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5/18/2013
Beginning Sunday and continuing through the end of July, lanes along MoPac will be closed from Lady Bird Lake to Parmer Lane for 15-minute intervals between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Next week, be prepared to see low altitude helicopters surveying the highway during the day, and starting May 28th loud drilling rigs collecting soil samples are expected to disturb nearby neighbors well into the night. According to Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, “nighttime noise will be an ongoing issue for the duration of the project, as much of the work will occur at night.”
"It will be an unpleasant couple of years as we build these improvements. There is a pay off in the end,” said Steve Pustelnyk with Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
Construction of a new toll lane in each direction along the 11-mile stretch of MoPac is expected to be finished by late 2015. There will not be lane closures during holidays or special events.
http://www.kvue.com/news/Prepare-for-delays-along-Mopac-for-next-several-months-207961411.html
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5/18/2013
The Texas Senate has voted to extend the life of the state lottery in a vote that was much less contentious than in the House, where some lawmakers tried to kill it off. In a unanimous vote with little discussion, the Senate voted Friday to continue the Texas Lottery for another 12 years. Last month, conservatives in the House led a charge to kill the lottery as an immoral tax on the poor. House members ultimately defeated that effort, but will get another crack at the bill next week. The Senate changed the bill to require an audit of charitable bingo halls to make sure they are giving money to charity. That means the bill still needs House approval. State lawmakers use about $2 billion from the lottery for education.
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5/18/2013
The Texas House has approved new rules to help small brewers expand. Lawmakers used voice votes Friday to alter the beer industry's pricing structure and overhaul regulations that apply only to craft breweries. That drew applause from brewers watching in the gallery. Current laws prohibit pubs like Freetail of San Antonio from packaging their beer for retail stores. They also prevent breweries like Houston's St. Arnold's from selling beer to tour visitors. The proposals split the state's distributors. In a compromise, brewpubs and small breweries would pay $250 for a license to sell only their own beer directly to consumers. Brewpubs would be limited to selling 1,000 barrels annually. The bills passed the Senate in March. They must clear a final House vote before heading to Governor Rick Perry's desk.
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5/18/2013
A move to legalize switchblade knives is nearing success in Texas. In a unanimous vote on Friday, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee advanced the bill. It has already cleared the House. The automatic knives were outlawed across the country as an anti-gang measure in the 1950s. Several states have legalized them in the last few years at the urging of collectors and outdoorsmen. The measure's author, Houston Democrat Harold Dutton, had originally said he wanted to use the knife bill to open a debate on weapons laws, including gun control. But conservative Republicans embraced the measure, and it has produced few opportunities for debate. After a quick vote as his desk, Committee Chairman John Whitmire shrugged. He said, "I figure everybody's got a switchblade if they want one anyway."
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5/17/2013
The suspect in the SWAT situation at apartments across from Reagan High School has been charged. 26-year-old Mark Guard was charged with aggravated assault on a public servant and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police Chief Art Acevedo says they used a 'flash bang' to coax him out of his apartment. Acevedo says no one else was inside the unit with the suspect. Hear Police Chief Acevedo explain what happened:
EARLIER: Officials tell us they received a call about two men arguing and one of the men had a gun. Officers arrived on the scene and saw a man on the balcony of an apartment with what appeared to be a gun. Officers shouted commands at the man, but he was unresponsive and went back into the apartment. They say they're not sure if there is anyone in the apartment with the man and are using pa system to try to communicate responsive.
 
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5/17/2013
Austin area Congressman Lloyd Doggett was part of today's hearings about possible prejudicial practices at the I.R.S. when awarding tax exempt status to certain political groups. Doggett implied Inspector General J. Russell George followed the rules that decided which organizations would get tax exempt status.
During the hearing the Inspector General tells Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett his department found no fraud and abuse in the I.R.S.
Lloyd Doggett said if wording in the statute had not been relaxed, the rules would have been more clear. I.R.S. officials admit they targeted conservative groups, like tea party groups, for audits and delayed granting them tax exempt status.
Doggett says he challenges Republicans exploitation of the incident.
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5/17/2013
A Bastrop pastor is convicted of cruelty to an animal today.
Rick Bartlett is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor and could be given up to a year in jail, fined up to $4,000 or both. A cat named "Moody" was found severely injured under a bridge and later died from his injuries. Bartlett had trapped the cat then taken it, alive and well, to the police station to have it impounded as a stray.
Police noticed that the cat had tags with a phone number and ordered Bartlett to contact the cat's owner. Animal control officer Susan Keys testified that Bartlett promised to do so, and she trusted him because he was the police Chaplin at the time. That afternoon, Keys responded to Fisherman’s Park on a call of an injured cat. She was able to identify the cat as the same one Bartlett had in the back of his truck earlier in the day. The cat's owner, Eddy Bell, says he is very happy with the verdict.
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5/17/2013
AUSTIN — Texas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment expanded by 33,100 jobs in April. Texas added 326,100 jobs from April 2012 to April 2013. The state’s annual growth rate in April stood at 3.0 percent, and has been above 2.5 percent since the beginning of 2012. Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged in April at 6.4 percent. It remains well below the nation’s April unemployment rate of 7.5 percent.
“All major industries in Texas added jobs over the last 12 months and our civilian labor force is at an all-time high with more than 12.7 million workers,” said Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Chairman Andres Alcantar. “This is an encouraging period of growth for our state and we will work with our partners to keep Texas the top choice for business in the country.”
Over the month, eight of the 11 major industries in Texas saw positive growth. Trade, Transportation, and Utilities added 16,000 jobs in April. The state’s largest industry, it has grown by 58,400 jobs over the year.
“We’re continuing to see strong growth in the Construction industry, which is driven in part by our state’s growing population and expanding businesses,” said TWC Commissioner Representing ...
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5/17/2013
A minority advocacy group releases a report that finds Hispanics often find themselves "on the outside looking in".
The report has been four years in the making. The team tells the city that although Hispanic culture plays a large part in the History of Austin, Latinos sometimes say they feel invisible.
Teresa Perez-Wiseley, the chair of the oversight team says there are several areas that could be improved, "Public education, economic development, housing and community development, healthcare and cultural arts." Wiseley says the group is also recommending the city create a 'Hispanic-Latino Quality of Life Advisory Commission' as soon as possible. And 'track monitor and ensure' city of Austin staffing levels reflect the community it serves, especially the executive and management levels.
Wisely says the group recommends the city promote Austin as the 'Best Hispanic-Latino City'. She wants the city to create a program that reflects the pride of Hispanics that make up over one third of Austin's population. Wisely says Austin Hispanics have a wonderful culture that they want to share with the world.
She says that the Community oversight team feels like those are the areas that are within the scope of city government to affect change. The ...
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5/17/2013
San Marcos Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man they say was surprised by a resident whose home he was trying to burglarize.
Police say a 20-year-old man was attacked when he returned to his apartment at Avalon Apartments on North I-35, shortly after midnight Wednesday. He found his front door open and found a man inside, armed with a small knife and holding a laptop computer. After the two struggled, he was cut several times on one arm. His attacker fled on foot.
The man police are looking for is described as a white male, about 5 feet, 10 inches tall, with a thin build, short thinning hair and a tan. He was wearing a black or grey T-shirt and jeans.
Anyone with information concerning the case is asked to contact the San Marcos Police Department or Hays County Crime Stoppers.
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