By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
The average retail price of regular-grade gasoline across Texas dropped 4 cents to $2.35 a gallon this week. AAA Texas reported Thursday that gasoline prices dropped statewide and nationally as supplies remain abundant and oil trades below $73 a barrel.
Houston had the cheapest gasoline in the weekly survey at $2.29 a gallon; El Paso had the most expensive price per gallon at $2.46.
AAA Texas spokesman Dan Ronan says motorists in the Lone Star State are paying slightly less than $33 on an average 14-gallon fill-up. That would have cost $52 last year.
The association says nationwide gasoline prices dropped 3 cents from last week to $2.55.
New social studies curriculum get first hearing
The leader of the State Board of Education says the board doesn't want to remove civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Thurgood Marshall from state requirements.
Board chairwoman Gail Lowe made the comments Thursday as the board opened its first hearing on new social studies curriculum. Feedback from a board-appointed advisory panel has fueled disagreements over the importance that should be given to civil rights leaders. Both Chavez and Marshall remain in the current proposal.
The months-long process will establish classroom standards for Texas teachers for the next decade. The standards include everything from the Great Depression and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal to the election of President Barack Obama.
Recent storms help ease Texas drought conditions
Recent storms brought some long-awaited relief to the nation's most drought-stricken state. But experts today report the Texas dry spell is far from over as it drags into its third year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says about 16 percent of Texas -- in south and central areas -- is under the two most extreme categories of drought. That's down from last week's 25 percent, but still well above 2.4 percent from a year ago.
The drought that began in September 2007 has cost an estimated $3.6 billion in crop and livestock losses in Texas. An unusually hot summer compounded the problems.
Meteorologist Bob Rose with the Lower Colorado River Authority says more rain is crucial to reservoirs along the Colorado River. This month's storms only added about a foot to Lake Travis, which is still down 50 feet. Lake Buchanan didn't get any noticeable increase.
Immigrant advocates will split $1.2M grant
Federal immigration officials awarded a Dallas group and 12 other organizations around the country a $1.2 million grant to help legal residents become U.S. citizens.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services says Catholic Charities Immigration and Legal Services is one of 13 community groups receiving the competitive grant.
The announcement Thursday coincides with Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.
Citizenship and Immigration Services says the money goes to increase the number of people served by programs that help green card holders improve their English language skills, learn about U.S. history and government and prepare for the naturalization process. The funds can only be used to provide direct services to immigrants with legal status in the country.
Space station crew grabs new cargo ship from orbit
A brand new Japanese space station cargo ship has arrived at its destination 225 miles above Earth.
Astronaut Nicole Stott used the robot arm at the international space station to grab the 18-ton supply ship Thursday afternoon. The vessel - the first of its kind - was launched a week ago from Japan.
It was the first time an unmanned ship was plucked from orbit like this, from 30 feet out. The older-style Russian ships actually dock at the space station. So do Europe's freighters.
The Japanese craft is loaded with food, laptop computers, atmospheric studies and a robotic hand. The hand will supplement the larger Japanese robot arm that's already there.
Japan spent $680 million on the delivery trip.