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Hurricane Dolly Cleanup

Hurricane Dolly Cleanup (Posted by News Staff)

HARLINGEN (AP) -- All that remains of hurricane Dolly is a big rain storm. The hurricane has left residents across south Texas with knee-deep muddy waters and downed power lines, which remain the greatest danger. One person in Matamoros, Mexico, died from electrocution after walking past a power line on the ground. President Bush has declared 15 counties in South Texas a disaster area to release federal funding. And, insurance estimators put the losses at $750 million. Dolly which late last night was near Eagle Pass, is expected to break up today.

Dolly Destroys Texas Cotton, Sorghum Crops

Dolly Destroys Texas Cotton, Sorghum Crops (Posted by News Staff)

UNDATED (AP) -- Hurricane Dolly HAS probably doomed South Texas's cotton and sorghum crops. Those crops were already damaged by heavy rains earlier in the summer. Analysts say the loss could be devastating for local producers but that it will have only a short-term effect on the markets. About 92,000 acres of cotton in the region was awaiting harvest until driving rains and high winds stained the cotton and drove the bolls to the ground.

Lawmakers Consider Fed Involvement on Polygamists

Lawmakers Consider Fed Involvement on Polygamists (Posted by News Staff)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Lawmakers and former polygamist church members met at a hearing yesterday in Washington to accuse a West Texas polygamist group of denying women and children their basic rights. The panel, requested by Senator Harry Reid, met to consider ways to better coordinate federal and state law enforcement's response to groups like the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Prosecutors say the church has successfully avoided some law enforcement action by moving across state and international boundaries.

Teen Who Passed Pot to Toddlers Gets 8 Years

Teen Who Passed Pot to Toddlers Gets 8 Years (Posted by News Staff)

FORT WORTH (AP) -- One of the two teenagers caught on video coaxing two young children into smoking marijuana has been sentenced to eight years in prison by a Fort Worth jury. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports 18-year-old Demetris McCoy, the children's uncle, pleaded guilty to two charges of injury to a child/causing bodily injury and agreed with prosecutors to testify against his co-defendant, Vanswan Polty. Polty, who is 19, remains in the Tarrant County Jail awaiting trial.

Regents Fire Baylor President

Regents Fire Baylor President (Posted by News Staff)

GRAPEVINE (AP) -- The Baylor University board of regents has fired President John M. Lilley, saying he was unable to unite the school's students, faculty and administrators. Board Chairman Howard K. Batson repeatedly declined to discuss specific shortcomings, referring instead to the board's lack of ``confidence in John's ability to unite various Baylor constituencies.'' The firing came during the regents' annual summer retreat, held this year in suburban Dallas-Fort Worth. Lilley had been president since November 2005.

Bailey Named Texas Tech President

Bailey Named Texas Tech President (Posted by News Staff)

LUBBOCK (AP) --Guy Bailey yesterday officially became Texas Tech's new president, three weeks after being named the sole finalist. Bailey is the former chancellor of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance has said he wants Bailey to help grow the school's enrollment from 28,000 to 40,000 by 2020.

Tougher Standards Proposed for Texas' Financial Aid Program

Tougher Standards Proposed for Texas' Financial Aid Program (Posted by News Staff)

DALLAS (AP) -- The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has approved a plan that toughens the criteria for future recipients to receive state tuition grants to attend college. The committee's proposed changes, which must be approved by the Legislature first, call for students to score 1350 on the SAT or 18 on the ACT; rank in the top half of their class; or take an even more demanding course load in high school. Financially challenged students who take college-prep classes in high school can receive $5,200 annually through Texas' biggest financial aid program, TEXAS Grants. The Dallas Morning News reports that Texas' higher education commissioner, Raymund Paredes, has a different plan in mind. It calls for an unspecified score that is still high on the SAT or ACT; tougher high school classes; a standing in the top 30 percent of high school; or a B average.

Man Dies After Tasing by Police

Man Dies After Tasing by Police (Posted by News Staff)

DALLAS (AP) -- A man who may have been suffering from hallucinations is dead after he had a struggle with Dallas police who tased him outside his apartment. Dallas police identified the dead man as 46-year-old Richard Smith, who was initially outside his apartment late Wednesday, screaming, cursing and punching the air when Senior Cpl. Shawn Freeman and Officer Brenton Hughes said they arrived there. The Dallas Morning News reports police tried to talk to him but he went back in his apartment and jumped out a second floor window. The commander of the unit investigating the case, Sgt. Gary Kirkpatrick, said one of the officers used a Taser to shock Smith three times and they took him to a mental hospital. He was given medicine but had a seizure and was taken to another hospital where he died.

Texas Arrested in Oklahoma on Bomb Charge

Texas Arrested in Oklahoma on Bomb Charge (Posted by News Staff)

BARTLESVILLE, OKLA. (AP) -- A man wanted in Waco, Texas, on a federal bomb charge has been arrested in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Police Chief Tom Holland says local, state and federal authorities arrested Gordon Whitehead, 41, at a home in west Bartlesville yesterday morning. Authorities say Whitehead was charged with possessing a destructive device for possessing a pipe bomb in Waco.