January 1, 2014

Blaze destroys 350 portable toilets near San Antonio

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -

Officials are investigating whether fireworks are behind a blaze that destroyed about 350 portable toilets outside San Antonio.

The San Antonio Express-News reports that Bexar County spokeswoman Monica Ramos said the blaze started about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at United Site Services, east of the city center.

Ramos said the cause of the fire is unknown and that it is still under investigation.

Other officials, however, say fireworks may have started a grass fire that eventually spread to the business, reaching the portable toilets.

More at http://www.click2houston.com/news/blaze-destroys-350-portable-toilets-near-san-antonio/-/1735978/23727630/-/i86o0gz/-/index.html .

[font color=green]Oh crap! For some reason, I expect a lot of shitty comments on this thread.[/font]

January 1, 2014

Palestinian ambassador in Prague killed in blast

Source: AP

PRAGUE (AP) — The Palestinian ambassador to the Czech Republic died Wednesday in a blast that occurred when he opened an old safe that had been left untouched for more than 20 years, officials said.

Ambassador Jamel al-Jamal, 56, was at home with his family at the time of the explosion, according to Palestinian Embassy spokesman Nabil El-Fahel. Al-Jamal was seriously injured and rushed to a hospital where he died, according to police spokeswoman Andrea Zoulova.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said no foul play was suspected, noting that the safe had been left untouched for more than 20 years.

It also appeared that the door of the safe had been booby-trapped, according to Zoulova. It was unclear how al-Jamal tried to open it or what type of safe it was.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Palestinian-ambassador-in-Prague-killed-in-blast-5106468.php?cmpid=hpbn

January 1, 2014

Cheerleaders' scripture banner fight could escalate to Texas Supreme Court

A decision is expected early next year from the Ninth Judicial District in Beaumont that could bring an end to more than a year's back-and-forth in a case involving Kountze ISD's cheerleaders right to display banners quoting Bible Scripture.

The court is reviewing a recent round of briefs filed in the case. Beaumont Attorney David Starnes said the court ruled it didn't need to hear oral arguments and is instead basing its decision on the briefs.

He said that depending on the court's wording and decision, the ruling could still be take(n) to the Texas Supreme Court.

-snip-

The Freedom From Religion Foundation kicked things off in September 2012, when the group complained to the then-superintendent, who responded by banning the use of the signs.

More at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Cheerleaders-scripture-banner-fight-could-5102315.php .

January 1, 2014

Rick Perry: You can’t dress up the failures of Obamacare

[font color=navy]Perry wrote this essay exclusively for The Dallas Morning News.[/font]

The promise and potential I normally greet each New Year with is, this year, being tested by a great sense of peril as Americans face the full brunt of the disastrous impacts of Obamacare in 2014. The delays, deceit and debacles that marked Obamacare’s rollout in 2013 show no signs of slowing in the new year.

People all across the country have witnessed what a disaster this program has been from its earliest stages, ranging from the $600 million website debacle to the sad fact that President Barack Obama flat-out deceived the American people when he promised that those who like their coverage could keep it. To stem the bleeding, the administration is resorting to arbitrary delays for some Obamacare mandates, which only inject more confusion into the marketplace and with consumers.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and the president are left with selling a faltering program to an American public that has rightfully become more and more concerned with what it’s learning about this law.

Much of what sold Obamacare in the first place was the administration’s assertions that we could trust them, and that even though nobody could explain precisely how or why, Obamacare would make everything better. It hasn’t. Sadly, it takes more than empty assertions to fix what ails Obamacare.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/latest-columns/20131231-rick-perry-you-cant-dress-up-the-failures-of-obamacare.ece .

January 1, 2014

West Texas deputies arrest man with 145 pounds of pot wrapped as Christmas gifts

EL PASO — Sheriff's deputies in West Texas say they've arrested a man who was carrying 145 pounds of marijuana wrapped as Christmas presents.

Gabriel Mendiola was arrested Thursday in Socorro, southeast of El Paso, on charges of possession of marijuana and evading detention.

The El Paso County Sheriff's Office says that two weeks ago, the 24-year-old Mendiola was flagged at a traffic stop in El Paso and fled when deputies went to check for any outstanding warrants. Deputies would search his car and find several boxes wrapped like Christmas gifts. The boxes had several bundles of marijuana inside.

Mendiola was released on bond on Saturday. Records do not show contact information for Mendiola or his attorney, and a phone number for Mendiola was not listed.

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20131231-west-texas-deputies-arrest-man-with-145-pounds-of-pot-wrapped-as-christmas-gifts.ece

[font color=green]I swear Santa, I've been very, very nice this year and I left out milk and cookies too. Please stop by![/font]