By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Gov. Rick Perry has written President Barack Obama appealing a decision not to grant Texas a presidential disaster declaration for 13 counties after Tropical Storm Hermine.
Perry wrote in his appeal letter Tuesday that numerous families and communities continue to face costly damages from the storm.
The disaster declaration, which Perry requested Sept. 20, would provide federal aid for storm recovery efforts. Obama's administration rejected the disaster declaration request and about $6.8 million in federal aid.
Eight people died in last month's storm, including seven in Texas. Perry's office says nearly 200 homes in Texas were destroyed.
The 13 counties are Bell, Blanco, Cameron, Coryell, Denton, Hill, Jim Wells, Johnson, Medina, Tarrant, Travis, Willacy and Williamson.
Fort Hood shooting suspect's hearing delayed a day
The investigating officer in the case of an Army psychiatrist accused in the killing of 13 military personnel at Fort Hood has adjourned the proceedings with no witnesses called.
Col. James L. Pohl says he will consider Wednesday whether to delay the hearing for a month. Maj. Nidal Hasan's defense attorneys have requested the delay until Nov. 8 and say they need to submit their reasons in writing, which will take a day.
The hearing will resume 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Col. Michael Mulligan, the lead prosecutor, says he opposes any further delays and that the defense has had months to prepare.
The hearing involving Hasan is being held under tight security. The 40-year-old is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the Nov. 5 attack.
Texas to consider new post-concussion play rules
The governing body for Texas public high school sports is considering new rules for evaluating concussions that would not let athletes return to competition the same day they were injured.
The changes proposed by a medical panel for the University Interscholastic League would end current rules that allow athletes to return if they have been symptom-free for 15 minutes.
Any return to play would have to be approved by a license health care professional.
The proposed rules follow guidelines endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations.
The UIL will vote on the changes Oct. 17. If approved by the UIL and state education commissioner, they will take effect next school year.
Former DC schools head appointed to Bush Institute
The former head of the District of Columbia's education agency under Mayor Adrian Fenty has been named director of education reform for the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas.
Kerri Briggs served as D.C. state superintendent of education for more than a year before suddenly resigning last month. Previously, the Texas native served as an assistant secretary of education in the Bush administration.
The Briggs appointment, announced Monday, marks the first program director named to the expanding Bush Institute.
In an announcement, the institute says Briggs worked closely with "widely respected education reformer Chancellor Michelle Rhee" and with charter school leaders in Washington. She is credited with helping to win a federal Race to the Top grant for the city's schools.