By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Opponents of taxpayer funding for a new Formula One race in Austin are suing Texas Comptroller Susan Combs to try to prevent a $25 million subsidy for the event.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in state District Court in Travis County claims Combs promised race promoters the money before she was legally authorized to do so.
The funding comes from an economic incentive program the comptroller's office uses to attract major sporting events to Texas, including the Super Bowl.
A spokesman for Combs defended the agency's role, telling the Austin American-Statesman that regulations were followed and saying the race would create jobs and spur economic development.
The three plaintiffs are represented by Bill Aleshire, a former Travis County tax collector who has opposed using public money on the project.
Texas GOP lawmakers clash over abortion language
Texas House Republicans are fighting among themselves over abortion language within a major health care reform bill - a clash that has stalled the measure.
At issue is the bill's language on abortion for fetal abnormalities. It bans state funding for hospital districts that finance abortions except in cases where the life or overall health of the mother is at risk. But it has another exception in cases where a fetus has a severe abnormality.
A group led by Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, is worried the language on fetal abnormalities is too broad.
The bill's author, Richmond Republican Rep. John Zerwas, said the decision to abort in cases of fetal abnormality should be left up to doctors.
The full House hasn't voted on the measure while both sides negotiate.
Man guilty in death of his family
A North Texas man has been convicted of capital murder in the deaths of his pregnant wife, daughter and father-in-law.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports the penalty phase of John Hummel's trial began after the Tarrant County jury returned its verdict in Fort Worth Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for the 35-year-old Kennedale man.
Prosecutors say Hummel fatally stabbed his 34-year-old wife Joy on Dec. 17, 2009, and fatally bludgeoned 5-year-old daughter Jodi and his 57-year-old father-in-law Eddie Bedford with a baseball bat before torching their suburban Fort Worth home. Prosecutors say he killed his family so he could woo a woman he had met at a convenience store.
John Hummel was arrested Dec. 31, 2009, while trying to re-enter the United States from Mexico.
Senate moves to create redistricting commission
Senators voted to create a non-partisan civilian commission to redraw Congressional districts.
The measure passed 16-13 and now goes to the House for consideration.
Currently lawmakers draw Congressional districts every ten years, usually along partisan lines. Every new map since 1970 has ended up in federal court.
Sen. Jeff Wentworth's bill would have four members appointed by House Democrats and Republicans and four members appointed by a bipartisan Senate group. A ninth, non-voting member would chair the commission, which would draw the maps.
The only person to speak against the bill was Republican Sen. Craig Estes who argued the bill violates the Texas Constitution.
Texas Gov. Perry schedules speech in New Hampshire
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has added a second early presidential nominating state to his travel schedule.
The Republican governor who is considering a White House bid has agreed to be in New Hampshire Oct. 28 to speak to the conservative Cornerstone Action Group.
Perry earlier this week scheduled a trip to South Carolina to deliver an Aug. 13 speech to a conservative blogger conference.
New Hampshire's February primary is one of the first nominating contests in the presidential race, along with Iowa and South Carolina. Candidates traditionally spend a lot of time visiting the states to make connections with voters and party leaders.
Evacuees from SE Texas wildfires eager to go home
Some Southeast Texas wildfire evacuees have praised emergency personnel but criticized why they're still displaced as others get to go home.
More than 200 people attended a town hall meeting Wednesday night in the Grimes County town of Stoneham, 50 miles northwest of Houston.
The residents began with a standing ovation for firefighters and other emergency responders. But some in the crowd later complained to public officials about being held off their property even though some mandatory evacuation orders started being lifted Wednesday. About 2,000 residents have been displaced since Monday.
Texas Forest Service spokesman Justice Jones says safety concerns remain.
Jason Curry, with the federal team coordinating firefighting efforts, says crews Thursday will see if containment lines are holding, with the wildfire 75 percent contained. Rain on Wednesday helped.