September 4, 2014

Austin Just Became a National Leader in Solar Energy

By 2025, the city of Austin will produce more solar energy than most states in the U.S. do today ... if Austin Energy can afford it.

The Affordable Energy Resolution passed by the Austin City Council on August 28 directs Austin Energy to procure 600 megawatts of solar power by 2025. That means that 65 percent of the city's power will be drawn from renewable sources. The resolution also calls for Austin Energy to phase out all carbon pollution from its power plants by 2030 and close the Decker Creek Power Station, which runs on natural gas.

This a huge committment to solar energy. The entire state of Texas generates 185 megawatts of solar energy (on a utility level; privately-owned solar panels may account for more), and once the resolution is fully in effect, Austin alone will generate more solar energy than almost any state in the nation does today, excepting California, Arizona, and New Jersey.

“Council's approval of the Affordable Energy Resolution last week represents clear policy direction that our city is committed to both a carbon-free energy future and to keeping our rates affordable," said Councilmember Chris Riley, who sponsored the resolution.

- See more at: http://www.austinpost.org/article/austin-just-became-national-leader-solar-energy#sthash.kJEUfh7U.dpuf

Cross-posted in the Environment & Energy Group.

September 4, 2014

Surgery on ailing Great Dane yields 43 ½ socks

PORTLAND, Ore. - The 3-year-old Great Dane was miserable and retching when its owners rushed him to a northwest Portland emergency animal hospital.

It was something he ate!

X-rays showed a stomach full of "a large quantity of foreign material." Nearly two hours of surgery later, Dr. Ashley Magee had the answer — the dog had consumed 43 ½ socks.

DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital spokeswoman Shawna Harch said it's perhaps the strangest case in the hospital's history, The Oregonian reported (http://is.gd/Zb55C9 ).

Read more: http://www.caller.com/news/watercooler/surgery-on-ailing-great-dane-yields-43-socks

[font color=green]You think that the owners would have noticed something with all of the orphaned socks that had no partners to make a pair?[/font]

September 4, 2014

Whole Woman's Health to Open New Mexico Clinic

September 1 was supposed to be the day that HB 2's ambulatory surgical center restriction was implemented {in Texas}, which would have shut down all but a few abortion clinics along the I-35 corridor.

-snip-

And this morning, Texans received even more good news: Whole Woman's Health will open a new clinic in New Mexico this month to help fill the gap in abortion access that that HB 2 has created.

Whole Woman's Health in Las Cruces, New Mexico will open on September 15 to serve women from southern New Mexico, Juarez, West Texas, and surrounding areas.

-snip-

In New Mexico, state Medicaid covers abortion procedures. Additionally, the state has not passed the TRAP laws that turn a 15-minute procedure into a two-day affair, so the Las Cruces facility will perform same-day abortions.

Read more: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/15652/whole-womans-health-to-open-new-mexico-clinic-reopen-in-mcallen

September 4, 2014

Wendy Davis tells Texas A&M students she wants them to have 'a story of starts'

There were "whoops" hollered and checks written for gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis on Wednesday as she made a campaign stop at Texas A&M and attended a fundraiser.

More than 400 Aggies gathered in Rudder Exhibit Hall to hear Davis promise increasing access to higher education via state grants and loans programs.

"I know what it's like to think that your future is gone, to face challenge after challenge and setback after setback, because mine is a story of stops," Davis said. "But more importantly mine is a story of starts, and as governor, I will make sure that story of starts is the story of every Texas child who is willing to work hard."

The rally in College Station is one of five college visits for the state senator this week. It is the second time her campaign has come to Brazos County, which gave Mitt Romney 57 percent of the vote in the last presidential election.

More, including video, at http://www.theeagle.com/news/local/wendy-davis-tells-texas-a-m-students-she-wants-them/article_1cdeb878-5865-564d-a738-4d4d822d6861.html .

September 4, 2014

Rick Perry packing his bags for Japan, China

Source: Dallas Morning News

Gov. Rick Perry will continue to build his foreign policy credentials with a trip next week to Tokyo and Beijing.

On Monday, he is scheduled to address a sold-out luncheon of the American Chamber of Commerce-Japan. He then travels to China where he will meet with business leaders and officials in Beijing. His last stop is at the World Economic Forum – a gathering he also attended in 2010 – in Tianjin before returning to Texas next Saturday.

Later this fall, the governor also has plans to visit England, Poland, Croatia, Romania and the Baltics.

Perry has made presidential race headlines over the past few months by criticizing President Obama and making bold statements on foreign relations. In July, he ordered the Texas National Guard to the border to assist law enforcement and has brought Republican gatherings to their feet with the line, “If the federal government does not do its constitutional duty to secure the southern border of the United States, the state of Texas will do it!”

Read more: http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2014/09/rick-perry-packing-his-bags-for-japan-china.html/

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[font color=green]This is a very convenient trip for The Indicted Governor since the United States doesn't have an extradition treaty with China.[/font]

September 4, 2014

New "Courage" Ad Features Rick Perry's Indictment

Rick Perry seems to be using his indictment on two felony accounts for coercion of a public official and bribery as a way to reintroduce himself to voters in advance of the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

The folks at the DNC are all too happy to help promote Perry's criminal behaviors and produced a new ad, "Courage," that links together the many failed GOP governors who are making headlines for their bad behavior.

Of course, Perry is gladly promoting his indictment on his own as an example of "partisan politics," even though it was a fellow Republican who handled the case as the special prosecutor. I guess he thinks GOP primary voters want to nominate the biggest criminal -- and hey, maybe he's not wrong.

Here's the ad produced by the DNC:

Read more: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/15651/new-courage-ad-features-rick-perrys-indictment

[font color=green]There are also shots at Scott Walker and Chris Christie![/font]

Cross-posted in the Texas Group.

September 4, 2014

New "Courage" Ad Features Rick Perry's Indictment

Rick Perry seems to be using his indictment on two felony accounts for coercion of a public official and bribery as a way to reintroduce himself to voters in advance of the 2016 Republican presidential primary.

The folks at the DNC are all too happy to help promote Perry's criminal behaviors and produced a new ad, "Courage," that links together the many failed GOP governors who are making headlines for their bad behavior.

Of course, Perry is gladly promoting his indictment on his own as an example of "partisan politics," even though it was a fellow Republican who handled the case as the special prosecutor. I guess he thinks GOP primary voters want to nominate the biggest criminal -- and hey, maybe he's not wrong.

Here's the ad produced by the DNC:

Read more: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/15651/new-courage-ad-features-rick-perrys-indictment

[font color=green]There are also shots at Scott Walker and Chris Christie![/font]

Cross-posted in General Discussion forum.

September 3, 2014

Abbott Education Plan: Insider Deals & Donor Favors

As Greg Abbott continues to spend taxpayer money defending an unconstitutional school funding system affecting more than 600 school districts comprising three-quarters of Texas public school students, his education plan is rife with special interest influence.

Abbott gets an “A+” in using his campaign as a cash register to sell out to big donors. One such donor, Academic Partnerships, Inc. and its CEO, Randy Best, have pumped thousands of dollars into Abbott’s campaign, according to the Texas Ethics Commission. The company has already received over $7.5 million from the state for distance-education services. Not surprisingly, Abbott’s current digital education plan apes Academic Partnerships sales pitch.

* Randy Best is also a major donor to another group with ties to Abbott: Texans for Lawsuit Reform. In fact, in recent years, TLR has departed from its traditional focus on tort reform and begun dabbling in education policy. Other big Abbott/TLR donors with education interests include David Booth of Dimensional Fund Advisors - one of the largest shareholders of Pearson - and school voucher advocate James Leininger.

* According to records obtained by the Lone Star Project, on April 1, 2013, Abbott’s Chief of Staff Daniel Hodge participated in an “Education Reform Meeting," which included Dick Trabulsi and Dick Weekley of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, as well as mega-GOP donor and TLR supporter, the late-Bob Perry.

Read more: http://www.burntorangereport.com/diary/15648/abbott-education-plan-insider-deals-donor-favors

September 3, 2014

Meet the Sewer Fishing King of Katy, Texas

Kyle Nagley estimates he's caught about 500 fish in his sewer drain.

There's a grand tradition in Texas of going down to the old fishing hole, but sometimes the fishing hole isn't the pastoral setting that comes to mind.

Kyle Nagley, 16, has pioneered – and some might say created – the art of sewer fishing.

Nagley tells Texas Standard host David Brown that his unique hobby started about four years ago when he was just 12.

Nagley estimates he's caught over 500 fish in the last four years, and he doesn't have to go further than his driveway to do it. Nagley's largest catch, so far, has been a three-pound catfish. The system he uses is simple, but effective: He threads a fishing line through a openings in a manhole cover, then attaches a hook and a cork.

Read more: http://kut.org/post/meet-sewer-fishing-king-katy-texas

September 3, 2014

Austin Police Department Faces Tough Questions at Community Forum

During an emotionally charged public forum on police accountability, Austin Police Department Chief Art Acevedo defended the department against accusations that officers unfairly target minorities.

The Travis County Democratic Party hosted Tuesday’s forum at the North Door after it passed a resolution calling for action for APD to “address systemic issues surrounding racial profiling, excessive use of force and accountability in relations to the African-American community.” In particular, Travis County Democratic Party Secretary Vince Harding said members were alarmed that while black people account for only 8 percent of Austin’s population, they make up 24 percent of drivers whose cars are searched by APD. Also, between 2002 and 2012, seven of the 10 unarmed people killed by APD were black.

“It was based upon these facts that we call on APD to develop additional policies that would address these issues,” Harding said.

In response, Acevedo said that APD officers use deadly force about 50 percent less than other police departments. He said that in addition to the state law requirements for the use of deadly force by an officer, APD has a “moral compass” policy that requires an officer to consider whether they should use deadly force.

Read more: http://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2014/09/apd-faces-tough-questions-community-forum/