State News

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  Drug Testing For Unemployment Passes Texas House

  

  Posted 8:09 AM 5/22/2013

  AUSTIN - A bill that would allow the state to drug screen unemployment applicants passed the Texas House late Tuesday.The proposal sponsored by Rep. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would require applicants to answer a questionnaire to see whether they are at risk of abusing drugs, and (More)

  
  

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  Safety Board Chair: ATF Blocking Plant Blast Probe

  

  Posted 8:08 AM 5/22/2013

  WACO - The head of a federal safety board says federal agents and the state fire marshal are blocking the board from investigating a deadly Central Texas fertilizer plant blast.Rafael Moure-Eraso chairs the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. He has told a senator planning hearings into the (More)

  
  

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  Texas House Prepares For Major Budget Vote

  

  Posted 8:04 AM 5/22/2013

  AUSTIN - Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he is taking House leaders at their word, and that delicate pieces of a complicated Texas budget deal will be passed.A big test comes today. That is when the House is expected to finally take up a new state water plan that is crucial to a spending (More)

  
  

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  NTSB To Release Documents On Train-Float Collision

  Posted 8:02 AM 5/22/2013

  MIDLAND - The agency looking into last year's train collision that killed four veterans on a parade float in Texas is set to release documents from its investigation.A release from the National Transportation Safety Board says the documents will be released Wednesday on the agency's (More)

  
  

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  Restaurant Worker Hit By Lightning

  Posted 8:00 AM 5/22/2013

  LUFKIN - An East Texas restaurant worker standing outside the eatery and holding an umbrella during a storm has died after being hit by lightning.Lufkin police say the lightning strike happened Tuesday night. The woman died at Woodland Heights Medical Center in Lufkin.Lt. (More)

  
  

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  Appeals Court Upholds Age Limit To Carry Handguns

  Posted 8:02 AM 5/21/2013

  AUSTIN - A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas law that says 18-20-year-olds cannot receive a concealed handgun license.The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the Texas law limiting handgun licenses is constitutional. Lawmakers had decided that those under 21 were not (More)

  
  

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  Texas House Mulls New District For Failing Schools

  Posted 7:59 AM 5/21/2013

  AUSTIN - The Texas House is considering a proposal that would create special districts operated by turnaround experts to improve struggling schools.The bill by Dallas Democratic Sen. Royce West cleared the Senate May 1.The House will likely vote on it on Tuesday - but has (More)

  
  

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  Texas Search Team To Help After Oklahoma Tornado

  

  Posted 7:54 AM 5/21/2013

  AUSTIN - Members of an elite search and rescue team from Texas have been dispatched to Oklahoma to help with recovery following a deadly tornado.Gov. Rick Perry on Monday night announced activation of Texas Task Force 1 (one). The emergency response came after a massive twister Monday (More)

  
  

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  Suspected Tornado Devastates Small Texas School

  Posted 6:40 PM 5/20/2013 by Associated Press

  BLANKET, Texas (AP) - A strong storm winds authorities suspect was a tornado smashed the public school complex in a small town in the rolling hills southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The Texas Department of Public Safety reported a tornado about 6 p.m. Monday in Blanket, a town (More)

  
  

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  Appeals Court Upholds Age Limit to Carry Handguns

  Posted 5:17 PM 5/20/2013 by Associated Press

  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas law that says 18-20-year-olds cannot receive a concealed handgun license. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that the Texas law limiting handgun licenses is constitutional. Lawmakers had decided that those (More)

  
  

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  CSCOPE Curriculum Scrapped in Texas

  Posted 11:11 AM 5/20/2013 by Associated Press

  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A classroom curriculum system used by hundreds of Texas school districts will stop offering lesson plans after some conservative groups claimed it was promoting anti-American values. State Sen. Dan Patrick said Monday that officials who created the system known as (More)

  
  

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  Firefighter Dies in Dallas Condo Complex Blaze

  

  Posted 11:02 AM 5/20/2013 by Associated Press

  DALLAS (AP) - A firefighter's body was recovered Monday several hours after he called for help because he was trapped in a condominium complex blaze. Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans did not immediately release the name of the man, whose body was pulled from the rubble after a (More)