By KERA News Department
College Station, TX – President Barack Obama is urging the public to step up and serve their communities.
Speaking at a community service forum in Texas, Obama said there is a lot government can't and shouldn't do - and that's where
active, engaged citizens - including young people - have a role to
play. He says government can build the best schools but can't run the PTA.
Obama signed legislation in April tripling the size of the AmeriCorps community service program. He also launched a "United We Serve" campaign that ended with a national day of service on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Obama appeared with former President George H.W. Bush, who 20 years ago launched the "thousand points of light" volunteer
service movement.
OFFICER NOT PUNISHED FOR TASER DEATH
The Fort Worth police officer, who shocked a mentally ill man with a Taser earlier this year, leading to his death, will not be disciplined and remains on patrol.
But Police Chief Jeff Halstead says he's turning his internal investigation report over to the district attorney for a likely grand jury review.
In April, Cpl. Stephanie Phillips shocked Michael Patrick Jacobs Jr. with a Taser after Jacobs parents called police to report a disturbance. Police say Jacobs became combative.
In August, the medical examiner ruled Jacobs' death a
homicide. The police chief said his officers continue to use Tasers but will get more training starting early next year.
TEXAS UNEMPLOYMENT INCREASES
The Texas unemployment rate jumped to 8.2 percent in September, and the state lost another 44,700 jobs.
The Texas Workforce Commission said Friday the jobless rate
increased from August, when the state hit eight percent unemployment for the first time in 22 years.
In Dallas- Fort Worth-Arlington the jobless rate remained at 8.3 percent.
The Texas rate is still running well under the national
unemployment figure of 9.8 percent, a 26-year high.
SENATOR HUTCHISON SELLS WASHINGTON HOME
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison may be waffling about when to give up her powerful job, but a sign came this month that she's serious about leaving the nation's capital to focus on her run for Texas governor: a "sold" sign outside her suburban Washington home.
Tax records show that her 4,300-square-foot house in McLean,
Va. sold for $1.4 million on Oct. 2.
That's about $170,000 less than she and her husband, Ray
Hutchison, paid for it in 2006 and nearly $400,000 less than the
original asking price in August 2008.