Tue Mar 28 2006
Hit count for 2005 was 24-million-plus

TODAY
Mayor Hardberger • Global warming • Toll roads • Red-light cameras • Texas political donation scandal

TOMORROW
A new CBS corporate policy will forbid KTSA talk hosts from making direct reference to our own websites on the air. Instead, we must refer to a gateway website, on which there will be links to the various hosts' websites. At this point, it seems unlikely that this website will continue in its present form.

EDITORIAL - AMERICAN STATESMAN
TABC's "Operation Last Call" is misguided
The state's drinking police
A guest at a hotel in Irving was drinking a beer at the hotel bar. He was arrested, taken to jail and fined. He was not a likely threat to drive, and the bust cost him his job.

DIRTY BOMB INGREDIENTS CROSSED U.S. BORDERS
Undercover Congressional investigators successfully smuggled into the United States enough radioactive material to make two dirty bombs, even after it set off alarms on radiation detectors installed at border checkpoints

Harvey Kronberg
Texas campaign 'gifts' just got easier
Every now and then, a development over at the Capitol is so bizarre, so detached from reality, it takes the breath away of even jaded long time political watchers like myself. Consider last week's ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission.

STAR TELEGRAM
Relaxed rule on politician gifts called 'outrageous'
At issue is the Texas Ethics Commission's ruling last week that public officeholders need not disclose the size of checks given to them as gifts.

EDITORIAL - DALLAS NEWS
Ethics Wanted: Commission leaves too much in officials' hands
Let's try to comprehend a grand absurdity emanating from Austin: A state official could legally pocket a personal check from a gazillionaire made out for a cool 1 million clams. Since it's more than $250, state law requires him to report it to the State Ethics Commission and provide a "description." The commission, however, has decided that the official could get away with describing the windfall as a mere "check." That's it? No amount?

EDITORIAL - EXPRESS-NEWS
Ethics panel renders itself next to useless
In a decision that defies common sense, the Texas Ethics Commission determined it's enough for the public to know a state official received a donation. No one needs to know, according to the commission, the value of that donation.

 

 

HOUSTON CHRONICLE
Sen. Cornyn pitches "no amnesty" for illegals
"The Cornyn-Kyl bill would require illegal aliens to come forward and register, but offers no reward for breaking the law. Workers would have five years to depart the country, and then be allowed to return in any legal status."

Brad's Ten-Foot Poll on Guest Workers --- RESULT

Mon 3/27/2006 Do you back Sen. Cornyn's plan to require that illegal aliens first return to their own countries before being able to apply for "guest worker" status? Yes 321- 72% No 124- 28% Total votes 445-

Again today I'll ask my question on the radio hoping that someone will call and explain this: Why in the world would an illegal want to turn himself in, get his name on a government list, lose his job and be deported back to wherever, in order to be allowed to get in line for paperwork that might (or might not) eventually allow him back into our country legally? Am I missing the positive aspects of the idea? -Brad

BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE
VOTING MACHINE ISSUES HEAT UP
Problems with the provider of Jefferson County's electronic voting machines could lead to paper ballots and a manual count for the April 11 runoff, in violation of federal law. Election Systems & Software, the Nebraska-based company that provided the county's machines, has refused to program equipment for the runoff until the county pays the $1.95 million bill. The county has refused to pay before resolving problems that plagued the March 7 primary and culminated in a full recount of Election Day ballots after some votes were counted twice.

Note: ES&S is also the provider in Bexar County -Brad

Corpus Christi today debates beach access
The City Council's 7-1 vote last week suggested that today's vote on a second reading of a beach access ordinance could be simply a formality. But the debate among council members is fiercer than ever.

Flight attendant who avoided 9-11 attacks dies in Texas wreck

Three-year-old rescued from inside toy-crane machine
apparently got inside by climbing up the toy discharge chute.

Progress in sex toys
Some early vibrators ran on steam, requiring the doctors to shovel in coal. They often had cumbersome but impressive power sources, and the business end looked like a ball or some other non-phallic shape.

Rhonda Bye had a lot going for her -- brains, beauty, feisty strength. Heroin and crack crushed it all. with before and after photos

Kidnappers reduced their demands as the night wore on

Student tries to spend spring break at Wal-Mart

ICE SNAKE