By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
Gov. Rick Perry says Sarah Palin is committed to campaigning for his re-election bid and that he welcomes the support of the soon-to-be-former Alaska governor.
Perry, after a luncheon speech Wednesday to a Lions Club in Conroe, told The Associated Press that he intends to complete the full four years if he's re-elected next year to a third term. Palin resigned in a surprise announcement last week before completing her first term in office.
Republican Perry already is the longest-serving Texas governor. He faces a likely tough primary fight from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Palin was the GOP vice presidential nominee in 2008.
Stormy Wednesday
Storms marched across portions of Texas on Wednesday and packed winds exceeding 60 mph.
National Weather Service forecasters say the storms are capable of producing nickel-sized hail. The storms prompted severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of Dallas, Collin, Hopkins, Hunt, Delta and Lamar counties.
The storms were moving southward at about 10 mph but were developing in eastern parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
UT System Update
University of Texas System regents are getting an update on a $2.56 billion program designed to boost the national competitiveness of the system's science and health schools.
UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa says the initiative is aimed at continually improving campuses and keeping them on the cutting edge in science, technology, engineering, math and health. System regents met Wednesday.
The competitiveness program was launched in 2006. It includes providing state-of-the-art equipment; making additions and renovations to research and clinical buildings; and hiring 89 faculty members. The plan is to be completed in 2013.
Dog Fighting Raids
As many as 350 dogs have been seized and about 30 people arrested in raids across five states that animal welfare groups are calling the largest simultaneous raid of dogfighting operations in the U.S.
Authorities said Wednesday that the raids were conducted by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Texas and Oklahoma.
The raids followed a more than year-long investigation prompted by information from the Humane Society of Missouri, which says it reached out to others when it realized the scope of the operations.
Dogfighting is a felony throughout the United States. President George W. Bush signed a law two years ago that increased penalties for activities that promote or encourage animal fighting.
Security Changes
Dallas police have scaled back some of the protection it provides at the home of former President George W. Bush. The city of Dallas has been struggling with a $190 million budget deficit.
Dallas-Fort Worth television station KTVT reports the three tactical officer stationed for eight-hour shifts each will no longer be on the street outside the former president's north Dallas home. The city would save about $300,000 a year with the change.
Police Chief David Kunkle tells The Dallas Morning News that the department's decision on how to deploy police for security issues doesn't depend on the budget.
A Secret Service statement says Dallas police will still be visible part of the former president's security.