Mon July 11 2005 - New page ready around 10am Mon-Fri
Need a laptop fixed? The Laptop Specialists, B.J.
Associates, say mention Brad and they'll knock 20% off labor. 344-4563 (offer may end Friday, July 29)
add 130p -- Bexar County Commissioner Lyle Larson
says it's still possible to influence the toll
road issue. Email
your state
representatives, and Governor
Perry, and tell them DON'T
LET TxDOT toll our local roads without us getting to vote on
it. And there will be a public meeting Wednesday 7pm
at Bulverde Senior Center to organize opposition to the proposed
281 toll road.
HB3
Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
Texas Senate reduces property tax relief
Texas Senate early today approved a $4.8 billion property tax cut bill after stripping a new tax on partnerships out of the legislation. "..designed to cut public school property tax rates by raising business and consumer taxes. The burden of paying consumer taxes falls most heavily on the poor and middle class."
- State sales tax would increase from 6.25 percent to 6.75 percent.
- Cigarette tax would go up $1 per pack from the current 41 cents per pack, starting with 60 cents this year.
- Alcohol taxes would be increased 20 percent.
- Loopholes would be eliminated that allow companies to avoid the state's business tax. An estimated 10,000 additional businesses would have to pay it, bringing the total number of businesses paying the tax to 160,000.
- Property taxes would be reduced from $1.50 per $100 of property value to $1.30 in 2006 and $1.25 the next year. Voters could approve an additional levy in each district.
The bill must still must be negotiated with members of the House in a conference committee
ROVE'S ROLE IN PLAME LEAK
Rove's words on the Plame case have always been carefully chosen. "I didn't know her name. I didn't leak her name," Rove told CNN last year when asked if he had anything to do with the Plame leak. Rove has never publicly acknowledged talking to any reporter about former ambassador Joseph Wilson and his wife. But last week, his lawyer, Robert Luskin, confirmed to NEWSWEEK that Rove did—and that Rove was the secret source who, at the request of both Cooper's lawyer and the prosecutor, gave Cooper permission to testify.
LONDON DAILY MAIL
Iraq pullout plan sparks alarm
Defence Secretary John Reid is under pressure over plans revealed in The Mail on Sunday to pull British and US troops out of Iraq. Senior Tories accused the Government of double standards after the document contradicted repeated assurances from PM Tony Blair and President Bush... reveals that the US is planning to cut its troop numbers from 176,000 to 66,000
Memo: US, Brits plan major Iraq withdrawal in 2006
"..making plans to withdraw the majority of their troops from Iraq by mid-2006, according to a secret memo written for British Prime Minister Tony Blair by Defense Secretary John Reid."
BOSTON GLOBE
Team recounts fear in US detention
Contractors' tale reflects tensions with the military
US contractors were taken into custody by a Marine unit May 28, when military officials alleged that they fired at a Marine checkpoint as their convoy passed through Fallujah.
The Zapata contractors were released but blacklisted, banished from the security field in Iraq and branded as criminals, though none has been charged with a crime.
This account is based on interviews with eight of them.
Katherine Harris, the shining star of Florida, pushed for state to test 'Celestial Drops' water to cure tree disease
Willie just can't remember to promote his new reggae album which comes out tomorrow Nelson said he recorded [the songs] about 10 years ago in Los Angeles with Jamaican musicians, including some from the late reggae star Peter Tosh's band.
Top 10 downloads of the past 10 years
Overlawyered.com
Judge: radio hosts' talk must be reported as campaign contribution
In a decision some critics said could threaten press rights, a Washington state judge ruled last week that two radio hosts' on-air comments promoting an anti-gas-tax initiative should be considered in-kind campaign contributions.
Plans killed for "creationism" exhibit at Tulsa Zoo
Sen. Clinton attacks Bush, comparing him to Alfred E. Newman
"..ccused the Bush administration of focusing on helping the wealthy while hurting the middle class.."
America's vulnerable railways
"..just three weeks ago, a Senate committee cut the budget for rail and mass transit security in this country by one-third..."
CenterPoint tests high-speed access via wall sockets
Houston electric provider is testing a system to bring high-speed Internet access to consumers through the electric wall socket. "..a freelance photographer whose home is part of the free CenterPoint BPL trial, said the speed of the service is an improvement over the cable modem service."
