By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
A Texas schools superintendent says he regrets the negative attention aimed at his district for passing on showing President Barack Obama's speech while approving the busing of some students to former President George W. Bush's upcoming talk.
Arlington schools Superintendent Jerry McCullough said Friday that in retrospect he understands how it could be seen as favoring one event over another.
He apologized that his decision "disappointed or hurt people" and expressed his love for the Arlington school district and admiration for those who educate its children. He says teachers may use Obama's recorded speech at any time.
On Sept. 21, the district is busing fifth-graders to Cowboys Stadium for a 2011 Super Bowl event where Bush is expected to speak.
Feds arrest 6 in alleged Texas drug ring
A U.S. Attorney says six people in Texas and Arizona were arrested on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana.
Arrests were made in Dallas, El Paso and Phoenix this week.
In addition to the conspiracy count, 51-year-old Norberto Roldan Sr. of El Paso was charged with seven counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Forty-year-old Roberto Talavera of San Elizario, Texas, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Federal, state and local authorities worked together on the investigation.
Deleting "Christmas" from social studies proposed
A proposal for a new social studies curriculum for Texas public schools removes the word "Christmas" in a sixth-grade lesson. That's riling up conservatives, who call it another battle in the "war" against the Christian holiday.
Jonathan Saenz is a lobbyist for the conservative Free Market Foundation, calls it "outrageous that the war on Christmas continues in our state and in our nation." He contends removing "Christmas" from the curriculum is an "effort to mislead students about current society."
The draft proposal being considered by the State Board of Education removes the word Christmas in a section on culture. The section now instructs students to explain the significance of religious holidays such as Christmas, Easter, Ramadan, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah. The proposal deletes Christmas and adds Diwali, a Hindu festival.
Ex-first daughter's TV journalism debut next week
Former "first daughter" Jenna Bush Hager will make her debut next week as a correspondent for NBC's "Today" show.
She'll debut Sept. 18 when "Today" airs from Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports her first story will be a profile of 11-year-old Dallas motivational speaker Dalton Sherman.
The show will originate from Arlington as NBC promotes its "Football Night in America" telecast of the Dallas Cowboys' Sept. 19 home opener against the New York Giants.
Hager's debut will be a sort of public "coming out" for the twin daughter of former President George W. Bush. During her father's presidency, the White House tended to shield Hager and her twin sister, Barbara, from publicity.
The twins' parents live in Dallas.