Nowitzki passes Shaq on NBA scoring list as Mavs top Nets in OT

BROOKLYN -- Wednesday night belonged to Dirk Nowitzki.

Not too far from the bright lights of Broadway, Nowitzki put on a show-stopping performance at the Barclays Center while leading the Dallas Mavericks to a 119-118 overtime victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Not only did Nowitzki vault past Shaquille O’Neal and become the NBA’s No. 6 all-time leading scorer, but he also ended his night with a picture-perfect up-and-under move for the game’s winning basket with only 6.4 seconds left.

In the afterglow, Nowitzki touched on many precious moments throughout his 17-plus year career, including Wednesday’s historic moment, which came when he buried a typical 18-footer from the right corner — right in front the of the Mavericks’ bench.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nba/dallas-mavericks/article51442945.html

Software giant Oracle to build major Austin campus, add employees

Oracle Corp., the world’s second-largest software company, plans to build a new corporate campus on 27 acres overlooking Lady Bird Lake, just east of downtown Austin, the company confirmed to the American-Statesman on Tuesday.

With the new campus, Oracle plans to grow its Austin workforce by 50 percent over the next few years, the company said.

The move expands the presence of another rapidly growing California-based technology giant in Central Texas, as companies including Apple Inc., Google and Facebook are aggressively ramping up their workforces here.

Oracle said its 560,000-square-foot corporate campus is planned for a site between South Lakeshore Boulevard and Elmont Drive. Oracle is buying the 27 acres of undeveloped land for an undisclosed price from Austin-based Cypress Real Estate Advisors. The purchase closed Tuesday, the company said.

Read more: http://news.blog.statesman.com/2015/12/22/software-giant-oracle-to-build-major-austin-campus-add-employees/?ref=cbTopWidget

Judge Julie Kocurek released from hospital 7 weeks after shot in driveway

AUSTIN -- State District Judge Julie Kocurek, seriously injured on Nov. 6 when she was shot in the driveway of her Tarrytown home, has been released from the hospital this week, a source told the American-Statesman on Wednesday.

Kocurek’s whereabouts remain secret as authorities are still trying to bring charges against the shooter or shooters. No other information about Kocurek’s condition was available Wednesday.

During her hospital stay, her condition fluctuated and she faced a major health setback several weeks ago when an infection stemming from shrapnel in her body caused complications.

A spokesman for the Kocurek family confirmed that she has been released from the hospital and provided no further comment.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/crime-law/sources-kocurek-released-from-hospital-7-weeks-aft/npqxK/

Las Vegas newspaper staffers stand up to new owner, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson

ISIS threatens first Miss Iraq since 1972 with kidnapping if she doesn't join

A holiday message...

Ted Cruz: Don't Mess With My Kids

Sen. Ted Cruz on Wednesday blasted a Washington Post editorial cartoon that portrayed his two young daughters as monkeys on leashes, stating that children should be off-limits.

"Not much ticks me off, but making fun of my girls, that will do it," Cruz told reporters in Tulsa, Okla. His daughters Caroline and Catherine are 7 and 5, respectively.

"Don't mess with my kids. Don't mess with Marco's kids. Don't mess with Hillary's kids. Don't mess with anybody's kids. Leave kids alone," Cruz said.

The Post has since taken down the online animated cartoon, by Pulitzer Prize winner Ann Telnaes, which depicted Cruz holding two dancing monkeys on leashes. The headline was, "Ted Cruz uses his kids as political props."

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/12/23/ted-cruz-dont-mess-my-kids/

[font color=330099]Ted should stop using his kids for personal and political advantage.[/font]

Another Gay Man Is Attacked In Dallas, And This Time Police Are Calling It A Hate Crime

DALLAS -- In response to a string of violent attacks against gay men in Dallas’ Oak Lawn neighborhood, police have increased patrols, and added surveillance cameras and plainclothes officers.

Businesses have also gotten involved, installing their own cameras and paying for employees to take Uber instead of walking home at night. LGBT advocates have staged protests and formed a support group for victims. Mayor Mike Rawlings visited the gay entertainment district on a recent Friday night, the city announced plans to spend more than $1 million to improve street lighting in the area, and District Attorney Susan Hawk staged a town hall to discuss the incidents.

But thus far, it’s all seemingly been to little avail, as the attacks have continued unabated, and police have made no arrests. On Tuesday, police reported at least the 14th attack since September, and unlike all but one of the previous incidents, they’re calling this one an anti-gay hate crime.

“Saturday I was cautiously optimistic that the new investigators were being added, and now I am just beyond frustrated,” business owner Lee Daugherty told WFAA-TV. “It’s disheartening to see that these are attacks are continuing even though we’ve made tons of progress in a very short time period.”

Read more: http://www.towleroad.com/2015/12/dallas-hate-crime/

Texas AG's heavily armed white-collar crime unit costing taxpayers millions

AUSTIN — During his 14 years as Texas’ top lawyer, Greg Abbott oversaw a significant — and expensive — escalation of police and firepower in the attorney general’s office, which now boasts 160 cops and an arsenal of assault rifles, handguns and tactical gear.

Meanwhile, the cost to pay and train that burgeoning police force, which primarily investigates white-collar crime, has skyrocketed as a direct result of policies Abbott pursued as attorney general and later approved as governor.

Due to a state law passed this year, dozens hired by Abbott and inherited by his successor, Ken Paxton, were given large pay raises that will cost taxpayers millions more each year.

An Abbott spokesman said the attorney general’s police force is a key component in fighting crime and rooting out fraud.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20151223-texas-ag-s-heavily-armed-white-collar-crime-unit-costing-taxpayers-millions.ece

Mayor Says His Facebook Post Calling Obama A Muslim Who 'Destroyed Democracy' Is Just Free Speech

Superior, Wisconsin Mayor Bruce Hagen posted a photo of First Lady Michelle Obama to his Facebook page, calling President Barack Obama a Muslim, and claiming he has destroyed democracy. Hagen did not offer any proof.

"Unbelievable!," Hagen's post, which is now hidden from public view, reads, according to WDIO/Eyewitness News. "She and her Muslim partner have destroyed the fabric of democracy that was so very hard fought for!"

The mayor refuses to retract the statement. WDIO reports Hagen "said he stands by the statement and said it was an expression of free speech."

Five members of the Superior City Council disagree, and are publicly asking Hagen to remove the post.

Read more: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/mayor_says_his_facebook_post_calling_obama_a_muslim_who_destroyed_democracy_is_just_free_speech