Category Archives: National news

Back in June, I noted that a ruling in a lawsuit against the city of Hazelton, PA over anti-immigrant ordinances was expected this summer. That ruling came down yesterday, and it’s a win for the plaintiffs and a loss for … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Despite earlier reports about construction beginning by September, the Texas portion of the border fence will not get underway until 2008. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, in an interview with the Houston Chronicle this week, said he expects some work … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Welcome to our world, Senator Cornyn. Frustrated by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s decision to start construction of a controversial border fence in Texas this year, Sen. John Cornyn pledged today to fight any effort that proceeds without community input. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Sometimes, these things just write themselves. Farmers Branch is suffering an identity crisis. So say city leaders who are on a mission to come up with a brand, an identity or an event – something that people will come to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Apparently, Bush has not seen SICKO. And, no surprise here, he doesn’t give a damn about uninsured children. He plans to veto any expansion of CHIP. His excuses are mind numbing. Someone remind me of the cost per day of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Michael Chertoff’s “gut” is telling him we are facing a heightened terrorist threat this summer. Has his gut turned red? Orange? Has he made a Home Depot run for duct tape? I’m confused by his remarks as they sound awfully … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’m equal parts amused and confused by this story. Running for re-election, Gov. Rick Perry repeatedly praised border-county sheriffs and their deputies for being “on the front lines” of a violent battle to keep criminals out of Texas. But a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

He turns 61 today. I read that he had his party on Wednesday with family and friends in attendance, along with golfers who were in town for the AT&T National. One of them gave him a golf bag with the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I could have lived without knowing this. Her attorney wants to get something straight — former astronaut Lisa Nowak did not wear diapers to avoid bathroom breaks as she drove some 960 miles from Houston to Orlando to confront her … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Great news: The bald eagle is no longer endangered. Conservationists have hailed the successful recovery of the eagle as clear evidence that the Endangered Species Act, which has been under attack in recent years from business groups and some members … Continue reading → Continue reading →

At last, we have an official injunction against the anti-immigrant ordinance in Farmers Branch, to replace the existing temporary restraining order. Agreeing with lawyers for residents and apartment owners who sued, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay wrote that the measure … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Unlike Steve Murdock, here’s a Bush appointee who shouldn’t get the job he’s being picked for. The 2003 Texas redistricting plan, engineered by Tom DeLay and blessed by the U.S. Justice Department, was a boost for Republicans. The new district … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State demographer Steve Murdock is getting a new gig. President Bush has nominated the state demographer of Texas, Steven Murdock, to be director of the Census, the White House said Monday. Murdock would replace current Census Bureau Director Louis Kincannon, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

It was forty years ago today that the laws against interracial marriage were thrown out by the US Supreme Court in its landmark Loving v. Virginia decision. While the rest of the Jim Crow South struggled to divide the races … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Still no decision on an injunction, but we’re getting there. A temporary restraining order granted last month will remain in effect until June 19, U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay ruled. Lindsay will decide by then whether to issue a temporary … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Will the feds ever listen to the people who will be directly harmed by the stupid and useless border fence? Mayors, county judges and others up and down the 1,200-mile Texas-Mexico border are pressing the Department of Homeland Security to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

No surprise here. A federal judge on Monday issued an order halting enforcement of a voter-endorsed ordinance preventing apartment rentals to most illegal immigrants, a day before the ban was to take effect in this Dallas suburb. U.S. District Judge … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As expected, the ratification of Farmers Branch’s anti-immigrant ordinance has spawned a round of lawsuits. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund wants a federal district court to restrain the Dallas suburb from enforcing the rental ban, which is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Get ready for another postage increase on Monday. Come Monday, postage for a first-class letter will rise to 41 cents. The last increase also was a 2-cent bump in January 2006. For Mary Bermudez, 67, standing in line at the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Following up on yesterday’s piece about border fence pushback from the folks who are on the business end of it, we have this surprisingly unified response from Texas officials. “It’s clear that our state leaders, and I’m going to say … Continue reading → Continue reading →

No surprises here. South Texas border mayors and economic leaders expressed anger and disappointment Monday after learning new details of the location of 153 miles of controversial fencing in and around border cities — including some downtown areas. ”I am … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Oh, my God. I just saw the story about the shootings at Virginia Tech. I’m horrified beyond words. All I can say is that the school and everyone connected with it are in my prayers. Here’s a report from someone … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In December, parents of four Round Rock High School students who were arrested for violating a curfew law when they were taking part in a pro-immigration rally filed a class action lawsuit against the city, saying that the arrests violated … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Chron picks up the story, but you really need to read the whole thing, because the Chron version cuts off before it gets to some of the more appalling parts. I’ll let Kevin Drum give what he calls the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

More news on Rep. Nick Lampson’s recovery from bypass surgery. Lampson’s doctors said the congressman was doing well, even though the blockage was in the worst possible place, the trunk of the coronary artery. Without the surgery, which was performed … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From the Ideas Whose Time Have Come Department: the Forever Stamp. The forever stamp goes on sale April 12 at 41 cents. The rate for first-class postage rises to 41 cents May 14. The stamp, which will carry the word … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From the office of Rep. Nick Lampson: On Sunday, March 25, Congressman Nick Lampson (D-Stafford) received coronary artery bypass surgery to treat blockages of the arteries on the surface of his heart. The surgery was performed by Dr. O.H. “Bud” … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I was no longer living in New York by the time the fights over whether or not gay organizations would be allowed to participate in the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade started breaking out. (The best summary of the whole sorry … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Good grief. Word that Minyard Food Stores is considering moving a Hispanic-oriented Carnival supermarket into an empty building in the center of town has further roiled a city that has been debating whether to impose local measures to curb illegal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

How bad does the Great Prosecutor Purge have to be for the Bush Administration for this to happen? The controversy swirling around Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over the firing of eight U.S. attorneys intensified Tuesday, with Senate Republicans offering only … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Remember to set your clocks forward tonight, as Daylight Savings Time makes its early arrival this year. Be sure to check all of those electronic devices that normally handle the change on their own, too – like your computer, your … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Do you miss having Tom DeLay to kick around? Well, if you do, chin up. As reported by John Fund, he’s baaaaaack. Despite his antipathy toward liberals, Mr. DeLay joked that he’s happy to work with them. He told me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You do know that Daylight Savings Time will begin three weeks earlier this year, on March 11 instead of April 1, right? I know all about it because I’ve been working feverishly to prevent stuff like this from happening at … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The Texas Association of Business has frequently been a force for bad in this state, but they’re on the right side here by joining with various Hispanic organizations to oppose anti-immigration bills in the Lege. “The Texas Legislature should take … Continue reading → Continue reading →