By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – The state's Emerging Technology Fund that was created to boost research and startup companies is out of money, at least for now.
And the state has stopped taking applications for future awards.
The Austin American-Statesman reported Wednesday that the fund is tapped out. That's even though the governor's office has committed only about half of the $203 million the Legislature appropriated for the fund.
Gov. Rick Perry's office blames slow federal payments for $50 million of the shortfall and a $50 million discrepancy in the appropriations process for the rest.
The emerging tech fund, along with the Texas Enterprise Fund, are two state accounts Perry champions as tools for helping to spur business investment and create jobs in the state.
Sen. Cornyn to oppose Kagan for Supreme Court
Sen. John Cornyn says he'll oppose Elena Kagan's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Texas Republican says he's not sure Kagan has the proper understanding of the role of a judge.
Cornyn announced his decision to reporters on Wednesday. He says judges should strictly interpret the written U.S. Constitution and that Kagan, in her Senate testimony, didn't rule out overturning recent Supreme Court decisions. Cornyn says her testimony makes him
concerned that Kagan won't work within the Constitutional limits of a judge's power.
Cornyn heads the Senate Republicans' campaign arm and sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and he never seemed likely to support Kagan. He says her lack of experience as a judge is also a
factor in his decision.
Kagan is currently the U.S. solicitor general and previously served as dean of Harvard Law School.
3 dead after small plane crash in Texas field
Federal officials are investigating a single-engine plane crash that killed a flight instructor and two brothers from India.
Texas Department of Public Safety trooper Dub Gillum says the three men were en route to Arlington after a short trip to Stephenville when the plane crashed Tuesday night in a Hood County field.
He identified the victims as Casey Brinegar of Arlington, 26, a licensed pilot and flight instructor; Kartik Kalaichelvan, 22, a native of India who had been attending an Arlington flight school; and Pratik Kalaichelvan, 19, who was visiting from India.
Authorities on Wednesday were trying to determine what caused the crash near Tolar, 45 miles southwest of Fort Worth.