By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – The Texas Workforce Commission says the state's unemployment rate held steady at 8.2 percent in February despite the loss of 13,000 jobs. The job losses announced Thursday offset a revised January gain of 12,600 jobs.
The Texas work force grew by 40,200 and now stands at 12.1 million workers. The state's jobless rate remained below the national figure of 9.7 percent.
Commission Chairman Tom Pauken says the jobless rate appears to have stabilized but that the recession is still negative affecting the Texas economy.
Amarillo has the lowest local unemployment rate at 5.7 percent. The McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area is the highest at 11.8.
Gov. Perry takes measured approach on health care
Governor and conservative firebrand Rick Perry today took a measured approach to the federal health care overhaul. The Republican says the law isn't all bad. Perry, who spoke to reporters at the Texas capitol, condemned opponents who have crossed the line into inappropriate or threatening behavior.
Perry reiterated his opposition to the law signed by President Barack Obama this week. Fixes to the legislation are working through Congress.
But Perry says he's troubled that members of Congress who supported the Democratic initiative are facing threats of violence and obscenity-laced tirades.
Perry says he doesn't care which side of the debate you're on. He says if the remarks are as "caustic" as they've been reported -- they're inappropriate.
Perry faces Democrat and former Houston Mayor Bill White in the November election.
Retail gas prices up penny in Texas
Retail gasoline prices in Texas rose one cent this week to average $2.69 a gallon.
AAA Texas on Thursday reported the increase is the fifth week in a row of higher retail gasoline costs. Nationwide gas prices rose two cents, to reach $2.82 a gallon this week.
San Antonio had the least expensive gasoline in Texas this week, at $2.62. AAA Texas said El Paso had the most expensive gasoline, at $2.74 a gallon.
AAA says oil prices appear to be stabilizing, trading in the $80 a barrel range.
Boy in custody after 100 mph Texas truck chase
A 12-year-old Texas boy is accused of leading officers on a nighttime truck chase at speeds topping 100 mph with the headlights off.
A judge in La Grange on Wednesday decided the child must stay in juvenile detention during the investigation. Authorities say the underage boy from Comal County did not have permission Monday night to take his father's pickup.
Officers responded to 911 calls about a vehicle, with its lights off, being driven erratically on Interstate 10.
Patrol car dash cam video shows the pickup weaving in and out of traffic in Fayette County. Officers threw down a spiked strip, which the pickup drove over, to end the 14-mile chase.
Video shows the boy, with his hands raised, exiting the vehicle and saying he was trying to call his mother.
Nobody was hurt.