AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry says he's disappointed with the Boy Scouts of America allowing openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.

-snip-

Perry is an Eagle Scout and wrote a 2008 book praising the organization and saying it should continue to exclude openly gay members. In February, he dismissed bending the group to the whims of "popular culture."

The governor released a statement Thursday night saying BSA "has been built upon the values of faith and family for more than 100 years, and today's decision contradicts generations of tradition in the name of political correctness."

Perry added: "While I will always cherish my time as a scout and the life lessons I learned, I am greatly disappointed with this decision."

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Perry-greatly-disappointed-after-Scouts-ease-4544372.php?cmpid=hpfsln .

Get over it!

KARNES COUNTY – County officials are struggling to find a way to clean up a mess that they are now calling a “public calamity” – the possibly illegal dumping of demolition materials from an abandoned hospital into and near the San Antonio River underneath the Wofford’s Crossing bridge.

According to Karnes County Road and Bridge Administrator Jeff Wiatrek, the plan to place the materials around the support structures of the bridge, was his and his alone.

Wiatrek said he talked TEC Construction, the contractor hired for the hospital demolition project, and he and the contractor reached an agreement to have the contractor deliver materials to sites along County Road 326 near the bridge for later use by county workers.

“The first few loads that were hauled out there looked good,” Wiatrek said. “And then all of a sudden – I wasn’t paying attention and all of a sudden, when we started getting into the river, we saw all this black paper and everything... a little roofing here, and a little insulation here and there, and some boards, here and there.”

More at http://mysoutex.com/view/full_story_landing/22673890/article-%E2%80%98Public-calamity--San-Antonio-River-Authority-steps-in-to-stop-dumping-of-trash-from-hospital-demolition-site-into-river-and-under-Wofford%E2%80%99s-Crossing-Bridge?instance=landing_2nd_news_lead_story .

Source: Houston Chronicle

GALVESTON - A Galveston County judge has been indicted on eight criminal counts charging him with abuse of office, including retaliation against the attorney representing the judge's wife in a divorce case.

The indictments, presented to state District Judge Kerry Neves by attorneys from the Texas Attorney General's Office on Wednesday, accuse County-Court-at-Law Judge Christopher Dupuy of two felony counts of obstruction or retaliation, two misdemeanor counts of official oppression and four misdemeanor counts of abuse of official capacity. If convicted on any count, Dupuy would be automatically removed from office.

He was arrested about 3 p.m. and posted bail of $19,000 about two hours later, Galveston County sheriff's spokesman Major Ray Tuttoilmondo said.

Dupuy could not be reached for comment and a spokesman for the attorney general declined to discuss the case.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Galveston-judge-indicted-on-8-criminal-counts-4539547.php?cmpid=hpfsln

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Thread about Judge Dupuy from February 19.

Galveston judge may 'hurt or kill someone,' fellow judge says
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10786311

In an emotional speech on the House floor, Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, announced Wednesday that he will not seek re-election.

“I’m not saying I’m not going to try and come back,” Eiland said, wiping away tears and choking up during his personal privilege speech. “But I’m not running for re-election.”

Eiland, a lawyer in Galveston, has served in the Texas House since 1994 and is currently chairman of the House Insurance Committee. His term ends in 2014.

Source: http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/05/rep-eiland-will-not-seek-re-election/?cmpid=hpfsln

Thank you for your service.

David Parkus likes rappelling down 60-story buildings and tackling armed men in international airports.

That addiction to danger helped the Beaumont doctor land a spot on the new reality TV show, "The Hero."

Hosted by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "The Hero" is a reality show that combines the cramped living quarters of "The Real World" with the outrageous, gut-wrenching tasks of "Fear Factor," Parkus said.

His first episode airs on the TNT Network on June 6.

More at http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Beaumont-s-Dr-Danger-to-be-on-a-new-TNT-reality-4523288.php .

The Senate sponsor of a controversial guns-on-campus legislation declared it all-but-dead on Wednesday morning, blaming the measure’s demise on Senate Democrats who have blocked it from coming to a final vote.

State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, said he lacked two votes to bring up House Bill 972 on Tuesday — and lacks six votes Wednesday because 25 votes are now needed instead of 21 because a Senate rule effective on Wednesday raises the number needed.

“It’s still held, still blocked,” Birdwell said. And while other senators are attaching their bills to others being passed to keep them alive, he said he had promised other senators he would not do that.

“I’m going to keep my word,” Birdwell said.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/sponsor-campus-carry-gun-bill-dead/nXzJf/ .

Gov. Rick Perry was trying to address the Governor’s Small Business Forum — it was named for him, afterall — but he kept getting interrupted.

“Expand health care now!!” one woman rose and began yelling.

Perry waited until she repeated it about a dozen times. Then he said, “I gotcha.”

She sat down and Perry couldn’t get two more minutes into his speech before another protester rose and began chanting.

More at http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/05/serial-heckling-on-health-care-disrupts-perry-speech.html/ .

One day after a devastating Oklahoma tornado, some Tea Party groups chose prayer and relief work over a scheduled IRS protest.

But not Watauga’s Boiling Point Tea Party.

Infuriated that the IRS investigated whether some Tea Parties violated tax law by taking political stands, the Boiling Point turned out six protesters strong in downtown Fort Worth.

“This is about our rights,” Keller Republican Marie Howard said. “We are a patriotic group.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/05/21/4874486/a-day-after-oklahomas-disaster.html#storylink=cpy

The Texas House tentatively approved a bill Tuesday night to require drug screens, and possible drug tests, for some Texans who apply for unemployment benefits.

The drug screen, a questionnaire adopted by the Texas Workforce Commission, would be given to first-time applicants for jobless benefits who were required to take a pre-employment drug test — workers in the aviation, trucking and hazardous materials industries, for example, said Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe.

If the screen pointed to potential drug use, the applicant would have to pass a drug test to receive benefits, Creighton said.

Under Senate Bill 21, applicants who fail a drug test could receive benefits if they enter a treatment program or pass a second test administered after four weeks.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/house-approves-drug-tests-for-jobless-benefits/nXyjy/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/house-approves-drug-tests-for-jobless-benefits/nXyjy/ .

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - When applying for work, jobseekers generally aren't aren’t asked about their political, religious, or moral beliefs.

In most cases employers know they can’t ask those sorts of questions under the U.S. Constitution and equal employment opportunity rules. But Williamson County commissioners don’t believe those rules applied when they appointed a new constable.

After Williamson County Precinct 3 Constable Bobby Gutierrez retired, commissioners had to appoint a new constable. They interviewed five candidates. And the questions they asked those candidates during the interviews raised eyebrows.

“Was I for gay marriage or against gay marriage?” former candidate Robert Lloyd said he was asked. “The next question was, what was my thoughts on abortion? Was I pro-life or pro-choice?”

More at http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/investigations/interview-questions-spark-criticism-possible-legal-action .

It looks like the lawsuit is coming!

Lawsuit pending over Williamson County constable interviews

ROUND ROCK —

A Central Texas civil rights group is threatening legal action after Williamson County commissioners interviewed candidates for a constable job and asked about their views on abortion, gay marriage, religion and politics.

Such questions violate the Texas Constitution, as well as the First Amendment, said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project. “It’s just astounding that they think they can ask these questions.”

“You can’t have a religious test for employment, according to the Texas Constitution,” Harrington said. A government employer also can’t discriminate on the basis of “irrelevant personal views,” he said.

<<<snip>>>

“Williamson County will decline to comment further at this time regarding the interviews due to the reported threat of a lawsuit by the Texas Civil Rights Project,” said Connie Watson, a county spokeswoman.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/lawsuit-pending-over-williamson-county-constable-i/nXyj7/