Texas

Additional 40 tons of pollution cuts move plan across goal line

Dallas, Texas, July 1, 2008 -- EPA gathered local and state partners to announce its proposed approval of the Dallas-Fort Worth clean air plan today. Also, EPA announced that the area achieved the previous 1-hour ozone standard through the success of earlier plans.

Under the proposed plan, ozone forming pollutants will be reduced by 88 tons per day – about 40 tons more than the plan had first proposed.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Chairman Buddy Garcia and Regional Administrator Richard Greene joined with community leaders and businesses within the nine county non-attainment area to strengthen the original plan.    » read more »

June 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Thomas F. Duncan, III, 21, of Rowlett, Texas, died June 9 in Sinjar, Iraq, of wounds suffered during combat operations.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Lewis, Wash. The incident is under investigation.

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June 08, 2008 -- "We are heartbroken by the fire that has ravaged the Texas Governors Mansion. It has not only been our home for the past eight years, but has stood as a symbol of Texas pride throughout its history. Though it can certainly be rebuilt, what Texas has lost today can never be replaced."

"We are grateful to all the firefighters who worked heroically to save this historic landmark and Texas treasure. And like all Texans, we hope that this remarkable building, which has served as the home for our family and other Texas governors’ for the last 150 years, can be saved and restored."

Source: Texas Governor

June 06, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of three soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died June 4 in Tikrit, Iraq, of wounds suffered in Sharqat, Iraq, when their unit was attacked by enemy forces using small arms fire and hand grenades.

They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Drum, N.Y.

Killed were:

Sgt. Shane P. Duffy, 22, of Taunton, Massachusetts.

Spc. Jonathan D. A. Emard, 20, of Mesquite, Texas.

Sgt. Cody R. Legg, 23, of Escondido, California.    » read more »

Touts Positive Environmental, Economic Impact of Alternative Energy Sources

Jun. 02, 2008 -- HOUSTON – Texas Governor Rick Perry today spoke at the American Wind Energy Association’s Wind Power 2008 Conference and the grand opening of the nation’s largest biodiesel refinery at GreenHunter Energy’s Renewable Fuels Campus in Houston.

The governor touted the positive environmental and economic impact of renewable energy sources and the state’s ongoing effort to further diversify its energy portfolio to include wind, biofuels, solar and nuclear.    » read more »

Charges Next-G Communication, Inc. with delivering fewer calling minutes than advertised

May 23, 2008 -- AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today filed the state’s first legal enforcement action against a prepaid calling card company.

Advertising for Next-G’s prepaid calling cards

Court documents filed in Bexar County indicate Next-G Communication, Inc. produces, sells and distributes prepaid calling cards throughout Texas but consistently fails to deliver the number of minutes it advertises to customers.    » read more »

Dallas, Texas, May 19, 2008 -- Six facilities from Arkansas and Texas will be recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for exemplary environmental programs that reduce pollution at the 2008 National Environmental Partnership Summit in Baltimore on May 21.

The facilities are part of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track, and they include the following: Atlas Copco Drilling Solutions of Garland, Texas; Eaton Hydraulics Operation of Searcy, Arkansas; Firestone Building Products of Corsicana, Texas; Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company of Fort Worth, Texas; Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas; and Standard Aero, Inc. of San Antonio, Texas.    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake today, in response to a recently disclosed email from a VA mental health professional which suggested that time and money could be saved if VA stopped diagnosing veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Akaka also made a statement on this matter earlier today, calling the email "disturbing and disappointing."

A copy of the letter is copied below:

May 16, 2008

The Honorable James B. Peake, MD

Secretary of Veterans Affairs

810 Vermont Avenue

Washington, DC 20420

Dear Secretary Peake:    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today sent the following letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs James Peake, calling on him to investigate reports that a psychologist at a Texas Veterans Affairs (VA) facility told staff members to refrain from diagnosing veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in order to reduce costs.

Barack Obama rally, Portland, Oregon: Photo by Brian Brewer (CC)    » read more »

Washington, D.C., May 14, 2008 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed a settled enforcement action charging Willbros Group, Inc. and four former employees with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), alleging that they paid more than $6 million in undisclosed bribes to Nigerian government officials and others to obtain significant contracts for the Houston-based company.    » read more »

Forum Trading, Inc. claims devices will lower electric bills, extend household appliance life

May 14, 2008 -- AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott obtained a temporary restraining order and limited asset freeze Monday against Forum Trading, Inc.

Fake power saver products: Photo courtesy Texas AG

The state’s legal enforcement action charges the Texas-based company, which is organized as a multi-level marketing scheme with independent distributors, with marketing energy devices it falsely claims will significantly reduce power consumption, extend the life of household appliances and save consumers money.    » read more »

May 09, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Alex D. Gonzalez, 21, of Mission, Texas, died May 6 in Mosul, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered small arms fire and a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

He was assigned to the 43rd Combat Engineer Company, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

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11 May 2008 -- Jenna Bush - the 26-year-old daughter of President and Mrs. Bush - was married Saturday night in a small, private affair at her family's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

The bride and her husband, 30-year-old Henry Hager (son of the head of the Republican Party in Virginia) were married outdoors at twilight in front of a cross and altar built for the event from local limestone. About 200 guests attended.

Speaking to reporters later, President Bush called the wedding "spectacular," saying the vows were exchanged just as the sun was setting. He added, "we're mighty blessed."

The person who performed the wedding, Reverend Kirbyjon Caldwell, is a Houston minister and longtime Bush advisor, although he has endorsed Democrat Barack Obama in this year's presidential campaign.    » read more »

May 04, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Jeffrey F. Nichols, 21, of Granite Shoals, Texas, died May 1 in Baghdad from wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), Fort Polk, La.

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May 03, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence D. Ezell, 30, of Portland, Texas, died April 30 in Baghdad of wounds suffered when an improvised explosive device detonated near his unit during combat operations.

He was assigned to the 71st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group, Fort Carson, Colo.

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