Ted Houghton in the Austin American-Statesmen about the Trans-Texas Corridor
“True, the name Trans-Texas Corridor has been retired. Large projects have been broken into smaller, related ones. TxDOT has committed to reduce the width of the corridors where possible and work with committees of local residents to make key decisions about the projects. Nevertheless, many things remain the same…”
“Houghton: Keep transportation at the top of the state and national agenda,” by Ted Houghton, Jan. 17, 2009 [link]
***
Pickett tentatively tipped to get a better chair in the House
“The chairmanship was left vacant by Krusee’s retirement. If Straus wants change at TxDOT (hear! hear!), he should install Joe Pickett as chairman…”
“Let the speculation begin,” by Paul Burka, Texas Monthly, Jan. 19, 2009 [link]
***
Perry, Craddick, Hutchinson and … Dee Margo
“Gov. Perry now says he is a "strong supporter" of Joe Straus. But last year he was involved, at least indirectly, in Tom Craddick's unsuccessful campaign to hold onto power. The governor's office said at the time that Perry was merely helping Republicans keep their House majority. But Perry's political committee gave $10,000 to Dee Margo, a GOP primary opponent of Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, a Craddick foe. Craddick's financial backers contributed thousands of dollars more to Margo.”
“Big donors shifting to Hutchison” by Clay Robison, Houston Chronicle, Jan. 11, 2009 [link]
***
NBC Los Angeles on Stormwater in El Paso
“The city's new stormwater utility fees infuriated El Paso business and property owners when the first bills arrived in March 2008, increasing their operating costs by thousands of dollars. Despite their anger, the fees are not going away anytime soon….”
El Paso's Stormwater Angst by NBC L.A. News, Dec. 30, 2008 [link]
***
And on the national front…
O’Rourke and Cook make the Huffington Post
“The city of El Paso buckled to unusually explicit federal government pressure Tuesday and withdrew a call for a national debate on ending drug prohibition…”
“El Paso, Texas, Calls On Congress To Debate Drug Legalization: Dems Refuse,” by Ryan Grim, Huffington Post, Jan. 14, 2009 [link]
***
The New York Times takes a trip to Juarez
“Every day, as she gets off a bus in Mexico and crosses the border to go to work in downtown El Paso, Edith Escobedo says she feels a sense of relief. For at least the next eight hours, she says to herself, she is safe from the violence ripping apart Ciudad Juárez…”
“Two Sides of a Border: One Violent, One Peaceful,” by James C. Mckinley, New York Times, Jan. 23, 2009
[link]
***
The International Herald Tribune on Ramos and Compean
“Two men, both of El Paso, Texas, were convicted on assault charges for shooting the unarmed, fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks in 2005 and then trying to cover up the episode…”
“Bush commutes sentences of 2 border agents,” by Eric Lichtblau, International Herald Tribune, Jan. 20, 2009[link]
***
And finally…
Californians like cycling in El Paso, apparently
“As I flew over the handlebars of my mountain bike on a rocky trail outside of El Paso, I knew my landing would be hard. I just prayed I would not land on those nasty ocotillo plants that bordered the bike trail like roadside land mines…”
“The thrills and spills of mountain biking in El Paso, Texas,” by Hugo Martín, L.A. Times, Jan. 16, 2009 [link]
