Dallas Police say they found drugs and guns in the South Dallas house where a foot chase began yesterday evening. It ended with the fatal shooting of a suspect by police.
A large crowd of angry neighbors gathered, and several dozen police in riot gear were called-in to keep the peace.
Among drugs recovered were 38 vials of PCP and crack cocaine scattered inside and out – dropped as four suspects fled. Police also recovered a hand gun, and a 12-gauge shotgun.
Police say they did not find a weapon on 31 year old James Harper, shot by police during a prolonged chase and fist fight with an officer. They did find more than $400 in his pocket.
Police say the 9-1-1 call that initially brought officers to the house south of Fair Park was bogus. It claimed armed men were forcing someone inside. Police are investigating the source of the call.
911 Call Transcript to Bourquin
BJ Austin, KERA News
Judge: Fort Hood suspect could be forcibly shaved
A judge says the Army psychiatrist charged in the fatal Fort Hood shooting rampage will be forcibly shaved if he doesn't remove his beard on his own.
Maj. Nidal Hasan appeared in court Wednesday sporting a beard, as he did during a court appearance last month. The beard violates Army regulations. Hasan says his beard is an expression of his Muslim faith.
On Wednesday, Col. Gregory Gross found Hasan in contempt of court for keeping the beard and fined him $1,000. Fort Hood spokesman Chris Haug says Gross gave Hasan the choice to shave on his own or be forcibly shaved sometime before his court-martial begins Aug. 20.
It's not yet clear what Hasan and his attorneys will decide.
Hasan is charged with killing 13 people in the 2009 attack.
AP
3 runoffs set in Texas Board of Education races
Republican Geraldine "Tincy" Miller is trying to reclaim her spot on the Texas State Board of Education after being ousted in the primary two years ago following 26 years on the board.
Miller faces social conservative Gail Spurlock in one of three July 31 runoff races for board positions. Miller and Spurlock are vying for the District 12 spot in a North Texas region that includes Collin County and part of Dallas County.
The candidates in the Republican runoff for District 10 in Central Texas are: Tom Maynard, executive director of the Texas FFA Association, and high school teacher Rebecca Osborne.
The candidates in the Democratic runoff for District 2 in South Texas are: Celeste Zepeda Sanchez, a school administrator, and businessman Ruben Cortez Jr.
AP
Texas insurance agency reviewing rejected emails
Texas insurance regulators will review why hundreds of identical consumer email complaints were rejected by agency computers.
The Texas Department of Insurance is investigating and says the large volume of emails may have triggered security measures.
The advocacy group Texas Watch on July 13 organized a mass email campaign to Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman, offering a form letter for use by consumers. The Austin American-Statesman reported Tuesday that the groups raised questions about homeowner rates and other coverage issues.
Alex Winslow with Texas Watch says more than 300 emails went through, then at least 900 others were rejected.
Winslow wants to know if the emails, sent from a third-party online platform, were blocked. The messages will now be delivered by hand.
AP
UT fracking study to be independently reviewed
The University of Texas will independently review a study that found no link between hydraulic fracturing and water contamination after learning the lead author is a paid board member of a company that uses the drilling method.
Charles "Chip" Groat, a professor of geologic sciences and associate director of the university's Energy Institute, is also a board member of Plains Exploration and Production Co.
Plains, like many other companies, uses hydraulic fracturing to drill into impermeable layers of rock to extract natural gas and oil. Groat received from Plains more than $413,000 in cash and stock in 2011. Groat did not disclose his position with Plains to supervisors or in the study.
Critics of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, believe it harms the environment. Industry leaders insist it is safe.
AP
New more secure Texas license plates have old look
New Texas license plates will look a lot like the black-and-white versions from the 1960s.
The Department of Motor Vehicles says the state's 254 counties must exhaust current supplies before getting the new "Texas Classic" plate.
The agency, on its website Wednesday, said the plate issued this month is designed for the highest public safety protection.
The current license plate, from 2009, is colorful with a blue mountain range and a Texas map.
The new plate is black and white with vertical-running security threads in the sheeting. The threads will help law officers better identify a legitimate plate from a distance.
Letters and numbers will be an inch wide and slightly taller. The new plates will also feature three letters followed by four numbers, instead of the current mix.
AP