October 31, 2014

Militia leader posed with Greg Abbott four days before feds found ammonium nitrate, weapons at hotel

Four days before federal authorities arrested him on federal weapons charges and found ammonium nitrate in his South Texas hotel room, border militia leader Kevin Lyndel "K.C." Massey chatted and posed for a photo with Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott at a campaign event in Brownsville.

The photo, taken at Brownsville restaurant Cobbleheads on Oct. 16, shows Massey wearing an "Abbott for Governor" sticker on his military fatigues and shaking hands with the smiling candidate.

Video footage captured by Fox 2 News in Brownsville also shows Massey taking photos of Abbott while wearing a GoPro camera on his head, which was later confiscated during the raid.

Massey posted another photo of himself and Abbott at the event on his Facebook profile — since deleted, but snagged by ValleyCentral.com — with the caption, "Trying to talk to Greg Abbott about the border problems. I gave him my number we will see if he calls."

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/local/politics/article/Photo-shows-Abbott-posing-with-militia-member-who-5860768.php

October 31, 2014

Nevada court says strip club dancers are employees

LAS VEGAS — In a legal decision with wide implications for strip clubs in Sin City, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled Thursday that dancers at one Las Vegas club are employees, not independent contractors, and are entitled to be paid minimum wage.

The unanimous ruling Thursday in a 2009 class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of six dancers at Sapphire Gentlemen’s Club could change the landscape statewide in a business where dancers have for decades depended on tips and even paid “house fees” to establishments that allowed them to work.

“Given that Sapphire bills itself as the ‘World’s Largest Strip Club,’ and not, say, a sports bar or nightclub,” the high court said, “we are confident that the women strip-dancing there are useful and indeed necessary to its operation.”

Mick Rusing, the Tucson, Arizona, attorney who represented plaintiff Zuri-Kinshasa Maria Terry and five other dancers in the initial case, said the ruling might directly effect more than 6,500 current and former members of the affected class, dating to about 2006.

Read more: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2014-10-30/nevada-court-says-strip-club-dancers-are-employees#comment-353981

[font color=green]Okay, since I like to wallow in the gutter, I'll begin with the snide remarks...

1) Look for the union label!
2) They are service employees.
3) Trial attorneys hit jackpot with sexual harassment claims.

Next?

[/font]

October 31, 2014

Are Wendy Davis' Book Sales That Bad?

Democrat for Texas Governor Wendy Davis sold at least 4,450 hard copies of her memoir Forgetting to Be Afraid since it was published on September 9th, Nielsen BookScan reports. Conservatives have bashed the number as dismal, but some independent book industry veterans say the sales figure is actually respectable.

That number covers sales through October 26, a time period when Davis appeared on cable news and profiles of her were published in Vogue and New York Magazine. The time frame does not include her appearance this week on The Daily Show.

-snip-

Davis critics pounced on the number, saying it indicates lackluster support for her gubernatorial campaign. Conservative media echoed the Slate report.

"America is officially over Wendy Davis," the Washington Examiner proclaimed. "Wendy Davis' Book Has Even Lower Numbers Than Her Campaign," Brietbart declared.

Read more: http://kut.org/post/are-wendy-davis-book-sales-bad

October 31, 2014

Texas high school student sent home for wearing T-shirt that says, “Lesbian”

A student in Van Alstyne, Texas, was sent home from school this week for wearing a T-shirt that says, “Lesbian,” according to a report from KTEN-TV in Texoma.

Kathryn Bowers, a sophomore at Van Alstyne High School, said she made the shirt to attend Dallas gay Pride and has worn it about 15 times in the last few months. But this week, the principal decided the shirt was causing a disruption and that it violates the school’s dress code, which prohibits “writings that are lewd, offensive or obscene.”

Kathryn went home and changed her shirt and returned to school. But when her mother came to pick her up, administrators said they had reversed their decision and Kathryn will be allowed to wear the “Lesbian” T-shirt.

“The student will be allowed to wear the shirt until such time as the shirt causes a disruption to the school day,” Superintendent John Spies told KTEN in a statement.

Read more: http://www.lonestarq.com/watch-texas-high-school-student-sent-home-for-wearing-t-shirt-that-says-lesbian/

October 30, 2014

Tech Underbelly: Indentured Servitude and Bonded Labor in the US

A labor collusion pact with the aim of suppressing pay levels among Apple, Google, Microsoft, Pixar, and others, demonstrated that the idea that Silicon Valley plays fairly is an illusion. But even more unsavory abuses occur further down the food chain. H1-B visa workers, who are generally held in low esteem in the US since they compete with Americans, take a risk when they sign up with labor brokers, even seemingly legitimate ones like Tata Consultancy, part of the giant Tata Group in India.

As the NBC video below, part of a joint investigation with the Center for Investigative Reporting, explains, the most abusive recruiters are body shops, who abuse the H1-B program by bringing in technology graduates when the firm in fact has no job lined up (hat tip EM). The Indian immigrants are hostage, kept in guest houses where they are told not to go outside until they find work.

The Center for Investigative Reporting account goes into considerable detail, yet acknowledging that most misconduct remains hidden:

There are two major types of abuse of Indians who come to the US through job brokers. One is the form we mentioned at the outset, and is the focus of the NBC account, that of H1-B visa fraud. Here the tech worker is brought to the US with no work lined up, a visa violation. They are thus illegal immigrants seeking work. From their story:

Read more: http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2014/10/tech-underbelly-indentured-servitude-bonded-labor-us.html

October 30, 2014

Davis talks education, not abortion in Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI - A cheering crowd of college students welcomed State Sen. Wendy Davis to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday, where the Democratic Party candidate for governor talked about education funding and made only a passing reference to her famous abortion rights filibuster.

For many students, though, the June 2013 filibuster remained the main draw.

“I thought it was very inspiring,” said Janet Gaytan, an 18-year-old freshman from Duncanville, who added that she watched part of the filibuster live and shared the footage with her former high school classmates. “And when I found out she was here, I decided to come out and support her.”

On Wednesday afternoon, Davis spent roughly 10 minutes speaking to a sign-waving crowd outside the campus library.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/news/politics/state/davis-plans-to-visit-texas-amcorpus-christi-today_54340141

October 30, 2014

Superior Crude to pay $1.6 million for 2010 spill in Ingleside

INGLESIDE - Superior Crude Gathering Inc. must pay a $1.6 million civil penalty stemming from a 2010 oil spill at its oil storage facility in Ingleside.

Under a consent decree, lodged in federal court Wednesday, the payment aims to resolve claims raised after the spill by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Federal prosecutors filed a complaint in U.S. District Court in Corpus Christi alleging Superior discharged at least 2,200 barrels from two tanks at its facility on Feb. 9 and 10, 2010. Crude flowed into a lake and wetlands near the Intracoastal Waterway and Redfish Bay, prosecutors say in court papers.

Although most of the oil was captured and contained inside the 104-acre site at FM 2725 and Bishop Road, workers estimated more than 50,000 gallons of crude flowed into the wetlands, killing four waterfowl and hurting about 200 minnows, according to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department.

Read more: http://www.caller.com/news/energy-effects/our-oil/superior-crude-to-pay-16-million-for-2010-spill_83950387

October 30, 2014

Is Wendy Davis soft on cattle rustlers?

FORT WORTH — Attorney General Greg Abbott and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn campaigned together at the Cowboy Hall of Fame Wednesday as defenders of Texas values. After departing the Fort Worth Stockyards, the Abbott campaign issued a press release headlined, “Sen. Davis: Friend of Cattle Rustlers.”

The statement said that in 2009, Wendy Davis, then a newly-elected state senator from Fort Worth, and now Abbott’s Democratic rival for attorney general, was one of two votes against legislation that stiffened penalties for the theft of relatively small numbers of cattle, horse, sheep, swine and goats.

“Texas ranchers and cattle raisers are an important part of our state’s heritage, and continue to make Texas great today, but if Sen. Davis had her way cattle rustlers would be allowed to run rampant and hurt ranchers’ livelihoods,” said Abbott spokesman Matt Hirsch. “Sen. Davis owes Texas ranchers answers about why she was one of just two state senators to side with cattle thieves and against the rule of law.”

Davis spokesman Zac Petkanas said, “Cattle rustling and theft of livestock are serious crimes that must be punished. However, this bill could send a teenager who steals a single cow as a prank to prison for 10 years. That’s too harsh.”

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/greg-abbott-and-john-cornyn-campaign-together-at-c/nht5N/

[font color=green]A more appropriate question: "Does Greg Abbott pander to idiot ranchers?"[/font]

October 29, 2014

Suspect in anti-gay hate crime at DFW Airport faces $1,000 fine, no jail time

McCleish Christmas Benham

DFW Airport police released their report Tuesday on the arrest of a man who attacked other passengers in an apparent anti-gay hate crime on Oct. 23 near Gate C-30.

After the man assaulted two people while yelling anti-gay epithets, other passengers tackled him to the ground before police arrived. Video of the attack filmed by a bystander went viral after being posted online.

According to the report obtained by Lone Star Q, the man’s name is McCleish Christmas Benham, 27, of Shelbyville, Tennessee. He is currently charged with public intoxication and simple assault, both class-C misdemeanors each punishable by a maximum $500 fine, but no jail time.

However, if prosecutors choose to utilize Texas’ hate crimes law, they could enhance the assault charge to a class-B misdemeanor. Class-B misdemeanors are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine.

Read more: http://www.lonestarq.com/breaking-suspect-in-anti-gay-hate-crime-at-dfw-airport-faces-1000-fine-no-jail-time/

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

October 29, 2014

Suspect in anti-gay hate crime at DFW Airport faces $1,000 fine, no jail time

McCleish Christmas Benham

DFW Airport police released their report Tuesday on the arrest of a man who attacked other passengers in an apparent anti-gay hate crime on Oct. 23 near Gate C-30.

After the man assaulted two people while yelling anti-gay epithets, other passengers tackled him to the ground before police arrived. Video of the attack filmed by a bystander went viral after being posted online.

According to the report obtained by Lone Star Q, the man’s name is McCleish Christmas Benham, 27, of Shelbyville, Tennessee. He is currently charged with public intoxication and simple assault, both class-C misdemeanors each punishable by a maximum $500 fine, but no jail time.

However, if prosecutors choose to utilize Texas’ hate crimes law, they could enhance the assault charge to a class-B misdemeanor. Class-B misdemeanors are punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a maximum $2,000 fine.

Read more: http://www.lonestarq.com/breaking-suspect-in-anti-gay-hate-crime-at-dfw-airport-faces-1000-fine-no-jail-time/

Cross-posted in the LGBT Group.