoline prices are falling, according to the weekly AAA Texas gasoline price survey.
The survey shows that the average price of regular unleaded self-serve fell by 4 cents this week to $2.49 per gallon. It also fell 4 cents nationally to an average of $2.63.
Auto club spokeswoman Sara Schimmer says July 4 is the time of year when gasoline prices often peak. If so, they’ve peaked at a level nearly $1.50 per gallon below last summer’s high.
Texarkana has the cheapest gasoline in this week’s survey at $2.43, 7 cents below last week. The highest was in El Paso, where the average price fell 3 cents to $2.58 per gallon.
We have our GasBuddy link here , which currently shows the lowest price in Waco reported at $2.34 at Flying J.
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Business owner robbed at gunpoint in East Waco this morning
A man was robbed at gunpoint this morning outside his East Waco business, according to Waco police.
At 9:42 a.m. the owner of Chapman’s, 801 E. Waco Drive, pulled into the parking lot of his business after returning from the bank, according to a release from Waco police spokesman Melvin Roseborough.
According to the release, a white Plymouth van occupied by two men pulled in behind him and got out of the van. The suspects approached the driver’s side of the victim’s truck, opened the door, and pointed a gun at the owner and demanded money.
The victim surrendered a large sum of money without incident and the suspects got back into the van and fled east on Waco Drive, Roseborough said.
Waco police found the van a short while later abandoned behind part of the G.L. Wiley School buildings on East Live Oak Street. The van was still running when discovered by officers. The van was impounded to be processed for evidence.
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Waco post offices closing early today; closed on July 4
Somehow I missed this note earlier, but all Waco post offices are closing early today prior to being closed all day for the Fourth of July.
Here’s the list of operating hours today for local post offices:
- Bellmead Station, 901 Bank Drive, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Downtown Station, 424 Clay Ave. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (passports from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.)
- Highlander Station, 4428 N. 19th St., 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
- Woodway Station, 430 W. State Highway 6, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (passports, 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
- Westview Station, 800 Wooded Acres Drive, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
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11 horses from North Texas ranch dead
Authorities in North Texas are investigating the deaths of 11 horses, possibly from a lack of food and water.
Parker County Sheriff Larry Fowler says 40 horses total were on the 3,000-acre ranch near Lake Weatherford.
He says nine horses were found dead Wednesday and two were euthanized Thursday.
Fowler says the owner of the horses leased the land and hired someone to feed and provide water to the horses.
He tells the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “That’s when things went wrong.”
Fowler says there was no water and the well was broken. He declined to name the owner or the person hired to care for the horses. He says that once the owner found out what happened, he got a veterinarian to the horses and had the well repaired.
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South Carolina governor sets out on Florida family trip
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford has left his official residence in the state capital and appears to be heading to spend the weekend with his wife and children.
Sanford left the governor’s mansion in Columbia on Friday morning in the passenger seat of a state security sedan. A day earlier, his spokesman said Sanford planned to fly to Florida accompanied by state security for the long holiday weekend.
The two-term Republican says he does not intend to resign. He and wife Jenny also hope to reconcile despite an interview during which the governor told The Associated Press that his Argentine mistress is his soul mate.
Jenny Sanford said in a statement Thursday that she may be able to forgive her husband, but true reconciliation will take time and won’t be easy.
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Giant ‘tea party’ set for Southfork on July 4
Organizers of America’s Tea Party hope to attract 50,000 people to Southfork Ranch on the Fourth of July.
But Gov. Rick Perry, who in April fired up an anti-tax “tea party” with his stance against the federal government and for state rights, was not invited to speak, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Dallas Tea Party organizers said they have accepted no support from any political party and won’t allow any elected official or anyone running for office to speak.
Phillip Dennis says they plan to celebrate the “original Declaration of Independence signed in 1776” with a goal of getting like-minded middle-class taxpayers active in the political process.
Perry, meanwhile, is planning to speak at four tea parties across the state.
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Heat believed cause in deaths of 82-year-old twins in San Antonio
Police believe heat may have played a role in the deaths of 82-year-old identical twin sisters in San Antonio.
The bodies of the women were found in their home Thursday morning. Authorities said no one had heard from the women since June 26. A neighbor called police after noticing a foul odor and flies around the windows.
The single window air conditioner in the home was off, officers said. Neighbors told the San Antonio Express-News that the women lived on a fixed income and weren’t likely to spend money on cooling the home.
One woman was found lying on a couch and the other was in a rocking chair.
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Final Lone Star Cup standings released; Midway 2nd, Robinson 4th
The UIL state baseball tournament has been in the books for a while now, but it was only yesterday that the University Interscholastic League updated its Lone Star Cup numbers online to provide the final standings.
Midway and Robinson, both helped greatly by their girls basketball teams winning state titles in their respective classifications, fared best in the Cup standings.
The Texas Dodge Dealers Lone Star Cup is designed to recognize the best overall athletic and academic programs among participating high schools in Texas.
High schools accumulated points based on their team performance in district and state championships. The winning schools in each classification receive the Lone Star Cup trophy and a $1,000 scholarship, also presented by the Texas Dodge Dealers.
The standings tally up successes in these areas: state and area marching band, team tennis, boys and girls cross country, volleyball, football, swimming and diving, wrestling, girls and boys basketball, soccer, golf, One Act Play, state academic meet, track and field, softball and baseball.
In Class 4A, Midway was edged out by Friendswood for the title. Friendswood rolled up 92 points to Midway’s 90.
In Class 3A, Robinson scored 50 points, which put the school in a four-way tie with Abilene Wylie, Carthage and Celina. No one was closed to winner Argyle, which had 94 points.
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U.S. Marines push deeper into southern Afghan towns
U.S. Marines moved into villages in Taliban strongholds in southern Afghanistan on Friday, meeting little resistance as they tried to win over local chiefs on the second day of the biggest military operation here since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001.
One Marine was killed and several others injured or wounded on Thursday, when some 4,000 Marines launched the operation in Helmand province — a remote area that is at the center of the country’s illegal opium cultivation, which helps finance the insurgency.
So far, however, there has been little resistance from the Taliban, according to a military spokesman Capt. Bill Pelletier.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said a roadside bomb Wednesday in Helmand killed the most senior U.K. officer to have died in combat in Afghanistan. Lt. Col. Rupert Thorneloe was the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.
In the country’s east, meanwhile, a roadside bomb Friday killed three Afghans and a foreigner working on a road construction project, said Bismillah Mangal, the deputy governor Paktia province. The blast ripped through their vehicle as it was traveling on a road that connects Paktia and Khost province, Mangal said.
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Heating up for the Fourth
We’ll be crying for rain again after this weekend, as the Fourth of July holiday looks to keep us seeing highs in the 100s. It was 103 degrees yesterday, and the forecast today calls for around 100, with a heat index around 105-108.
A south-southwest wind between 5 and 10 mph will be bringing in the moisture, adding to the humidity, and therefore, the heat index.
For Independence Day, it’ll be mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 102 and that south-southwest wind around 10 mph.
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms does come back into the forecast for Sunday. We’re looking at mostly cloudy skies, with a high near 96. That would be a relief. Of course, actually getting rain would be best.
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Report: Rangers had to borrow money from MLB; Hicks to sell team
The Texas Rangers borrowed millions of dollars from Major League Baseball within the last week, according to a Yahoo report.
Rangers spokesman John Blake told the Web site that the club would have no comment, and Rich Levin, a spokesman for the commissioner’s office, said baseball does not comment on team finances.
Baseball will continue to offer financial assistance to owner Tom Hicks until he is able to sell the team, the Web site reported, citing a major league source with direct knowledge of the situation.
“He won’t be running the team much longer,” the person said. “Major League Baseball is helping him through this until someone else can be put in place to run the club.”
Yahoo reported a major league source told the Web site that the loan to the Hicks Sports Group was not made specifically to help Hicks with payroll obligations and was believed to be for less than $15 million.
That number first surfaced Wednesday, when a caller to an XM radio station said the Rangers had failed to make payroll and had to get $15 million from Major League Baseball. The host, former Rangers manager Kevin Kennedy, said he knew something about the situation and that the team would be owned by someone other than Hicks in the offseason.
The Rangers’ player payroll of nearly $69 million is 22nd out of 30 big league teams.
The reports of the radio broadcast were published by rangerfans.com, a Web site that follows the team.
Hicks said in May he would be willing to sell controlling interest in the franchise, in part because of financial problems he is facing. Earlier this year, Hicks Sports Group defaulted on $525 million in loans backed by the Rangers and the NHL’s Dallas Stars, the other U.S. pro sports team Hicks owns.
Hicks bought the Rangers for $250 million in 1998. Last month, Forbes valued the Rangers at $405 million, 15th among the 30 major league teams.
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Foul play suspected in Waco man’s disappearance
He was last seen at home with his mother wearing blue jean shorts and a black tee shirt. His mother last heard from via telephone on June 21, but did not know his whereabouts at the time of the call.
His family suspects foul play because unknown men appeared at his mother’s home after his disappearance asking for him and threatening to harm him, Waco police Detective Kristina Woodruff said.
Police asked anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact Woodruff at 750-7614.
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Former Waco Civic Theatre manager pleads guilty to misusing funds
The former manager of the Waco Civic Theatre pleaded guilty today to misusing theater funds for personal use.
U.S. District Judge Walter S. Smith Jr. will sentence Jennifer J. Mitchell, office manager at the theater from 2006 to January, on Aug. 26. She faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Federal prosecutors made no mention of the amount of the misappropriation and documents related to her case, including an indictment, do not specify an amount. However, court officials said she is subject to being ordered to make restitution for the misused funds.
The theater board fired Mitchell in late January after an audit found she had improperly taken money from the theater and doctored financial reports to cover it up.
A Secret Service investigation revealed that Mitchell made “numerous cash withdrawals” using the theater’s automatic teller machine card. Theater records also showed that Mitchell, who was responsible for paying bills and preparing financial reports for the board, paid herself more than her approved salary, according to court records.
On Jan. 12, federal officials say Mitchell forged the signature of a longtime theater board member on a check made payable to her.
Mitchell’s suspicious activities were first reported to federal authorities by U.S. Magistrate Jeffrey C. Manske, a theater board member.
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Baylor ex Sutton promoted to Reds
Former Baylor infielder Drew Sutton has been promoted to the Cincinnati Reds after the team suffered several injuries in the infield.
Sutton was called up from Triple-A Louisville, where he was hitting .254 with five homers and 19 RBIs in 38 games this season. In April, the Reds acquired Sutton from the Houston Astros organization, which drafted him in the 15th round out of Baylor in 2004.
Sutton has hit .280 with 66 homers and 259 RBIs in six minor league seasons. In his only season at Baylor, he hit .304 with eight homers and 40 RBIs.
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Michael Jackson memorial service will be Tuesday at Staples Center
Michael Jackson’s memorial service will be Tuesday morning at the Staples Center, the 20,000-seat coliseum in downtown Los Angeles where Jackson rehearsed his show the night before he died, according to a person who has been briefed by a representative of the family.
Here’s the full story from CNN.
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Britain expects 100,000 swine flu cases daily
Britain faces a projected 100,000 new swine flu cases a day by the end of August and must revamp its flu strategy, the nation’s health minister said Thursday.
Britain has officially reported 7,447 swine flu cases and three deaths, but officials acknowledge the real number of cases is far higher, since many with the virus have not been tested.
Britain is the hardest-hit nation in Europe amid the global swine flu epidemic. Many flu experts believe numbers could jump exponentially now that the virus is entrenched. Because swine flu, or H1N1, is a new virus, few people have any natural immunity, allowing the virus to spread rapidly.
“Cases are doubling every week and on this trend we could see over 100,000 cases per day by the end of August,” Health Minister Andy Burnham told the House of Commons on Thursday.
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Italy’s train derailment death toll reaches 19
Italian officials say the death toll from a train explosion in Tuscany has risen to 19, with 25 people injured.
Premier Silvio Berlusconi says 11 of the injured are in very serious condition.
A train carrying liquefied gas derailed around midnight Monday in the seaside town of Viareggio, setting off a massive explosion that consumed nearby homes.
The Viareggio health director Giancarlo Sassoli says only 10 of the dead have been identified.
Berlusconi said Thursday the government will investigate whether the international rules governing the rail transport of such highly flammable materials needed to be changed.
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Obama says Putin still living partly in the past
President Barack Obama is describing Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as someone who still has “one foot in the old ways of doing business and one foot in the new.”
He says one reason he’s meeting with Putin — as well as with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev — during his upcoming visit to Moscow is that he wants Putin to know that “the old Cold War approaches” to relations with the United States are “outdated.”
Obama says Putin “still has sway” in Russia.
He also says the U.S. is developing a “very good relationship” with Medvedev, and that he’s looking for gains in nuclear arms reduction.
During an Associated Press interview Thursday, Obama rejected the idea that Russia is an obstacle in confronting North Korea and Iran. He said there’s been “good cooperation” in dealing with those two countries.
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Smartphones take root on farms
It’s not just the corporate suits who are hitched to their smartphones. CNN.com has a fun read about a Nebraska farmer who feels more connected to the world from his admittedly “middle-of-nowhere” farm.
And I love the headline for the story: “Twittering from the tractor: Smartphones sprout on the farm.”
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Still seeking input for backyard pools story
I’m tossing this out there again in case you hadn’t seen this yesterday.
Trib reporter Erin Quinn is working on a story about safety concerns that people have about backyard pools, whether it’s kiddie pools, above-ground or in-the-ground pools. This year Texas has already seen a high number of drownings of children this year.
How do you keep your kids safe? And what concerns do you have seeing other people’s kids around pools?
To contact her, call 757-5748 or e-mail equinn@wacotrib.com.
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State agency to change its name
I found this news somewhat amusing. We received this news release that the Office of Rural Community Affairs will change its name to the Texas Department of Rural Affairs on Sept. 1.
Hmmm. Going from ORCA to TDRA because of confusion about the agency’s duties. What do you think the confusion might have been?
Here’s the release:
AUSTIN — The state agency dedicated to rural Texas will have a new name as of September 1, 2009, thanks to legislation authored by Representative Drew Darby and carried in the Senate by Senator Craig Estes.
The law changes the name of the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) to the Texas Department of Rural Affairs (TDRA). The agency’s URL will become www.tdra.state.tx.us. The agency’s duties and dedication to rural communities remain the same.
“The new name will make their status as an official state agency unmistakable,” said Representative Darby. “HB 1918 supports the agency’s ability to deliver services in the most efficient and effective manner.”
The agency’s acronym, TDRA, pronounced Te’ De’ Är’ A, will replace the old acronym of ORCA, which often led to confusion about the agency’s role.
“Rural communities and even other state agencies often mistook us for a non-profit organization,” said ORCA executive director Charles S. (Charlie) Stone. “The new name makes our role as a state agency and provider of state and federal grants immediately clear to everyone.”
Since its creation in 2001 by the 77th Legislature, the agency has awarded over 4,891 grants, totaling more than $642 million. These funds have gone out to communities and counties for economic development, disaster relief, infrastructure, and healthcare, benefiting more than four million people in Texas.
“Rural communities are vital contributors to the prosperity of this state going well beyond agriculture with manufacturing and a growing renewable energy industry,” said Senator Estes, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Affairs. “The newly named Texas Department of Rural Affairs emphasizes not only the value of this department, but the value of our rural areas to our overall state economy.”
“We thank Representative Darby and Senator Estes for supporting rural communities and this agency during the legislative session,” said Dr. Wallace Klussmann chair of the ORCA governing board.
ORCA is the state agency dedicated solely to rural Texas and is a provider of rural-focused state and federal resources for community development, disaster recovery, economic development, housing and rural health. The agency serves as the state’s primary liaison with HUD and manages the federal disaster allocation for public infrastructure. ORCA is the federally-designated State Office of Rural Health. For more information, visit ORCA online at www.orca.state.tx.us.
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Leno wins Web address fight with Katy man
Television host Jay Leno has won control of a Web address using the name of his new show.
The U.N.’s World Intellectual Property Organization says current owner Guadalupe Javier Zambrano, 51, of Katy will have to transfer the domain name — thejaylenoshow.com — to the comedian.
The agency says Zambrano failed to demonstrate he had a legitimate reason for registering the address five years ago while Leno was still hosting The Tonight Show.
Zambrano used the site to redirect Web surfers to his real estate business.
The Jay Leno Show premieres Sept. 14 on NBC.
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WASP members to get Congressional Gold Medal
President Barack Obama made it official yesterday, signing into law S. 614, a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, also known as WASP.
You might recall our recent story before the bill was signed which featured Waco resident Deanie Parrish, who was one of those special women who flew during World War II for non-combat military missions in the United States.
Wonder when she can expect to get her gold medal?
In a release from the White House:
“The Women Airforce Service Pilots courageously answered their country’s call in a time of need while blazing a trail for the brave women who have given and continue to give so much in service to this nation since,” said Obama. “Every American should be grateful for their service, and I am honored to sign this bill to finally give them some of the hard-earned recognition they deserve.”
From 1942 to 1943, more than 1,000 women joined the WASP. Thirty-eight of them died while their served. Their contributions went largely unrecognized for years, not even being acknowledged with veteran status until 1977.
The bipartisan effort in Congress to recognize the contributions of the WASP was led by Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), and Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Susan Davis (D-CA). Obama and Ros-Lehtinen were joined by three members of WASP as well as five active-duty U.S. Air Force pilots who followed in their footsteps.
Interestingly, the White House has posted photos from the signing for anyone with an Internet connections to view. Go to www.flickr.com/whitehouse. The photo posted here is from flickr. Click it to enlarge.
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Ohio police chief, female officer caught kissing on camera
OK, I’ve got another “What were they thinking?” stories, this time out of Ohio. Read The Associated Press story below.
The police chief of a northeast Ohio township has retired after a video became public showing him and a female office kissing and caressing in the front of a police cruiser while a prisoner was in the back seat.
Timothy Escola retired Tuesday night after four years with the Perry Township police department about 50 miles south of Cleveland. Law Director Charles Hall says Escola’s retirement closes an internal investigation.
Hall says no charges are being considered against part-time officer Janine England, who was with Escola in the cruiser June 2.
Escola and England drove to the Cincinnati area to pick up a burglary suspect.
An anonymous tip prompted an investigation last week and a review of the cruiser’s dashboard camera.
Not surprisingly, the Canton Repository newspaper and its Web site, CantonRep.com, is all over this juicy story, complete with dashboard video.
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U.S. soldier believed captured in Afghanistan
An American soldier is believed to have been captured by insurgents in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said today.
The soldier has been missing from his unit since Tuesday, said Army Capt. Elizabeth Mathias. Citing concern for his safety, she did not disclose the circumstances of his disappearance, or explain how military authorities had concluded that he was being held, or say whether there had been any communication with insurgents about the missing man.
The Reuters news agency quoted a senior Taliban commander, Mullah Sangeen, as saying the soldier was captured earlier this week as he left a base in Paktika province on patrol.
If the reports are borne out and an American soldier was seized alive, it would represent an unprecedented coup for the insurgents. They could exploit a capture for propaganda purposes or demand concessions such as a prisoner exchange.
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Investigator: Air France jet fell intact into sea
A French investigator says Air France Flight 447 did not break up in flight but plunged vertically into the Atlantic Ocean.
Alain Bouillard, leading the investigation into the June 1 crash for the French accident investigation agency BEA, also says life vests found among the wreckage of the plane were not inflated.
All 228 people aboard the plane were killed when it plunged into the ocean en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris.
Bouillard said at a news conference outside Paris on Thursday that the search for the plane’s black boxes has been extended by 10 days and will continue through July 10.
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N.C. ‘sewer creature’ stirs interest
Apparently, this has been all over YouTube — you can view a video below — and a TV station in Raleigh, N.C., has this story about a “blob” of sorts that was uncovered by a videocamera during a search of a sewer line.
It seems to be pretty benign, but freaky-looking, nonetheless. There’s debate about exactly what it is. A city environmental coordinator believes it to be a cluster of tubifex or sludge worms, while a biology professor says it’s a cluster of invertebrates called byrozoan.
But admit it, it does look somewhat like “The Blob.”
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Setback in jobs market with more cuts reported
Employers cut a larger-than-expected 467,000 jobs in June, driving the unemployment rate up to a 26-year high of 9.5 percent, suggesting that the economy’s road to recovery will be bumpy.
The Labor Department report, released Thursday, showed that even as the recession flashes signs of easing, companies likely will want to keep a lid on costs and be wary of hiring until they feel certain the economy is on solid ground.
June’s payroll reductions were deeper than the 363,000 that economists expected.
However, the rise in the unemployment rate from 9.4 percent in May wasn’t as sharp as the expected 9.6 percent. Still, many economists predict the jobless rate will hit 10 percent this year, and keep rising into next year, before falling back.
All told, 14.7 million people were unemployed in June.
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MCC extends deadline for aesthetician program
Individuals interested in becoming a skin-care specialist now have until July 20 to complete applications for McLennan Community College’s Aesthetician Program.
The program can be completed in one year and combines classroom work and hand-on experience with the public. Graduates receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to take the licensing exam administered by the State Board of Cosmetology.
For more information, contact program director Ron Robinson at 299-8702 or rrobinson@mclennan.edu or visit MCC’s Web site at www.mclennan.edu.
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Officer uses Taser on pastor, pepper spray on congregants
Here’s a strange story to start your day. A Webster police officer used a Taser on a pastor and pepper spray to disperse members of his congregation Wednesday after they said the pastor tried to interfere with a traffic stop of a member of his church.
Jose Elias Moran, 42, was charged with interfering in the duties of a police officer during a traffic stop on the Iglesia Profetica Peniel parking lot southeast of Houston.
“This did not have to happen. It didn’t have to go this far,” Debbie Moran, the pastor’s 15-year-old daughter, said.
While the officer’s report says the pastor pushed the officer and went inside the church to return with 40 other congregants, witnesses claim Moran didn’t touch the officer and it was the policeman who became belligerent and kicked on the door of the church.
Click here for The Associated Press story.
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Back into the 100s? Perhaps
While the National Weather Service forecast calls for a high of “only” 99 degrees today, I’m not so sure we won’t see triple digits again with no rain predicted.
The NWS forecast calls for sunny and hot, with a high near 99, and heat-index values as high as 102. A southwest wind around 5 mph will turn to the east-southeast.
Yesterday’s high at the official Waco Regional Airport recording station was 97, the second day of sub-100 highs after 10 straight days in the 100s. A new streak might start today.
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Pregnant woman thrown from pickup bed in collision, killed
A pregnant woman was killed late Tuesday in Hamilton County she was thrown from the bed of a moving pickup that was struck by an 18-wheeler.
Heather Smith, 18, of Lampasas, and her unborn baby were pronounced dead just after 9:30 p.m. at the scene of the crash on State Highway 22 and Farm-to-Market Road 1602, about 10 miles east of Hamilton, a Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman said.
Smith had been riding in the bed of a 1997 Ford pickup, along with at least one other person, 18-year-old Kayla Bench of Lampasas. Although the report is unclear, apparently, inside the cab of the truck was Smith’s husband, 19-year-old Raymond Smith of Lampasas and 39-year-old Michael Wilson of Comanche, and 22-year-old Kassie Kepler of Lampasas. The pickup was driven by 24-year-old Wesley Kepler of Lampasas.
Bench, Raymond Smith, Wilson and the Keplers were injured in the wreck, the spokeswoman said. Their conditions were not available today.
The spokeswoman said that just before 8:30 p.m. Tuesday the pickup was traveling northeast on State Highway 22 and an 18-wheeler driven by Adaleerto Marquez of Clovis, New Mexico was traveling behind.
Kepler signaled his intent to turn left onto F.M. 1602, the spokeswoman said.
Marquez attempted to pass the pickup in a no-passing zone and struck the pickup’s rear quarter panel, the spokeswoman said. Heather Smith and Bench were thrown from the vehicle, she said.
Marquez was cited for passing in a no-passing zone, the spokeswoman said, and more citations against him were pending, the report indicated.
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Bridge demolition on I-35 rescheduled again
Concerns about the uncertain weather have prompted Texas Department of Transportation officials to reschedule again a temporary closure of the Interstate 35 mainlanes in order to take out the Farm-to-Market Road 2063 bridge over it. It was schedule to happen tonight.
The new date — weather permitting, of course — is Monday, July 6, beginning at 7 p.m. It will reopen by 7 a.m. Tuesday, July 7. TxDOT has the following release:
The mainlanes in each direction (northbound and southbound) will be closed and detoured to the frontage roads. All Sun Valley Boulevard (F.M. 2063) traffic will be detoured to the frontage roads as follows:
*Traffic desiring to cross I-35 from west to east will be detoured south to F.M. 3148 (Moonlight Drive).
*Traffic desiring to cross I-35 from east to west will be detoured north to State Highway 6/Loop 340.
Motorists are advised to observe all warning signs and traffic control devices in the project area. The multiphase $88 million reconstruction project is projected for completion in the fall of 2011.
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American Eagle bringing turboprops back to Waco
American Eagle, which flies daily between Waco and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, will temporarily quit using jets on those flights beginning in late August.
The jets will return in late 2010, after runway improvements have been completed.
In the interim, 66-passenger turboprops will be making the flights.
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FDA requires mental-health warning for Chantix
The Food and Drug Administration will require Pfizer Inc.’s smoking cessation drug Chantix to carry the agency’s strongest safety warning over a series of mental health side effects, including depression and suicidal thoughts.
The new requirement is based on reports of people experiencing unusual changes in behavior, becoming depressed, or having suicidal thoughts while taking the drug.
Pfizer Inc. had already updated the drug’s labeling, following the beginning of an FDA investigation into the potential side effects in 2007.
The FDA is also requiring an additional study on the drugs to determine the extent of the side effects.
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Guaranty Bank needs federal help after losses
Austin-based Guaranty Bank, which lost $2.2 billion last year, is seeking help from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to stay in business. It has four locations in the Waco area.
Those with accounts at Guaranty should not have to worry, as accounts are insured up to $250,000 by the FDIC.
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Yemeni jet crash survivor recounts rescue
The New York Times has this story about the 14-year-old girl who is the only known survivor of the crash of a Yemeni airliner on Tuesday.
She held on to the plane’s wreckage in the Indian Ocean for more than 13 hours before her rescue.
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Seeking input about kids, pool safety around Waco
If you saw this item earlier, you know that Texas has seen 60 children drown already this year — 30 in the month of June alone.
Trib reporter Erin Quinn is working on a story about this, and is seeking people with backyard pools, whether it’s kiddie pools, above-ground or in-the-ground pools, to comment, especially if they have children or grandchildren and are concerned about their safety.
To contact her, call 757-5748 or e-mail equinn@wacotrib.com.
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Former boxing champ, Managua mayor Arguello dies
Former boxing champion Alexis Arguello, one of the best junior lightweights to step in the ring, was found dead at his home early Wednesday.
Presidential spokeswoman Rosario Murillo confirmed Arguello’s death and an autopsy was pending. The La Prensa newspaper reported Arguello was found with a gunshot wound to the chest.
“We are upset,” said Murillo, who declined to provide details about the death. “This is a heartbreaking announcement. He was the champion of the poor, an example of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
The 57-year-old Arguello, who was elected mayor of Managua last year, retired after several comebacks in 1995 with a record of 82-8 with 65 knockouts. Nicknamed “The Explosive Thin Man,” Arguello was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1992.
In 1999, a panel of experts assembled by The Associated Press voted Arguello the best junior lightweight and sixth-best lightweight of the 20th century. His popularity in his own country was so great that he carried the flag for Nicaragua at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and led to his decision to seek public office.
Arguello fought against the Sandinista government in the 1980s after it seized his property and bank account, but later joined the party and ran for mayor of the capital last November. He defeated Eduardo Montealegre, though opponents alleged the vote was fraudulent.
Arguello had returned Sunday from Puerto Rico, where he honored the late baseball Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente. His death prompted Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega to announced he was canceling a trip to Panama for the inauguration of President-elect Ricardo Martinelli.
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Waco breaking ground today for new fire stations
The first of two groundbreaking ceremonies today for new fire stations in Waco is beginning now for Fire Station #1, which is being relocated from 504 S. University-Parks Drive to 111 Peach St.
The fire station will serve portions of East Waco and downtown Waco. According to the city,the fire station will include six bays and will be equipped with a ladder truck, fire engine, confined space rescue trailer, rescue unit, command unit and the rescue boat and truck.
The facility plans include individual bedrooms for 11 firefighters, office space, a fitness room, a training/community room, a room for training and servicing the self contained breathing apparatus equipment, and a kitchen. The target completion date is summer of 2010.
The second ceremony will be at 2 p.m. for Fire Station #3, which is being relocated from 1400 Elm Ave. to 111 Ninth St. on the Texas State Technical College campus. The station will include three bays with space for air rescue firefighting equipment, if needed, in the future.
Waco has a mutual-aid agreement with L-3 for the TSTC airport. The fire station will be equipped with a fire engine, the hazardous material response truck and trailer, and one brush truck. The facility plans include individual bedrooms for eight firefighters, a kitchen and office space. The target completion date is spring of 2010.
The total combined cost for both projects is $6.8 million, which are being funded by the bond package approved by voters in May 2007.
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California among states with tough budget choices
Legislators in more than a half-dozen states, their revenues evaporating in the recession, frantically worked to stave off government shutdowns and devastating service cuts. California failed to meet a midnight deadline and now may need to issue IOUs instead of paying bills.
Across the country, lawmakers were feeling the heat as their legislatures began the new fiscal year without a budget in place.
In Illinois, the sputtering drive to come up with a state budget broke down completely Tuesday, leaving the state without any plan for paying its employees or delivering government services.
In Pennsylvania, talks between Gov. Ed Rendell and top legislators ended Tuesday night with no substantial progress, aides said. Rendell said he didn’t think an agreement would come soon. The state faces the prospect of not being able to pay state employees if they cannot resolve an impasse.
The end of June marked the end of the fiscal year in many states, meaning lawmakers worked late Tuesday to pass budgets in a year that has seen the recession take a devastating toll on government finances.
Fallout from California’s budget mess threatened to spread nationwide because of the sheer size of the state’s economy. The Senate rejected three bills designed to save $5 billion, including $3.3 billion in education funding cuts that had to be enacted before Wednesday.
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Texas special legislative session begins
Texas lawmakers have convened the special legislative session in Austin.
The Texas House gaveled in just after 10 a.m. Wednesday to kick things off. The plan for this session — which Gov. Rick Perry called after the regular session ended June 1 — is to wrap things up quickly, the governor says.
Perry called called to extend the shelf life of some critical state agencies and allow the Department of Transportation to issue $2 billion in bonds for building roads. Perry says the unfinished business from the regular session can be done in time for the holiday weekend.
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Waco ranks 15th on Old Spice All-Time Sweatiest Cities list
Sure, Old Spice is getting its name out to the public by doing this, but it has been kind of a fun annual “study” of the sweatiest cities in the U.S. This year, however, is also supposedly the last year of the eight-year study the anti-perspirant/deodorant brand commissioned, so in this final year Old Spice is declaring the Top-20 All-Time Sweatiest Cities.
Waco comes in at No. 15. According to the release, the Sweatiest Cities rankings are based on computer simulations of the amount of sweat a person of average height and weight would produce walking around for an hour in the average temperatures during the summer months, based on historical weather data during June, July and August from 2001-2008 for each city.
Phoenix, despite its “dry heat,” comes in at No. 1.
The release also notes that the Lone Star State has seven cities appearing in the Top 20 list. San Antonio comes in at No. 2, followed by Dallas (No. 4), Houston (No. 5), El Paso (No. 13), Waco (No. 15), Austin (No. 16) and Corpus Christi (No. 19). The release says: “Collectively, these seven cities produce more than 1.3 million gallons of sweat each summer - enough to fill the 400,000-gallon Dolphin Bay at the Texas State Aquarium more than three times!”
There’s a comparison for ya. Read the whole release here.
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Disturbing numbers on Texas child drownings
The Department of Family and Protective Services this morning sent out a pretty sobering e-mail about the number of Texas children — 30 — who drowned during the month of June.
Most of them were toddlers. It was the worst month for child drownings since the state’s annual count began in 2005, the release says.
The majority of the deaths occurred in swimming pools at private homes, and as the Fourth of July weekend approaches Texans are urged to watch their children closely around water, the release reads.
It’s obviously good advice.
So far in 2009, 60 children in Texas have drowned, according to the count by the Department of Family and Protective Services.
An average of 70 children has drowned each year since DFPS began tracking the deaths in 2005. DFPS identified 66 drowning deaths in 2005, 70 in 2006, and 63 in 2007.
For more information about children and water safety, visit the “See and Save” Web site at www.seeandsave.org.
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Magazine article on Palin refuels feud of McCain campaign advisers
FoxNews has a story about a new Vanity Fair article on Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, which it says has re-ignited animosities among the feuding high-profile Republican advisers who worked on Arizona Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign.
Click here for the FoxNews story and click here for the Vanity Fair article.
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Arizona lawmakers approve bill allowing guns in bars
The Arizona Senate has given final approval to a bill that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry a gun into a business that serves alcohol.
The move completes legislative action on the bill and sends it to Gov. Jan Brewer. She has not said whether she will sign it, but she has long been a supporter of gun rights.
The measure has pitted powerful groups representing gun and bar owners against each other, sparking a debate about whether guns and alcohol can coexist without bloodshed.
Critics of the measure say guns and alcohol are a dangerous combination. Supporters say they should be able to protect themselves and their families even if they happen to be inside a business serving alcohol.
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Mississippi leads in obesity rankings; Alabama No. 2
Mississippi’s still king of cellulite, but an ominous tide is rolling toward the Medicare doctors in neighboring Alabama: obese baby boomers.
It’s time for the nation’s annual obesity rankings and, outside of fairly lean Colorado, there’s little good news. Obesity rates among adults rose in 23 states over the past year and didn’t decline anywhere, says a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
And while the nation has long been bracing for a surge in Medicare as the boomers start turning 65, the new report makes clear that fat, not just age, will fuel much of those bills. In every state, the rate of obesity is higher among 55- to 64-year-olds — the oldest boomers — than among today’s 65-and-beyond.
That translates into a coming jump of obese Medicare patients that ranges from 5.2 percent in New York to a high of 16.3 percent in Alabama, the report concluded. In Alabama, nearly 39 percent of the oldest boomers are obese.
Health economists once made the harsh financial calculation that the obese would save money by dying sooner, notes Jeff Levi, executive director of the Trust, a nonprofit public health group. But more recent research instead suggests they live nearly as long but are much sicker for longer, requiring such costly interventions as knee replacements and diabetes care and dialysis. Studies show Medicare spends anywhere from $1,400 to $6,000 more annually on health care for an obese senior than for the non-obese.
“There isn’t a magic bullet. We don’t have a pill for it,” said Levi, whose group is pushing for health reform legislation to include community-level programs that help people make healthier choices — like building sidewalks so people can walk their neighborhoods instead of drive, and providing healthier school lunches.
“It’s not going to be solved in the doctor’s office but in the community, where we change norms,” Levi said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long said that nearly a third of Americans are obese. The Trust report uses somewhat more conservative CDC surveys for a closer state-by-state look. Among the findings:
- Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity, 32.5 percent, for the fifth year in a row.
- Three additional states now have adult obesity rates above 30 percent, including Alabama, 31.2 percent; West Virginia, 31.1 percent; and Tennessee, 30.2 percent.
- Colorado had the lowest rate of obese adults, at 18.9 percent, followed by Massachusetts, 21.2 percent; and Connecticut, 21.3 percent.
- Mississippi also had the highest rate of overweight and obese children, at 44.4 percent. It’s followed by Arkansas, 37.5 percent; and Georgia, 37.3 percent.
- Following Alabama, Michigan ranks No. 2 with the most obese 55- to 64-year-olds, 36 percent. Colorado has the lowest rate, 21.8 percent.
More information is available online at Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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H-E-B issues voluntary recall of some beef products
H-E-B has issued this release about a voluntary recall on certain beef products.
In connection with the voluntary national recall by JBS Swift Beef Company for possible E-coli 0157:H7 in some of its products, H-E-B is notifying its customers and advising them to check their freezers for the beef products listed below:
- Raw Beef Briskets with plant inspection #969 (EST #969) with sell-by dates between 5/12 and 6/20
- Raw Beef Inside skirt steaks in a Styrofoam tray with sell-by dates between 5/4 and 6/20
- Hill Country Fare Beef for fajitas with a sell-by date of 5/23
- Any fresh ground beef in a Styrofoam tray with sell-by dates between 5/9 and 6/20
Currently, H-E-B does not have any of the impacted JBS Swift Beef products in its stores or in its supply chain. H-E-B has no reported illnesses, and there have been no reports of illnesses in Texas due to this recall.
H-E-B is issuing this recall in an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of our customers. Please return products impacted by this recall to the nearest H-E-B store for a refund or replacement.
Customers with any concerns or questions can contact H-E-B Customer Relations at 1-800-432-3113.
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Black box located in Yemeni jet crash
One of the black box flight recorders from the Yemeni plane which crashed in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday has been located, a French official has said.
Efforts to retrieve the recorder will begin during the day, the official added, quoted by AFP news agency.
Meanwhile doctors say the only survivor of the crash, teenage girl Baya Bakari, is recovering and in no danger.
The plane, flying from the Yemeni capital Sanaa to the Comoros, came down in bad weather with 153 on board.
There were 66 French nationals among the passengers. Most of the rest were Comorans.
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Ex-Texas governor gets new Internet gig
Former Texas Gov. Mark White has been hired by a Houston-based Internet provider to oversee the expansion of wireless Internet access to rural America.
Internet America Inc., said Tuesday that White will help maximize public private partnerships as the special counsel on rural broadband development. White’s job will involve bringing broadband wireless Internet service to underserved areas of the country.
The Houston attorney served as governor of Texas from 1983-1987 and is best known for leading educational reforms in an underperforming state school system.
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Still a chance of rain for Waco area today
I’ll take whatever rainfall — even cloudcover — that I can get these days. Chances for rain, however, are only around 20 percent for today. But with the clouds our high is forecast to reach only 93 degrees, which would be the second day in a row that we don’t hit 100 degrees.
Yesterday’s rain-dampened high of 84 degrees broke our run of 10 consecutive afternoons of highs of 100 or more. And boy, that was nice.
Heat-index values could reach as high as 98 today. A southwest wind around 5 mph will blow.
And yeah, welcome to July!
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Five injured in Waco wreck
A wreck this afternoon sent five people to the hospital in Waco.
The collision happened shortly after 3 p.m. at Reuter Avenue and North 25th Street.
A red Buick LeSabre traveling west on Reuter Avenue failed to yield to a white Chevy truck traveling north on North 25th Street, police said. The truck went into the front yard of the house at 2424 Reuter Ave., damaging a chain link fence.
The three passengers in the truck and the two passengers in the car went to a local hospital, but a police officer at the scene said he didn’t think anyone was seriously injured.
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Minnesota Supreme Court declares Franken winner in Senate contest
The Minnesota Supreme Court has ordered that Democrat Al Franken be certified as the winner of the state’s long-running Senate race.
Here are more details.
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Man gets 26 years for hitting uncle with tire tool, stealing $700
A three-time convicted felon was sentenced to 26 years in prison Tuesday for hitting his uncle in the head with a tire tool and stealing $700 from him.
Don Dwayne Sneed, 43, pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery as a habitual criminal and 19th State District Judge Ralph Strother sentenced him to prison in a plea bargain with prosecutors J.R. Vicha and Hilary Laborde.
Sneed, who has prior felony convictions for impersonating a public servant, forgery and cocaine possession, will have to serve at least 13 years in prison before he becomes eligible for parole.
He pleaded guilty to striking his uncle, Raymond Sneed, who is disabled and wheelchair-bound, in the head with a tire tool and demanding money from a Social Security disability check that Sneed’s mother, the victim’s sister, cashed for him the day before.
The elder Sneed was asleep in bed at the Lee Street home he shared with his nephew and sister when the January assault and robbery occurred, according to court records.
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West man wins trip to see PGA tournament
A West man has won a trip for four to watch the AT&T National Golf Tournament at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., this weekend. He won through a text-message, according to this release from AT&T Corporate Communications.
With one quick text message, die-hard golf fan Don Landrum of Texas was today named the winner of the AT&T* “Favorite Foursome” AT&T National Sweepstakes, granting him and three friends front-row access to watch golf’s finest tee off over July 4 weekend.
“I enjoy watching PGA tournaments on TV and I’ve always wanted to see the players live in action,” said Landrum of West, Texas. “Thanks to this opportunity from AT&T, my wife, two friends and I are making my dream a reality. And what’s cooler is that I was able to enter using text messaging — which I use several times a day.”
Between June 8 and June 22, AT&T invited golf-lovers to enter for the chance to win four VIP tickets to the final two days of the 2009 AT&T National Tournament. Landrum, who entered the sweepstakes via text message, along with three friends will receive VIP tickets to the AT&T National, round-trip travel to and from the event, hotel accommodations, $400 spending cash to purchase merchandise on-site, and exclusive access to tournament events between June 30 and July 5 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
Connecting fans with the technology they love most, AT&T offered a variety of ways to enter to win the “Fan Favorite Foursome” sweepstakes, including entry through AT&T’s page on Facebook and via text message, in which all wireless users across carriers could enter to win by texting TRIP** to 21234 from their wireless phone. Alternative free methods not requiring texting were also available through mail-in participation.
“We’re pleased to give Don and his friends VIP access to a premier golf tournament this year - the AT&T National,” said Tim McGhee, executive director, AT&T Corporate Sponsorships. “We opened the contest to text message entries and notified Don about the exciting news via e-mail. Using these channels, we have been able to engage and excite more golf fans than ever before, and we’re excited to continue to use them to bring our fans closer to the action in the future, too.”
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Accused woman claims dog ate her checks
A woman in Washington state accused of dipping into her ex-husband’s bank account without permission blames her dog.
Arlington, Wash., police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield says detectives filed court orders to follow the money trail. They learned the money disappearing from the 42-year-old Arlington man’s account was being used to pay for utility bills and other items at his ex-wife’s home.
Banfield told The Herald newspaper that the woman’s first response was, “Her dog got into her purse and ate all her personal checks.” The 50-year-old woman reportedly told police she had no choice but to take money from her former husband’s account.
The women is under investigation for identity theft and forgery.
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South Carolina governor admits to more liaisons
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford is admitting more encounters with his Argentine mistress than he previously has disclosed.
In a lengthy, emotional interview with The Associated Press, the governor described seven meetings with the woman, including their first in 2001. Sanford says there have been five over a 12-month period, including two multi-night stays with her in New York.
It was the first disclosure of any get-togethers with her in the United States and contradicted a public confession last week during which he admitted to a total of four encounters in the past year.
He previously announced he would reimburse the state for money spent during a government trip to Brazil and Argentina in June 2008. But he insists no public money was used for any other meetings with her.
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Death toll 12 in Italy train explosion
The death toll climbed to at least 12 in a Italy train explosion, officials said Tuesday.
A child was among those killed, said Antonio Garufi, a local government official. The number of injured had risen to 36, with 16 in critical condition.
Most of the injuries were burns. Two children were among the severely burned, said Guido Bertolaso, head of the Italian civil protection agency.
The train was carrying gas tanks when it derailed and exploded while passing through a station in the coastal town of Viareggio. The explosion happened about 11:45 p.m. Monday. The cargo train had nine tank-wagons full of gas, four of which turned over.
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Motorcyclist injured on slick interstate access road near Bruceville
A 74-year-old Belton man, who was riding his motorcycle with a group of riders to Michigan for a fundraising benefit, was injured this morning when officials say it was raining so hard on Interstate 35, that he couldn’t see the roadway.
Texas Department of Public Safety Cpl. Gary Durham said that just after 8:30 a.m. today, Gilbert Johnson and another rider were north on Interstate 35, when they decided to pull to the rest area at Exit 318 near Bruceville. The rain was so blinding, Johnson told the corporal, that he jumped the curb and flipped his motorcycle.
Durham said Johnson was taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center to be treated for what appeared at the scene to be a compound fracture to his right leg.
Traffic was not affected, Durham said, because the wreck occurred on the access road.
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White House accepts convicted judge’s resignation
The White House has accepted the resignation of an imprisoned federal judge whom the House impeached on allegations of sexually assaulting two women and lying about the assaults.
President Barack Obama’s acceptance of U.S. Judge Samuel Kent’s resignation, effective Tuesday, ends Kent’s $174,000 annual judicial salary, as many members of Congress wanted. Kent will have to wait at least a week for the Senate to decide whether to end his impeachment trial. Congress is adjourned this week for the July 4 holiday.
White House counsel Gregory Craig sent a letter to Kent on Monday saying Obama accepted the resignation.
Kent, 60, entered a U.S. prison in Massachusetts on June 15 to serve a 33-month sentence. He pleaded guilty in May to lying to a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals investigative panel about sexually abusing two female employees.
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