September 3, 2015

The night you realize your high school science teacher is a RWNJ...

Actually she was a math teacher who had to teach a physical science class one year. She never learned how to say the word "aluminum" correctly. I am not going to post her name, but here is the text to her rant on Facebook:

"OK my fellow Americans, do you understand what all the police killings are all about? It is about when our law enforcement system begins to falter (and who is protecting our law enforcement officers?) answer NOBODY we end up with martial law. Could THAT have an impact on our upcoming election? YES it does! Does martial law mean your rights may be impacted? YES it does! Does that mean our country is on the verge of total collapse as we and our parents have known it? YES it does! Our president I believe wants this to happen. If that statement makes you angry regarding the president I don't give a damn. If the thought of a faltering police force makes you angry, let's get behind our officers and support them and cover their backs. They NEED our support during these horrific times."

Some of her additional comments:

"Our president can try to declare martial law if law enforcement begins to falter. I have just been doing a bit of analysis about the president's reaction to all the murdered policemen, innocent people murdered in sanctuary cities and lawlessness . Watch out America- brush up on your history and the law regarding declaration of martial law."

"Obama made an executive order in March declaring the right to declare martial law for various reasons. Pretty scary. No one is watching and listening to his signs."

September 3, 2015

Bexar County Approves $500,000 For Lone Star Rail District

Bexar County's $1.7 billion budget that was approved Tuesday includes $500,000 for the Lone Star Rail District.

While the funding received a green light, no agreements are in place yet, according to a county spokesperson.

Lone Star Rail District Director Joe Black said he's also asked the City of San Antonio and VIA Metropolitan Transit for start-up funding. The rail agency will also ask for funding from Alamo Colleges, Black said.

San Antonio City Council is expected to consider allotting nearly $500,000 from its budget toward the Lone Star Rail District and VIA Metropolitan Transit is considering setting aside $500,000 in its budget for the rail agency as well.

Read more: http://www.sacurrent.com/Blogs/archives/2015/09/02/bexar-county-approves-500000-for-lone-star-rail-district

September 3, 2015

Gube candidates criticize Jindal for being absent from state, and Vitter for being absent from forum

The Wednesday night gubernatorial forum in Hammond was supposed to be focused on higher education, but the event was also dominated by the absence of two men -- Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Sen. David Vitter.

As the sitting governor, Jindal wouldn't be expected to show up at such an event. But all of the candidates criticized Jindal for being absent from Louisiana. Jindal's focus on his presidential campaign has made him unpopular.

"Welcome to day 98 of my acting governorship of Louisiana," was the first thing Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne said at the forum. (Dardenne can be called upon for gubernatorial duties when Jindal travels outside of the state.)

When asked who he was supporting for president in 2016, Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle quipped: "Undecided. We don't need another governor talking about presidential politics."

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/09/governor_candidates_higher_edu.html#incart_river

September 3, 2015

Walker Vows to 'Wreak Some Havoc' on Washington While Campaigning in Texas

SAN ANTONIO — Promising to “wreak some havoc” in Washington, D.C., Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker brought his presidential campaign to Texas for the first time Wednesday, bidding for the state’s expanded influence in the 2016 nominating process.

At a barbecue restaurant here and an ice cream parlor in Dallas, Walker repeated that he would lay waste to the status quo in the nation's capital, using language new to his GOP presidential pitch that aligns him with the anti-establishment favorites currently topping national polls.

"We will not be intimidated by anyone, whether it be from big labor union bosses, whether it be from the other party or whether it be occasionally from members of our own party,” Walker told reporters in Dallas. “We’re going to shake things up in Washington when we get there. We’re going to wreak some havoc and put the American people back in charge."

"I think people have seen I've been able to wreak havoc in our state capitol on the big-government special interests," Walker said earlier, alluding to his high-profile fight with public-sector unions that led to an unsuccessful recall effort against him.

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/02/walker-vows-wreak-havoc-dc-first-texas-swing/

September 3, 2015

Texas State student rides her Barbie Jeep around campus after DWI arrest, Internet loves it

SAN MARCOS -- Some people ride bikes or public transit when their licenses are suspended, but one battery-powered, Barbie Jeep-riding Texas State student is not allowing a DWI arrest stop her from getting around on her own four wheels.

Tara Monroe, an industrial engineering junior, said her license was automatically suspended after refusing a breathalyzer test after a Waka Flocka concert. Her father drove to San Marcos from Kingwood, her hometown, to strip her of her vehicle, leaving her with a bike to get around.

“Riding a bike around campus sucks,” she said. “Like really sucks.”

It didn’t take long for the 5-foot-3, 20-year-old to decide the Barbie girl life was the one for her. After some Craigslist perusing, she found her sweet ride for $60, its previous owner was a little girl named Charlene.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/lifestyle/article/College-junior-rides-her-Barbie-Jeep-adound-6478450.php#photo-8564707

September 3, 2015

Pro-David Vitter PAC's ad blasts opponents on taxes; Vitter voted for one of the measures criticized

As a state legislator in 1994, David Vitter voted for a new sales tax that an ad from a super PAC supporting his candidacy for governor now criticizes his opponent, fellow Republican Scott Angelle, for backing.

In ominous tones, using unflattering video, the commercial claims Angelle supports an Internet sales tax that “would cost you nearly $900” a year.

Angelle, a Public Service Commissioner from Breaux Bridge, supported the tax in the context of a congressional debate in Washington.

But representing Metairie in the Louisiana House 21 years ago, U.S. Sen. Vitter voted for creating a new tax that applies to Louisiana consumers.

Read more: http://theadvocate.com/news/13339527-123/pac-ad-claims-questioned

September 3, 2015

Dad forced 4-year-old to be accomplice on crime spree, deputies say

Torrance County sheriff’s deputies say they caught up to a duo on a cross-state crime spree Monday.

The mastermind was Jered McMeans, and his accomplice, they allege, was his 4-year-old daughter.

Deputies believe McMeans, 32, instructed his daughter to break into multiple homes through dog doors and steal from stores from Bernalillo County to Texas, said Sheriff Heath White.

“We believe that he was utilizing his 4-year-old daughter to commit these burglaries,” White said. “She would go inside a residence and unlock the door, or steal items from different convenience stores.”

Read more: http://www.abqjournal.com/637937/news/deputies-say-dad-forced-daughter-to-steal.html

September 3, 2015

Texas clinics file Supreme Court appeal of state's abortion law

WASHINGTON — Texas abortion clinics are asking the Supreme Court to take up a major case about abortion rights in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The clinics said they filed an appeal Wednesday aimed at permanently blocking parts of a state law that already have forced nearly two dozen clinics to close and would leave the second-most populous state with 10 abortion providers. If the law passed in 2013 takes full effect, there would be no clinic west of San Antonio and only one would operate on a limited basis in the Rio Grande Valley.

In June, the justices granted an emergency appeal to put new clinic regulations on hold temporarily while the clinics appealed to the high court. The justices’ action was a strong indication that they eventually would take up the case.

Texas had 41 clinics when the law took effect; 18 remain.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20150902-texas-clinics-file-supreme-court-appeal-of-state-s-abortion-law.ece

Cross-posted in LBN.

September 3, 2015

Texas clinics file Supreme Court appeal of state's abortion law

Source: AP

WASHINGTON — Texas abortion clinics are asking the Supreme Court to take up a major case about abortion rights in the midst of the 2016 presidential campaign.

The clinics said they filed an appeal Wednesday aimed at permanently blocking parts of a state law that already have forced nearly two dozen clinics to close and would leave the second-most populous state with 10 abortion providers. If the law passed in 2013 takes full effect, there would be no clinic west of San Antonio and only one would operate on a limited basis in the Rio Grande Valley.

In June, the justices granted an emergency appeal to put new clinic regulations on hold temporarily while the clinics appealed to the high court. The justices’ action was a strong indication that they eventually would take up the case.

Texas had 41 clinics when the law took effect; 18 remain.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20150902-texas-clinics-file-supreme-court-appeal-of-state-s-abortion-law.ece

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Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

September 2, 2015

Rep. McClendon Not Running for Re-election in 2016

State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon, D-San Antonio, announced Wednesday she will not run for reelection in 2016.

Citing plans to spend more time with her family, McClendon said she felt it was time for a new representative to take her seat – one she has held since 1996.

"With the family I love, I have made this decision carefully, realizing that it is time for someone else to take up the mantle and continue working to bring real solutions to our shared public problems,” McClendon said in a press release. “Although I will not return to the Legislature in 2017, I will still be engaged to ensure that the issues I have fought for will have a voice!"

During the 84th legislative session this spring, McClendon saw the passage of a bill establishing an innocence commission to prevent wrongful convictions – one of her longtime goals. Despite battling an illness that left her frequently using a wheelchair, McClendon stood at the front of the House chamber and spoke about her bill before it was passed.

Read more: http://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/02/mcclendon-not-running-reelection-2016/