By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
An appeals court is allowing one of the state's longest-serving death row inmates to proceed with claims that he had poor legal help and is mentally impaired and ineligible for execution.
Anthony Pierce has been on death row nearly 32 years. Only three other prisoners have been there longer. He was condemned for the 1977 robbery and slaying of the manager of a Houston fried chicken restaurant. The victim was 40-year-old Fred Johnson. Pierce, now 50, was 18 at the time.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday also turned down the state's appeal of a ruling that jurors weren't allowed to properly consider mitigating evidence at his third capital murder trial.
Pierce also has a manslaughter conviction for fatally stabbing a fellow death row inmate in 1979, a year after he arrived.
Questions on potential traffic near Bush library
An independent engineer has raised potential traffic concerns for the area near George W. Bush's planned presidential library in Dallas.
Joseph T. Short, president of Lee Engineering, was hired by University Park to review a traffic study commissioned by the Bush Foundation.
The foundation study, offered in October, found the existing system can adequately handle anticipated library traffic. The Dallas Morning News reports the new review notes the Bush study does not look at traffic impact until 2015, two years after the library is to open at Southern Methodist University.
University Park director of public works Gene R. "Bud" Smallwood says he is asking the Bush Foundation for more information. A foundation official did not immediately comment.
A public hearing on library development was scheduled Tuesday by the city's planning and zoning commission.
NTSB calls for tougher passenger bus scrutiny
Federal safety officials say passenger buses that don't meet U.S. safety standards should be found and taken out of operation.
The recommendation is part of a list of proposals the National Transportation Safety Board issued Tuesday to crack down on motorcoaches and other passenger buses that are not built to U.S. safety standards.
The board also proposed a crackdown on lease agreements between bus operators that allow some with poor safety records to evade inspection.
The proposals stem from the NTSB investigation of a January 2008 motorcoach crash in Texas that killed one person. Investigators say the driver fell asleep and the bus itself was not a factor in the crash. But they uncovered gaps in federal enforcement of safety laws.
Ellis to replace Hillman as state veterinarian
Dr. Dee Ellis will be the new state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission.
The selection of Ellis was announced Tuesday during the commission's meeting in Austin. Ellis replaces Dr. Bob Hillman, who will retire Dec. 31 after seven years in the post.
The animal health commission regulates the health of the state's livestock and poultry.
Ellis oversaw the state's tuberculosis testing of dairies and purebred beef cattle. Texas regained its TB-free status in 2006. He has been the commission's assistant state veterinarian for five years.
The 13 governor-appointed commissioners represent the public and the livestock and poultry industries.