By BJ Austin, KERA News & Wire Services
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-979683.mp3
Dallas, TX – The Dallas City Marshal's office has a message: Pay Up or Get Locked Up. That's what the city is calling its summer warrant roundup on Saturday.
Chief Deputy Marshal Georgette Johnson says they have a very long list of people who have not paid tickets, code violations, or who failed to show up in court on misdemeanor charges.
Johnson: There's hundreds of individuals who have chosen to ignore the system. So basically, when we go out Saturday morning, we're going out with the attitude when you see us at your front door since you didn't pay up, we're coming to lock you up.
The Marshal's office does a roundup twice a year. Officials say, in the past, there's been a 30% increase in people showing up to pay their fines in the days before the much-publicized roundup.
Link: Dallas Warrant List
Judge tosses attempt to stop Perry prayer rally
A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit that sought to stop Gov. Rick Perry from sponsoring a national day of prayer and fasting.
U.S. District Judge Gray H. Miller on Thursday ruled that the group of atheists and agnostics that filed the suit, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, did not have standing to sue.
The plaintiffs argued that Perry's day of prayer and fasting would violate the constitution. The event, called The Response, is scheduled for Aug. 6.
Perry defended the event, comparing it to President Barack Obama's participation in the National Day of Prayer.
Penny Jump In Gas Prices
Gas prices inched up a penny last week. The weekly Triple-A Texas Gas Watch shows the average price per gallon in Texas is $3.62.
Dallas and Fort Worth report the most expensive in the state at $3.66. Gasoline in El Paso is 14 cents cheaper, the lowest in Texas at $3.52 a gallon.
Texas sales tax-free weekend set for Aug. 19-21
The annual Texas sales tax holiday will be Aug. 19-21.
State Comptroller Susan Combs on Thursday announced the annual tax-free weekend, as shoppers get a break from sales tax on certain items costing less than $100.
Combs says shoppers will pay no state or local sales tax on many school supplies and most clothing. The list of exceptions includes certain leather goods, handbags, jewelry and helmets.
Combs predicts shoppers will save $62.1 million in state and local sales taxes during the Friday, Saturday and Sunday tax break, an annual event in Texas since 1999.