TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalMan alleges he was refused haircut because of his race
A Nacogdoches man alleges that his civil rights were violated on June 19 by a barber who refused to cut his hair because he is black.
Scotty Riggans, 35, filed a lawsuit on July 30 in U.S. District Court against James Arriola, owner of Arriola Barber Shop on Lake Street in Nacogdoches.
Riggans, an assistant principal at Nacogdoches High School, walked into the barber shop on June 19 and asked for a haircut, according to the lawsuit. Arriola allegedly denied his request.
"Defendant Arriola told Plaintiff Riggans that if he cut his hair, he would lose customers," according to the lawsuit. "Defendant Arriola went on to tell Plaintiff Riggans that if his customers saw Plaintiff Riggans in his chair, he would lose them.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Man-alleges-he-was-refused-haircut-because-of-his-4709835.php?cmpid=hpts .
[font color=green]I didn't know that Rand Paul had a barber's license. 
The barber says that Riggans was also pushing Juneteenth. 
[/font]
Cross-posted in African American Group.
Man alleges he was refused haircut because of his race
A Nacogdoches man alleges that his civil rights were violated on June 19 by a barber who refused to cut his hair because he is black.
Scotty Riggans, 35, filed a lawsuit on July 30 in U.S. District Court against James Arriola, owner of Arriola Barber Shop on Lake Street in Nacogdoches.
Riggans, an assistant principal at Nacogdoches High School, walked into the barber shop on June 19 and asked for a haircut, according to the lawsuit. Arriola allegedly denied his request.
"Defendant Arriola told Plaintiff Riggans that if he cut his hair, he would lose customers," according to the lawsuit. "Defendant Arriola went on to tell Plaintiff Riggans that if his customers saw Plaintiff Riggans in his chair, he would lose them.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Man-alleges-he-was-refused-haircut-because-of-his-4709835.php?cmpid=hpts .
[font color=green]I didn't know that Rand Paul had a barber's license.
The barber says that Riggans was also pushing Juneteenth. [/font]
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
American Idol Lawsuit Claims Show Exploits Black Contestants' Rap Sheets for Ratings
A $250 million lawsuit filed against American Idol by 10 black former contestants who got disqualified (including Dallas' own Akron Watson) has the media asking if the talent show is racist. But considering the success many other black contestants have had on the program, that's not the right question. In fact, the lawsuit is more specific, alleging that American Idol applied an unusually heavy hand against black male contestants with criminal records. The claim is backed with statistics: According to the suit, 31 percent of all American Idol semifinalists who were black guys were disqualified for reasons unrelated to their singing, the suit says, while "there has never been a single white (or non-black) contestant disqualified from American Idol -- not ever."
Producers used the rap sheets of black contestants, the suit claims, "to scandal-monger Nielsen ratings while reinforcing the age-old stereotype of the 'black criminal.'" Acting like an equal-opportunity singing competition at times, but whoring race equality away in cases where it might help the ratings? That sounds more like the American Idol we know.
Many on the Internet are raging that the plaintiffs are just looking for money. In that case, let's examine the criminal records and resulting fall-out of some contestants not involved with this lawsuit.
-snip-
Unrelated to arrest records and race, American Idol has also been accused of discriminating against fat people. In 2011, a woman in the audience claimed she was booted from the front row for being too heavy. God forbid TV viewers see any fat people in the audience of a show sponsored by Coca-Cola.
More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2013/08/did_american_idol_target_black.php .
Is the state holding your oil and gas royalties?
The state of Texas is holding $3 billion in unclaimed property, including $461.1 million in unclaimed oil and gas royalties — money that’s reported to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and turned over to the state by companies when they can’t find mineral owners.
In addition to the cash from oil and gas production, one in four Texans has long-lost money sitting in abandoned bank accounts, uncashed checks, utility refunds and other forgotten places.
The money sitting around in the state’s sock drawer from oil and gas royalties alone is enough to buy a six-pack of Shiner Bock, a half-gallon of Bluebell Ice Cream and breakfast tacos for everyone in Texas ($17.73 for all 26 million of us).
And with drilling and oil production booming once again across much of Texas, and with shale drilling technology making it possible to drill in previously unprofitable regions, the amount of unclaimed money is growing.
More at http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/08/06/is-the-state-holding-your-oil-and-gas-royalties/?cmpid=hpts .
OTJ Training @ the Fire Station? 2nd Shreveport firefighter arrested in prostitution investigation
A second firefighter is behind bars as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged criminal activity at a local fire station.
Clint Richardson, 23, of the 9800 block of Freedoms Way in Keithville, was booked into the Shreveport City Jail on a warrant charging him with one count each of cruelty to the infirm and principal to prostitution, according to police. His bond is set at $105,000.
Authorities obtained an arrest warrant last week charging 50-year-old Derrick N. Harris, a captain on the fire department, with one count each of cruelty to the infirm and principal to prostitution.
Police and fire officials are releasing few details about the events leading to the arrests. The alleged activity occurred at Fire Station No. 8, on the fairgrounds. The investigation continues and police believe additional arrests may be forthcoming.
More at http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130805/NEWS03/130805028/Second-Shreveport-firefighter-arrested-prostitution-investigation?nclick_check=1 .
BP says rejection of private oil spill claims appeal could scuttle whole settlement
A BP attorney on Friday warned the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals that a failure to throw out a lower court ruling upholding rules the company claims allows businesses to be overpaid potentially billions of dollars for Deepwater Horizon oil spill economic settlement claims could result in the invalidation of the entire private claims settlement.
Theodore Olson, an attorney representing BP in its 5th Circuit challenge of the business claims rules, issued his warning in a motion filed Friday requesting an end to delays in a separate appeal before the 5th Circuit that challenges the entire settlement that BP entered into in 2012.
The appeal of the overall settlement was filed in 2012 by a variety of organizations that said their clients either were not included or received too little in the private settlement of economic and medical claims agreed to by BP and attorneys representing more than 100,000 claimants.
The settlement was approved by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier in November 2012.
More at http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/08/bp_says_rejection_of_private_o.html#incart_m-rpt-2 .
[font color=green]There are some additional links at the article about the settlement that Halliburton reached regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.[/font]
Overdue library book returned to Centre College 185 years later
A book has been returned to the Centre College Library in Danville, Ky., -- 185 years after it was checked out.
The book is the second in the volume of a collection called "Ancient Civilizations."
It was discovered at the nearby Kentucky School for the Deaf with an inscription saying it was first put in the library in 1828.
The school believes it was checked out in the 1850's, because someone wrote the date "July 21, 1854" in the book.
More at http://www.click2houston.com/news/overdue-library-book-returned-185-years-later/-/1735978/21332414/-/xgn206z/-/index.html .
[font color=green]It's the second time recently that Centre College has made the national news. Of course, the $6,000 in library fines pales in comparison to the $250 million dollar donation that they received. I imagine that Centre College will be charitable and waive the fine though.[/font]
Texas Legislature adjourns 3rd special session
Source: AP
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Legislature has adjourned, ending the third special session of the year after passing a major transportation measure.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus declared the session over late Monday after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that would boost transportation spending by about $1.2 billion per year. The money would come from oil and gas revenues diverted away from the state's Rainy Day Fund.
Lawmakers agreed to a deal that would put the amendment in front of voters in 2014 and require the Legislature to set a minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund every two years. Conservatives had hoped to set the minimum balance in the Texas Constitution.
The measure falls short of the $4 billion a year experts say the state needs for roads.
Read more: http://www.kens5.com/home/Texas-Legislature-adjourns-3rd-special-session-218454921.html
Cross-posted in Texas Group.
[font color=green]Finally, the Lege is through and it doesn't appear like it will reconvene in the foreseeable future. It's time to update my avatar.[/font]
Texas Legislature adjourns 3rd special session
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Legislature has adjourned, ending the third special session of the year after passing a major transportation measure.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus declared the session over late Monday after lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment that would boost transportation spending by about $1.2 billion per year. The money would come from oil and gas revenues diverted away from the state's Rainy Day Fund.
Lawmakers agreed to a deal that would put the amendment in front of voters in 2014 and require the Legislature to set a minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund every two years. Conservatives had hoped to set the minimum balance in the Texas Constitution.
The measure falls short of the $4 billion a year experts say the state needs for roads.
More at http://www.kens5.com/home/Texas-Legislature-adjourns-3rd-special-session-218454921.html .
Cross-posted in LBN.
[font color=green]Finally, the Lege is through and it doesn't appear like it will reconvene in the foreseeable future. It's time to update my avatar.[/font]
Corpus Christi: 'Nice Guys' Owners Await Sentencing on Federal Charges
CORPUS CHRISTI - The owners of Mr. Nice Guys Smoke Shop and Nice Guys Auto have plead guilty to federal charges of structuring financial transactions. Kimberly Davis and Leroy Mitchan were arrested earlier this year after agents raided their auto lot on Everhart.
According to prosecutors, police uncovered the scheme during the investigation into the couple's smoke shop. Corpus Christi police seized synthetic marijuana and smoking accessories at Mr. Nice Guys as part of a larger operation targeting synthetic marijuana sales at stores across the city.
Investigators found the couple had recently purchased three new pieces of property in Corpus Christi - worth $1.2 million - and were making payments in cash. According to prosecutors, Kimberly Davis admitted to making three large deposits, from $8,000 to $9,000, within a few hours of each other at a local bank branch on one morning.
Prosecutors say the husband and wife structured bank deposits to fall below $10,000 in order to keep the bank from having to report the large deposits to the federal government. The couple made deposits in excess of $100,000.
More at http://www.kristv.com/news/nice-guys-owners-await-sentencing-on-federal-charges/ .
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,167
