By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Gov. Rick Perry says there should be "no sacred cows" in the state budget, but he is calling on legislators to keep funding the economic development accounts he uses to lure businesses to Texas.
The state is facing massive cuts to plug a shortfall as high as $15 billion. In his state of the state speech Tuesday, Perry says lawmakers should maintain funding for the Texas Enterprise Fund and Emerging Technology Fund. Some critics call those programs corporate welfare.
Perry also says lawmakers should not dip into the Rainy Day Fund. He says emptying the state's savings account to pay for recurring expenses is a bad idea.
Dallas-area warehouse destroyed by fire
A 400,000-square-foot warehouse near Dallas has been destroyed in a fire that's expect to burn for several days.
Environmental crews Tuesday monitored air and water quality at the site in Grand Prairie after firefighters contained the blaze.
City spokeswoman Amy Sprinkles says nobody was hurt in the fire reported around 7:45 p.m. Monday. She says demolition of burned areas has begun.
Sprinkles says the fire appears to have started in a storage area involving pallets of metal cans, stacked 24 feet high.
A statement from the city of Grand Prairie says the building is expected to be declared a total loss.
Dad of slain Tampa teens to speak at Texas funeral
The father of two teenagers slain in Tampa, Fla., is set to speak at their memorial service in Fort Worth.
Friends say Army Col. Parker Schenecker wants his children to be remembered Tuesday afternoon for their lives instead of how they died, allegedly shot by their mother.
Sixteen-year-old Calyx and 13-year-old Beau Schenecker were found dead Jan. 28.
Julie Powers Schenecker is charged with first-degree murder but her arraignment has not yet been scheduled. Tampa police say she told detectives she shot her children for being "mouthy."
Calyx was a popular student and gifted artist who ran cross country and track. Beau played soccer and was a caring friend.
The teens spent some time in their father's hometown of Fort Worth but never lived in the city.