Cancer returns to girl whose parents stopped treatment
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) — Medical tests on Friday showed that cancer had returned to a 12-year-old girl whose parents were in court to fight radiation treatment because they believed her illness was in remission.
Texas Child Protective Services removed the girl and her siblings from the home of their parents, Michele and Edward Wernecke, last week after doctors said discontinued treatment could be life-threatening. Katie was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in January, when her parents brought her to the hospital for pneumonia treatment.
The parents had insisted the four rounds of chemotherapy Katie received killed the cancer and that the recommended radiation therapy would only harm a healthy girl.
But Friday's results, "changes everything," said Daniel Horne, an attorney for the parents. The test results came shortly before the hearing and took the parents and their attorneys by surprise.
"The Werneckes have never said that they would deny medical treatment to their daughter if she was ill and getting worse," Horne told state juvenile court Judge Carl Lewis.
The new tests were revealed by state attorneys during a hearing that was supposed to determine whether treatment for Katie was necessary in the days leading up to a custody hearing. But the judge called off next week's scheduled custody hearing unless family attorneys could present evidence that refuted the test results.
Lewis ordered that the treatment begin as soon as possible and that Katie remain in state custody.
The state presented three doctors' findings that radiation treatment was necessary. One doctor warned on May 27 that treatment must begin within the next 10 days to prevent a reoccurrence of cancer.
Katie celebrates her 13th birthday on Saturday. Her family attorney said the treatments would begin next week.
Horne asked that the family be part of the treatment and that their daughter be returned to them as soon as possible.
Thomas Stuckey, attorney for the state, said the state would allow the parents to participate in the treatments unless they were disruptive. He said the state's goal is ultimately to return Katie to her parents.
The judge said that the parents would be allowed to attend treatment sessions, but that doctors would make the decisions.
"Early evidence indicates that given opportunity to abscond with the child, they did. And no way would I give them opportunity to do that again now," the judge said.
CPS officials intervened after receiving a tip that Katie's care was being compromised.
After they couldn't locate Katie, Nueces County sheriff's officials issued an Amber Alert. They found Katie with her mother at a family ranch and arrested the mother on charges of interfering with child custody.
Charges against Michele Wernecke, who was free on $50,000 bond, were dropped Friday afternoon. The siblings, three boys, were reunited with the parents Friday morning following a CPS inspection of the home.
After the hearing, Horne said Michele Wernecke then believed her child was free of cancer. He said the family's opposition to radiation treatment was now mute as care would be directed by the state.
News from the Lone Star State
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'Dream Home' winner struggling to afford prize
TYLER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A free house may be too expensive for Don Cruz to keep.
Cruz won the 5,000-square-foot house in Texas in the Home and Garden Television "Dream Home" sweepstakes.
The $1.5 million home on the shores of Lake Tyler also has a boathouse.
But to keep the home, Cruz has to find a way to raise about $631,000 he owes in taxes. He had hoped to do that by renting out the boathouse and the master bedroom, but city regulations may prevent him from doing that.
He says he doesn't want to sell the house, and hopes the Tyler City Council can help him out.
Cruz won the home in April when he was selected 39 million entries. He used to live in suburban Chicago.
TYLER, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - A free house may be too expensive for Don Cruz to keep.
Cruz won the 5,000-square-foot house in Texas in the Home and Garden Television "Dream Home" sweepstakes.
The $1.5 million home on the shores of Lake Tyler also has a boathouse.
But to keep the home, Cruz has to find a way to raise about $631,000 he owes in taxes. He had hoped to do that by renting out the boathouse and the master bedroom, but city regulations may prevent him from doing that.
He says he doesn't want to sell the house, and hopes the Tyler City Council can help him out.
Cruz won the home in April when he was selected 39 million entries. He used to live in suburban Chicago.
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Lotto critic's efforts pay off
Jackpot frozen; woman said ticket sales couldn't support advertised prize
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – Dawn Nettles has been chipping away for years at the Texas Lottery Commission, trying to prove the agency is a corrupt body that swindles honest gamblers.
And while she has earned a reputation as a tenacious foe and a leading expert on the state lottery, her tangible successes in changing the rules, culture, games or leadership have been few and far between.
But this week, the Garland publisher and self-appointed lotto watchdog broke through the wall and found an allegation that stuck: The $8 million Wednesday jackpot advertised on Lotto Texas billboards across the state would have – if anyone had won – paid only about $6.5 million because of slow ticket sales.
Officials with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a gambling opponent, responded to her complaint and said they'd look at her allegations of false advertising.
The commission took unusual action this week to fix the problem in the short term. Commission officials also say they'll discuss some of her concerns about how fairly the games pay the winners during a public meeting later this month.
"I didn't think I'd get any kind of response," Ms. Nettles said Friday. "I'm grateful that I did. I'm amazed. I'm getting e-mails congratulating me that we finally held them accountable."
And while commission officials say their immediate decision to adjust the jackpot estimates for this weekend – the first time they'll do that in the history of Lotto Texas – was already in the works when Ms. Nettles complained, they grudgingly give her credit for drawing attention to the larger issue of credibility and fairness in the lottery.
Changes may be on way
"Dawn has been a critic of this agency for quite some time," said Bobby Heith, spokesman for the commission. "And from time to time she has some good points."
The events of this week could result in some significant changes in how the Texas lottery is run – including how it adjusts the publicly advertised jackpot estimates when the sales don't live up to the hype, a change that already started this week. Today's estimated Lotto jackpot will once again be $8 million.
It would seem like a win for Ms. Nettles, who publishes the Lotto Report newsletter and another one on homebuilders from her home office. But even though her Monday complaint to the AG and Travis County district attorney grabbed the attention of the state's top gambling opponents and appeared to force the issue, at least somewhat, she sees a hollow victory and vows that she hasn't yet played her full hand.
"People are tired of losing their money," she said. "We need fair games."
Lottery commission officials say that as early as June 3, estimates began to show that if there were no winners in the June 4 jackpot, the projected $8 million jackpot for Wednesday might not be supported by enough ticket sales.
Mr. Heith said that officials determined that by looking at the size of the potential jackpot, past sales during that time of year and other factors.
Acted before complaint
Throughout the weekend, management discussed the probability of an underfunded jackpot and decided "early Monday, before we received her complaint" that the best way to handle it would be to freeze today's jackpot if nobody won on Wednesday, he said. That would give the gambling public several more days to buy tickets and fund the $8 million prize.
And it would be the first time the commission has not increased the jackpot after nobody has claimed the prize.
"They feel confident that we will reach sales enough to support that jackpot," Mr. Heith said.
The Travis County DA has yet to decide what to do with Ms. Nettles' complaint, but the AG's office, upon hearing of the commission's plans to discuss the payouts in its June 24 meeting and freeze today's jackpot, decided it was satisfied with how the matter was being handled.
Ms. Nettles is not. A supporter of the lottery when it started in 1992, she decided after about seven years that moves by the commission that made the lottery harder to win were a clue that it needed a watchdog.
For example, she says, there have been only 14 winners in 219 Lotto drawings since May 2003, the last time the lottery commission changed the number of balls used to pick a winner.
In the three years before that, there were 59 winners out of 292 drawings, according to figures she keeps on her Web site under the title: "Interesting but very sad statistics."
"What people really want is what's really in the pot," Ms. Nettles said. "That's the only way the state of Texas can guarantee the people a return on their money, and we want that guarantee. We want consumer protection, we want the guarantee that we'll get our share of the sales, and we want fair games."
Jackpot frozen; woman said ticket sales couldn't support advertised prize
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – Dawn Nettles has been chipping away for years at the Texas Lottery Commission, trying to prove the agency is a corrupt body that swindles honest gamblers.
And while she has earned a reputation as a tenacious foe and a leading expert on the state lottery, her tangible successes in changing the rules, culture, games or leadership have been few and far between.
But this week, the Garland publisher and self-appointed lotto watchdog broke through the wall and found an allegation that stuck: The $8 million Wednesday jackpot advertised on Lotto Texas billboards across the state would have – if anyone had won – paid only about $6.5 million because of slow ticket sales.
Officials with Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a gambling opponent, responded to her complaint and said they'd look at her allegations of false advertising.
The commission took unusual action this week to fix the problem in the short term. Commission officials also say they'll discuss some of her concerns about how fairly the games pay the winners during a public meeting later this month.
"I didn't think I'd get any kind of response," Ms. Nettles said Friday. "I'm grateful that I did. I'm amazed. I'm getting e-mails congratulating me that we finally held them accountable."
And while commission officials say their immediate decision to adjust the jackpot estimates for this weekend – the first time they'll do that in the history of Lotto Texas – was already in the works when Ms. Nettles complained, they grudgingly give her credit for drawing attention to the larger issue of credibility and fairness in the lottery.
Changes may be on way
"Dawn has been a critic of this agency for quite some time," said Bobby Heith, spokesman for the commission. "And from time to time she has some good points."
The events of this week could result in some significant changes in how the Texas lottery is run – including how it adjusts the publicly advertised jackpot estimates when the sales don't live up to the hype, a change that already started this week. Today's estimated Lotto jackpot will once again be $8 million.
It would seem like a win for Ms. Nettles, who publishes the Lotto Report newsletter and another one on homebuilders from her home office. But even though her Monday complaint to the AG and Travis County district attorney grabbed the attention of the state's top gambling opponents and appeared to force the issue, at least somewhat, she sees a hollow victory and vows that she hasn't yet played her full hand.
"People are tired of losing their money," she said. "We need fair games."
Lottery commission officials say that as early as June 3, estimates began to show that if there were no winners in the June 4 jackpot, the projected $8 million jackpot for Wednesday might not be supported by enough ticket sales.
Mr. Heith said that officials determined that by looking at the size of the potential jackpot, past sales during that time of year and other factors.
Acted before complaint
Throughout the weekend, management discussed the probability of an underfunded jackpot and decided "early Monday, before we received her complaint" that the best way to handle it would be to freeze today's jackpot if nobody won on Wednesday, he said. That would give the gambling public several more days to buy tickets and fund the $8 million prize.
And it would be the first time the commission has not increased the jackpot after nobody has claimed the prize.
"They feel confident that we will reach sales enough to support that jackpot," Mr. Heith said.
The Travis County DA has yet to decide what to do with Ms. Nettles' complaint, but the AG's office, upon hearing of the commission's plans to discuss the payouts in its June 24 meeting and freeze today's jackpot, decided it was satisfied with how the matter was being handled.
Ms. Nettles is not. A supporter of the lottery when it started in 1992, she decided after about seven years that moves by the commission that made the lottery harder to win were a clue that it needed a watchdog.
For example, she says, there have been only 14 winners in 219 Lotto drawings since May 2003, the last time the lottery commission changed the number of balls used to pick a winner.
In the three years before that, there were 59 winners out of 292 drawings, according to figures she keeps on her Web site under the title: "Interesting but very sad statistics."
"What people really want is what's really in the pot," Ms. Nettles said. "That's the only way the state of Texas can guarantee the people a return on their money, and we want that guarantee. We want consumer protection, we want the guarantee that we'll get our share of the sales, and we want fair games."
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Irving convention center plans revived
Irving: With Cowboys leaving, officials tackle convention site
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – The on-again, off-again plans for a convention center in Irving are back on.
City officials are wondering whether the time is right to build a center that they hope would attract more visitors to Irving and boost city coffers. Consultants could study the issue later this year.
The study comes as city officials are figuring out what to do with the Texas Stadium site once the Dallas Cowboys leave for a new home in Arlington. City officials aren't ruling out the possibility that a convention center or similar facility could be built on the stadium land.
"All options are on the table right now," City Council member Sam Smith said.
The city commissioned a convention center study in 1999, but a souring economy slowed plans to build a center in Las Colinas. In addition, developers had difficulty securing funding for a hotel that would have been built adjacent to the center. In 2003, the council put the plans on ice.
But with a strengthening economy, the city will spend the summer looking for consultants to conduct the studies. The council could vote on contracts in September, and the consultants' reports could be completed by March.
City officials want to analyze whether its 6-year-old convention center plans are feasible in today's market, which includes competition from a number of centers, including Arlington, Plano and Grapevine's Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
Irving officials also want to study whether they would be better off tweaking the plans or building a facility that would cater to a niche market.
In addition, the city would like to consider "what other opportunities there are for visitor-oriented development" in Irving, said Maura Allen Gast, executive director of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We are wide open about outcome," she said. "There are truly no preconceived answers. I really believe we have a unique opportunity to step back and ... take a look at things from a different perspective."
While city officials delve into convention center options, they're making progress on studying development scenarios for the Texas Stadium site. City officials expect to update the council later this month.
Council members' views on what should replace the stadium range from upscale apartments, shops and businesses to a mall. But they've also mentioned a convention center and hotel.
Regardless of its location, a convention center would allow Irving to lure larger groups to city limits, said Mr. Smith, who supports some sort of facility. Irving lacks large spaces to host conventions or meetings that attract thousands of people. For now, city tourism officials focus on attracting groups of fewer than 500 to Irving.
A convention center would enhance the city's image as a business center and help the city's economy, Mr. Smith said.
"I support something ... that will stimulate, will serve as a catalyst for economic development in Irving," he said. "And a convention center is one way to do that."
With numerous convention centers in the Dallas area, an Irving center should be distinctive, said Ted Olson, chairman of the ICVB's board of directors. A center should cater to a niche market, such as state associations looking to hold meetings, and include exhibit space, ballrooms and breakout rooms for smaller groups, he said.
The goal would be for the center to bring new business to the area, rather than steal conventions already taking place nearby, he said.
"We would not want to build another competitor for the Dallas Convention Center," he said.
Irving: With Cowboys leaving, officials tackle convention site
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – The on-again, off-again plans for a convention center in Irving are back on.
City officials are wondering whether the time is right to build a center that they hope would attract more visitors to Irving and boost city coffers. Consultants could study the issue later this year.
The study comes as city officials are figuring out what to do with the Texas Stadium site once the Dallas Cowboys leave for a new home in Arlington. City officials aren't ruling out the possibility that a convention center or similar facility could be built on the stadium land.
"All options are on the table right now," City Council member Sam Smith said.
The city commissioned a convention center study in 1999, but a souring economy slowed plans to build a center in Las Colinas. In addition, developers had difficulty securing funding for a hotel that would have been built adjacent to the center. In 2003, the council put the plans on ice.
But with a strengthening economy, the city will spend the summer looking for consultants to conduct the studies. The council could vote on contracts in September, and the consultants' reports could be completed by March.
City officials want to analyze whether its 6-year-old convention center plans are feasible in today's market, which includes competition from a number of centers, including Arlington, Plano and Grapevine's Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center.
Irving officials also want to study whether they would be better off tweaking the plans or building a facility that would cater to a niche market.
In addition, the city would like to consider "what other opportunities there are for visitor-oriented development" in Irving, said Maura Allen Gast, executive director of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"We are wide open about outcome," she said. "There are truly no preconceived answers. I really believe we have a unique opportunity to step back and ... take a look at things from a different perspective."
While city officials delve into convention center options, they're making progress on studying development scenarios for the Texas Stadium site. City officials expect to update the council later this month.
Council members' views on what should replace the stadium range from upscale apartments, shops and businesses to a mall. But they've also mentioned a convention center and hotel.
Regardless of its location, a convention center would allow Irving to lure larger groups to city limits, said Mr. Smith, who supports some sort of facility. Irving lacks large spaces to host conventions or meetings that attract thousands of people. For now, city tourism officials focus on attracting groups of fewer than 500 to Irving.
A convention center would enhance the city's image as a business center and help the city's economy, Mr. Smith said.
"I support something ... that will stimulate, will serve as a catalyst for economic development in Irving," he said. "And a convention center is one way to do that."
With numerous convention centers in the Dallas area, an Irving center should be distinctive, said Ted Olson, chairman of the ICVB's board of directors. A center should cater to a niche market, such as state associations looking to hold meetings, and include exhibit space, ballrooms and breakout rooms for smaller groups, he said.
The goal would be for the center to bring new business to the area, rather than steal conventions already taking place nearby, he said.
"We would not want to build another competitor for the Dallas Convention Center," he said.
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Festival aims to be grapple of city's eye
Irving: Wrestling matches to liven up heritage celebration
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Wrestling is returning to Irving.
The sport hasn't had much of a presence here since 1985's World Class Championship Wrestling matches at Texas Stadium.
But tonight, wrestling will be back as part of the 15th annual Heritage Festival, which celebrates the city's history and diversity.
Festival organizers wanted to try something different this year to draw more families, said K. Downs, a preservation and redevelopment specialist for Irving.
"I gave them a list of ideas, and they called me back to ask about arranging a family-style wrestling event," Ms. Downs said.
Ms. Downs, who has done some wrestling with local groups, said the matches will feature "old-style Texas wrestling, not the staged type of wrestling. The wrestlers are trained professionals."
The matches start at 7 tonight in Heritage Park at Rock Island and Main streets. The festival continues Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Among the contenders are city employees Reid "Bull Man" Downs and James Shepard. Mr. Downs, who used to be married to Ms. Downs, has wrestled for about 18 years. Mr. Shepard, a Nimitz High graduate, is a newcomer to the sport.
The main event will pit "Cowboy" Johnny Mantell against Irving police Officer Bryan Guidry. They will be joined in the ring by wrestler Gary Hart, who will protect Mr. Mantell, and former wrestler Jimmy Dejewski, who will be in Officer Guidry's corner. The protectors watch over the matches to make sure no one gets hurt.
Mr. Dejewski, who was known as "Luminous," lives in Irving and is the owner of Mission: Fitness in Las Colinas. He said he got involved after "Officer Guidry came into my business when someone next door told him I used to wrestle."
Mr. Hart, who moved to the area 25 years ago to wrestle, said he enjoys helping the community. His son, Chad, will face Clayton Brooks, son of "Killer" Tim Brooks, in a "Sons of Wrestling Legends" match.
In addition to wrestling, the Heritage Festival offers a wide range of activities. Performances on the International Boulevard stage include several cultural groups, including Chinese Lion Dancers, Ballet Folklorico and African drummers.
Musical entertainment will feature The Shady Grove Ramblers, rockabilly legend Ray Sharpe, Tommy Alverson and Yo Yo Collins.
The festival, which is organized by the Irving Downtown Association, the Irving Heritage Society and Irving's Preservation and Redevelopment Board, also features a sneak peak at Irving's Fire and Police Association Museum.
"Two restored firetrucks will be on display, plus a few other items," Ms. Downs said.
Irving: Wrestling matches to liven up heritage celebration
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Wrestling is returning to Irving.
The sport hasn't had much of a presence here since 1985's World Class Championship Wrestling matches at Texas Stadium.
But tonight, wrestling will be back as part of the 15th annual Heritage Festival, which celebrates the city's history and diversity.
Festival organizers wanted to try something different this year to draw more families, said K. Downs, a preservation and redevelopment specialist for Irving.
"I gave them a list of ideas, and they called me back to ask about arranging a family-style wrestling event," Ms. Downs said.
Ms. Downs, who has done some wrestling with local groups, said the matches will feature "old-style Texas wrestling, not the staged type of wrestling. The wrestlers are trained professionals."
The matches start at 7 tonight in Heritage Park at Rock Island and Main streets. The festival continues Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Among the contenders are city employees Reid "Bull Man" Downs and James Shepard. Mr. Downs, who used to be married to Ms. Downs, has wrestled for about 18 years. Mr. Shepard, a Nimitz High graduate, is a newcomer to the sport.
The main event will pit "Cowboy" Johnny Mantell against Irving police Officer Bryan Guidry. They will be joined in the ring by wrestler Gary Hart, who will protect Mr. Mantell, and former wrestler Jimmy Dejewski, who will be in Officer Guidry's corner. The protectors watch over the matches to make sure no one gets hurt.
Mr. Dejewski, who was known as "Luminous," lives in Irving and is the owner of Mission: Fitness in Las Colinas. He said he got involved after "Officer Guidry came into my business when someone next door told him I used to wrestle."
Mr. Hart, who moved to the area 25 years ago to wrestle, said he enjoys helping the community. His son, Chad, will face Clayton Brooks, son of "Killer" Tim Brooks, in a "Sons of Wrestling Legends" match.
In addition to wrestling, the Heritage Festival offers a wide range of activities. Performances on the International Boulevard stage include several cultural groups, including Chinese Lion Dancers, Ballet Folklorico and African drummers.
Musical entertainment will feature The Shady Grove Ramblers, rockabilly legend Ray Sharpe, Tommy Alverson and Yo Yo Collins.
The festival, which is organized by the Irving Downtown Association, the Irving Heritage Society and Irving's Preservation and Redevelopment Board, also features a sneak peak at Irving's Fire and Police Association Museum.
"Two restored firetrucks will be on display, plus a few other items," Ms. Downs said.
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Mustangs galloping onto new logo for the chamber
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Adding the mustangs is always a great idea. The popular symbol of Irving's growth and arts already adorns the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau logo.
So the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce decided to redo its logo to present a consistent image.
"When [chamber president] Chris Wallace came on board, we discussed the need for new branding efforts," said Kathy Gillard, the chamber's director of marketing and communications. "The old logo really said nothing about who we are, so we created a new one."
The galloping mustangs will now grace all chamber publications.
The image comes from a sculpture of nine horses created by African wildlife artist Robert Glen that draws countless visitors to Las Colinas. A mustang museum is next to the sculpture in the West Tower of Williams Square. Visit http://www.mustangsoflascolinas.com.
Camping at North Lake
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's 3-Day race is coming to Irving.
About 1,700 walkers will start their 60-mile journey today at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. They will stop for the night at North Lake College in Irving.
"They will camp out in tents on the soccer fields," Janis Browning of North Lake said. "It will be hot, but we have nice fields."
On Saturday the walkers will head through North Dallas and then camp at White Rock Lake. The event will conclude at City Hall Plaza in downtown Dallas.
Visit http://www.the3-Day.org.
Battle of the brains
Quiz team members from Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving tried their best, but a team from Virginia won the National Championship Quiz Tournament in Chicago for the third straight year.
The Irving team advanced to the semifinal round Sunday but lost in the double-elimination playoffs. It was a competitive field of 96 high school teams from across the country. Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., went undefeated to win first place.
The Rev. Gregory M. Schweers led the team of James Hansell, Daniel Mitura, Kenneth Spence, Erik Tanner and Vincent Zimmern.
"We had a great time, both competitively and culturally," Father Schweers said.
By DEBORAH FLECK / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - Adding the mustangs is always a great idea. The popular symbol of Irving's growth and arts already adorns the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau logo.
So the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce decided to redo its logo to present a consistent image.
"When [chamber president] Chris Wallace came on board, we discussed the need for new branding efforts," said Kathy Gillard, the chamber's director of marketing and communications. "The old logo really said nothing about who we are, so we created a new one."
The galloping mustangs will now grace all chamber publications.
The image comes from a sculpture of nine horses created by African wildlife artist Robert Glen that draws countless visitors to Las Colinas. A mustang museum is next to the sculpture in the West Tower of Williams Square. Visit http://www.mustangsoflascolinas.com.
Camping at North Lake
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's 3-Day race is coming to Irving.
About 1,700 walkers will start their 60-mile journey today at Ameriquest Field in Arlington. They will stop for the night at North Lake College in Irving.
"They will camp out in tents on the soccer fields," Janis Browning of North Lake said. "It will be hot, but we have nice fields."
On Saturday the walkers will head through North Dallas and then camp at White Rock Lake. The event will conclude at City Hall Plaza in downtown Dallas.
Visit http://www.the3-Day.org.
Battle of the brains
Quiz team members from Cistercian Preparatory School in Irving tried their best, but a team from Virginia won the National Championship Quiz Tournament in Chicago for the third straight year.
The Irving team advanced to the semifinal round Sunday but lost in the double-elimination playoffs. It was a competitive field of 96 high school teams from across the country. Thomas Jefferson School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va., went undefeated to win first place.
The Rev. Gregory M. Schweers led the team of James Hansell, Daniel Mitura, Kenneth Spence, Erik Tanner and Vincent Zimmern.
"We had a great time, both competitively and culturally," Father Schweers said.
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'Miracle' window moved, but in pieces
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - What many view as a miracle, some regard as a burden.
A window pane at a north Fort Worth apartment complex has drawn the attention of thousands who claim to see an image of Jesus Christ. That glass was moved to a local church Sunday night, but all did not go quite as planned.
The events began with a mass to celebrate the occasion. Dozens gathered outside the window at the Fossil Ridge Apartments to view and touch what they regard as a miracle apparition.
"I felt just a bright light come over me," said Fort Worth resident Teresa Medina. "You have to have faith to be able to see something there."
The faithful see an image of Jesus in the discolored pane of glass. As word has spread, thousands have come since the end of May for daily prayers and weekly masses.
"It's a liability here, but for us at the church it would be a blessing," said Father James Harris of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Fort Worth. "We can have it there; people can come with their needs and their prayers."
After the mass, a maintenance crew arrived to remove the windowpane and relocate it to St. Augustine. However, workers had trouble removing the glass, and after about 40 minutes of pulling and tugging, it broke into three pieces - shattering the hopes of some.
"He probably didn't really want to go, you know? He doesn't want to be moved," said Fort Worth resident Ramona Luman.
Inside the apartment, some cried as they tried to piece together the broken glass to save the image.
"We can still see the face, and that's what we're interested in," said Father John Parnell of St. Augustine. "We're interested in any tool that brings people to the Lord."
Despite the breakage, the pane will still go on display at St. Augustine for those who want to view it, night or day.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - What many view as a miracle, some regard as a burden.
A window pane at a north Fort Worth apartment complex has drawn the attention of thousands who claim to see an image of Jesus Christ. That glass was moved to a local church Sunday night, but all did not go quite as planned.
The events began with a mass to celebrate the occasion. Dozens gathered outside the window at the Fossil Ridge Apartments to view and touch what they regard as a miracle apparition.
"I felt just a bright light come over me," said Fort Worth resident Teresa Medina. "You have to have faith to be able to see something there."
The faithful see an image of Jesus in the discolored pane of glass. As word has spread, thousands have come since the end of May for daily prayers and weekly masses.
"It's a liability here, but for us at the church it would be a blessing," said Father James Harris of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Fort Worth. "We can have it there; people can come with their needs and their prayers."
After the mass, a maintenance crew arrived to remove the windowpane and relocate it to St. Augustine. However, workers had trouble removing the glass, and after about 40 minutes of pulling and tugging, it broke into three pieces - shattering the hopes of some.
"He probably didn't really want to go, you know? He doesn't want to be moved," said Fort Worth resident Ramona Luman.
Inside the apartment, some cried as they tried to piece together the broken glass to save the image.
"We can still see the face, and that's what we're interested in," said Father John Parnell of St. Augustine. "We're interested in any tool that brings people to the Lord."
Despite the breakage, the pane will still go on display at St. Augustine for those who want to view it, night or day.
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Oh, great! That's what we need, another drowning in a swimming pool. 
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Boy drowns in apartment pool
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A six-year-old boy drowned at a swimming pool in northeast Dallas Sunday night.
Police were called to the Regal Springs Apartments in the 13000 block of Audelia Road shortly after 9 p.m.
Witnesses said the boy was last seen playing in the small and crowded pool, which has a maximum depth of five feet.
The unidentified boy was prounounced dead at Medical City Hospital.
Police questioned witnesses and the boy's family to try and determine how it happened.
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Boy drowns in apartment pool
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A six-year-old boy drowned at a swimming pool in northeast Dallas Sunday night.
Police were called to the Regal Springs Apartments in the 13000 block of Audelia Road shortly after 9 p.m.
Witnesses said the boy was last seen playing in the small and crowded pool, which has a maximum depth of five feet.
The unidentified boy was prounounced dead at Medical City Hospital.
Police questioned witnesses and the boy's family to try and determine how it happened.
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Arsonist suspected in three Fort Worth fires
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas — Investigators said three Saturday night fires at three houses within blocks of one another appear to be the work of an arsonist.
The first fire happened in the 1400 block of South Interstate 35W. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames, causing an estimated $40,000 in damage.
Just 15 minutes later, an alarm went out for a house ablaze in the 500 block of East Maddox Avenue.
As firefighters worked to extinguish that fire, they looked across the freeway and saw a house in the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue was burning.
Arson investigators suspect all three structures were intentionally ignited in a time frame of just 30 minutes. All of the houses were vacant.
Arson investigators suspect gasoline was used to spark the fires at these homes.
Witnesses said they saw a man on a bicycle leaving the last burning home carrying a gas can, but as of late Sunday afternoon no arrests had been made.
Arson investigators were also trying to determine whether these were random acts or if the homes had been specifically targeted.
The three fires did a total of about $95,000 in damage. If you have any information, you are asked to call Fort Worth Police or the Fort Worth Fire Department.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas — Investigators said three Saturday night fires at three houses within blocks of one another appear to be the work of an arsonist.
The first fire happened in the 1400 block of South Interstate 35W. Firefighters arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames, causing an estimated $40,000 in damage.
Just 15 minutes later, an alarm went out for a house ablaze in the 500 block of East Maddox Avenue.
As firefighters worked to extinguish that fire, they looked across the freeway and saw a house in the 1300 block of Missouri Avenue was burning.
Arson investigators suspect all three structures were intentionally ignited in a time frame of just 30 minutes. All of the houses were vacant.
Arson investigators suspect gasoline was used to spark the fires at these homes.
Witnesses said they saw a man on a bicycle leaving the last burning home carrying a gas can, but as of late Sunday afternoon no arrests had been made.
Arson investigators were also trying to determine whether these were random acts or if the homes had been specifically targeted.
The three fires did a total of about $95,000 in damage. If you have any information, you are asked to call Fort Worth Police or the Fort Worth Fire Department.
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Tanzanian man sought in fatal stabbing
RICHARDSON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Richardson police are looking for a Tanzanian national suspected in the fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old Dallas man late Saturday.
Raymond Tungu Kapalata died early Sunday at Richardson Regional Medical Center after he was stabbed several times at Huffhines Park in the 300 block of Plano Road. Police said an argument broke out between two people in a crowd of about 20 at the park around midnight Sunday.
Police are searching for Mohamed Mbelwa Mustapha, 24. Mr. Mustapha of Tanzania is in the U.S. on an expired student visa. Anyone with information is asked to call 972-744-4800.
RICHARDSON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Richardson police are looking for a Tanzanian national suspected in the fatal stabbing of a 29-year-old Dallas man late Saturday.
Raymond Tungu Kapalata died early Sunday at Richardson Regional Medical Center after he was stabbed several times at Huffhines Park in the 300 block of Plano Road. Police said an argument broke out between two people in a crowd of about 20 at the park around midnight Sunday.
Police are searching for Mohamed Mbelwa Mustapha, 24. Mr. Mustapha of Tanzania is in the U.S. on an expired student visa. Anyone with information is asked to call 972-744-4800.
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Man angered over disturbed burial site
By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The morning after Memorial Day, Robert Lee pulled into Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery to spend a few quiet moments remembering his dad, buried there in a spot of shade by a small tree.
Instead, he heard the roar of heavy construction equipment – excavators and bulldozers – and found the neat lawns ripped away and a slab-sided chasm opened in the earth, revealing a packed row of concrete crypts.
"My daddy's grave had about 16 feet of dirt on top of it," said Mr. Lee, who lives in Dallas. "And his tombstone was over in a field somewhere.
"I went and asked the man in charge, Max Jackson, 'Did you dig my dad up without telling me?' " Mr. Lee said. "He said nothing was being done to my dad's grave. But if I'm not mistaken, you could see it had all been dug up from the tree to his grave."
But Mr. Jackson, vice president and general manager of the southeast Dallas cemetery – which is owned by a Houston firm – said Mr. Lee is mistaken.
What Mr. Lee saw, he said, is cemetery expansion – the installation of "lawn crypts" that will be used for burials over the next several years.
"You mass install these because there are economies of scale," Mr. Jackson said. "You can dig in a big area with equipment, install the drainage system and then put in the empty vaults. We use them as we need them.
"As it turns out, Mr. Lee's father is right there, and he sees us digging up all this dirt. He's just upset and doesn't want to understand."
Mr. Jackson doesn't dispute that the gravesite of the senior Mr. Lee was covered with a thick layer of excavated dirt.
"We're installing several rows [of concrete vaults] so there's a lot of dirt," Mr. Jackson said.
Since trucks had to haul off the excess, much of the dirt was dumped close to the cemetery's roadways, including the one by the late Mr. Lee's grave.
"We do it that way to get the dirt as close to the road as possible," Mr. Jackson said. "We don't do it to get families mad at us."
What Mr. Jackson sees as proper construction planning, Mr. Lee considers an unwarranted incursion on his father's eternal resting place.
"These sites have been paid for, not only by my family but others, too. All that we ask of this cemetery is to furnish our [deceased] relatives a quiet and peaceful resting place," he said.
Even if his father's crypt wasn't moved – and Mr. Lee isn't ready to concede that – the excavation and the heavy equipment certainly disturbed the sanctity of his father's burial site and those of several others nearby.
During his very frequent trips to the cemetery over the last 10 days, Mr. Lee took photos as the work progressed. One photo shows a row of vaults, several damaged during the excavation work, some with broken concrete lids. Another shows several headstones scattered across the road from the burial sites.
A third shows the work done next to his father's burial site.
"A guy called me from Houston about this, and I told him, 'All you had to do was write us a letter, but you didn't do that,' " Mr. Lee said.
The cemetery usually doesn't notify next of kin about excavations "because most of the time, we don't know how to get in touch with them," Mr. Jackson said.
The company official from Houston told Mr. Lee that no one touched his father's grave.
"But I looked at the picture and said, 'Tell me how you didn't disturb anything,' " Mr. Lee said.
Mr. Jackson said any damaged crypts would be repaired and the broken lids replaced.
Mr. Lee wondered why the cemetery staff didn't make the repairs before burying the crypts.
"If you were going to fix them, why would you cover them up?" he asked.
Mr. Jackson said the last two weeks have shaken his family deeply. His brother calls for updates from California. Mr. Lee said he has trouble sleeping at nights. And he doesn't dare bring his mother to the cemetery.
"My mama, she's in an uproar," he said. "If she went out there, it would kill her."
Though Mr. Jackson said he's explained everything, Mr. Lee said he still has questions.
"I'm not trying to start anything here," Mr. Lee said, "but I go out there every day to visit my dad. That man, he raised me and took care of me. He taught me well. So I'm trying to do the right thing.
"I need to do the right thing because that's my daddy."
By MICHAEL E. YOUNG / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The morning after Memorial Day, Robert Lee pulled into Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery to spend a few quiet moments remembering his dad, buried there in a spot of shade by a small tree.
Instead, he heard the roar of heavy construction equipment – excavators and bulldozers – and found the neat lawns ripped away and a slab-sided chasm opened in the earth, revealing a packed row of concrete crypts.
"My daddy's grave had about 16 feet of dirt on top of it," said Mr. Lee, who lives in Dallas. "And his tombstone was over in a field somewhere.
"I went and asked the man in charge, Max Jackson, 'Did you dig my dad up without telling me?' " Mr. Lee said. "He said nothing was being done to my dad's grave. But if I'm not mistaken, you could see it had all been dug up from the tree to his grave."
But Mr. Jackson, vice president and general manager of the southeast Dallas cemetery – which is owned by a Houston firm – said Mr. Lee is mistaken.
What Mr. Lee saw, he said, is cemetery expansion – the installation of "lawn crypts" that will be used for burials over the next several years.
"You mass install these because there are economies of scale," Mr. Jackson said. "You can dig in a big area with equipment, install the drainage system and then put in the empty vaults. We use them as we need them.
"As it turns out, Mr. Lee's father is right there, and he sees us digging up all this dirt. He's just upset and doesn't want to understand."
Mr. Jackson doesn't dispute that the gravesite of the senior Mr. Lee was covered with a thick layer of excavated dirt.
"We're installing several rows [of concrete vaults] so there's a lot of dirt," Mr. Jackson said.
Since trucks had to haul off the excess, much of the dirt was dumped close to the cemetery's roadways, including the one by the late Mr. Lee's grave.
"We do it that way to get the dirt as close to the road as possible," Mr. Jackson said. "We don't do it to get families mad at us."
What Mr. Jackson sees as proper construction planning, Mr. Lee considers an unwarranted incursion on his father's eternal resting place.
"These sites have been paid for, not only by my family but others, too. All that we ask of this cemetery is to furnish our [deceased] relatives a quiet and peaceful resting place," he said.
Even if his father's crypt wasn't moved – and Mr. Lee isn't ready to concede that – the excavation and the heavy equipment certainly disturbed the sanctity of his father's burial site and those of several others nearby.
During his very frequent trips to the cemetery over the last 10 days, Mr. Lee took photos as the work progressed. One photo shows a row of vaults, several damaged during the excavation work, some with broken concrete lids. Another shows several headstones scattered across the road from the burial sites.
A third shows the work done next to his father's burial site.
"A guy called me from Houston about this, and I told him, 'All you had to do was write us a letter, but you didn't do that,' " Mr. Lee said.
The cemetery usually doesn't notify next of kin about excavations "because most of the time, we don't know how to get in touch with them," Mr. Jackson said.
The company official from Houston told Mr. Lee that no one touched his father's grave.
"But I looked at the picture and said, 'Tell me how you didn't disturb anything,' " Mr. Lee said.
Mr. Jackson said any damaged crypts would be repaired and the broken lids replaced.
Mr. Lee wondered why the cemetery staff didn't make the repairs before burying the crypts.
"If you were going to fix them, why would you cover them up?" he asked.
Mr. Jackson said the last two weeks have shaken his family deeply. His brother calls for updates from California. Mr. Lee said he has trouble sleeping at nights. And he doesn't dare bring his mother to the cemetery.
"My mama, she's in an uproar," he said. "If she went out there, it would kill her."
Though Mr. Jackson said he's explained everything, Mr. Lee said he still has questions.
"I'm not trying to start anything here," Mr. Lee said, "but I go out there every day to visit my dad. That man, he raised me and took care of me. He taught me well. So I'm trying to do the right thing.
"I need to do the right thing because that's my daddy."
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Slow sales blamed for lottery jackpot freeze
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
AUSTIN, Texas - For the first time since the Lotto Texas game was introduced in 1992, the Texas Lottery Commission has failed to increase a Lotto Texas jackpot following a drawing with no winning tickets.
The Commission was forced to freeze Saturday's jackpot amount becuase it didn't have enough money to pay a potential winner.
The agency blamed the jackpot drain on slow ticket sales.
The problem begam earlier this week for Wednesday's $8 million drawing. Lottery officials had to cap the estimated jackpot after determining that only $6.5 million was available.
Lottery officials had hoped they could make up the shortfall with ticket sales before Saturday night's drawing.
"If I win, I want my full winnings," said Texas Lotto player David Morris. "I don't want to lose my winnings toward the lottery."
"I mean, it's hard enough to win it already," added C.J. Freeman. "And if you won it and didn't get paid, it'd be kind of ridiculous."
The winning numbers in Saturday night's Lotto Texas drawing were 3-18-26-38-39 with bonus ball 22. No tickets matched all six numbers. The estimated jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing is $9 million.
Because of this week's shortfall, the Lottery Commission is already considering new policies for promoting future drawings that fall short of the estimated jackpot total.
By BERT LOZANO / WFAA ABC 8
AUSTIN, Texas - For the first time since the Lotto Texas game was introduced in 1992, the Texas Lottery Commission has failed to increase a Lotto Texas jackpot following a drawing with no winning tickets.
The Commission was forced to freeze Saturday's jackpot amount becuase it didn't have enough money to pay a potential winner.
The agency blamed the jackpot drain on slow ticket sales.
The problem begam earlier this week for Wednesday's $8 million drawing. Lottery officials had to cap the estimated jackpot after determining that only $6.5 million was available.
Lottery officials had hoped they could make up the shortfall with ticket sales before Saturday night's drawing.
"If I win, I want my full winnings," said Texas Lotto player David Morris. "I don't want to lose my winnings toward the lottery."
"I mean, it's hard enough to win it already," added C.J. Freeman. "And if you won it and didn't get paid, it'd be kind of ridiculous."
The winning numbers in Saturday night's Lotto Texas drawing were 3-18-26-38-39 with bonus ball 22. No tickets matched all six numbers. The estimated jackpot for Wednesday night's drawing is $9 million.
Because of this week's shortfall, the Lottery Commission is already considering new policies for promoting future drawings that fall short of the estimated jackpot total.
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TexasStooge
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WHAT?! ANOTHER DROWNING?!?!?!
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Teen drowns at Lake Lavon
McKINNEY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Lake Lavon has recorded its second drowning death of the year.
A 19-year-old man disappeared Saturday while swimming with friends at the recreational facility in Collin County.
The body of the man was pulled from the lake Saturday night by search and rescue personnel. His name was not released.
A McKinney fisherman drowned at Lake Lavon in February.
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Teen drowns at Lake Lavon
McKINNEY, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Lake Lavon has recorded its second drowning death of the year.
A 19-year-old man disappeared Saturday while swimming with friends at the recreational facility in Collin County.
The body of the man was pulled from the lake Saturday night by search and rescue personnel. His name was not released.
A McKinney fisherman drowned at Lake Lavon in February.
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Volunteers renew search for missing woman
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DENTON COUNTY, Texas — Volunteers fanned out over land and water Saturday afternoon in a search for Katherine Stobaugh, who disappeared more than five months ago.
The search extended to farmland in Cooke County and to an area lake.
Stobaugh, a 43-year-old schoolteacher and mother of two, was last seen in December, 2004 when—according to relatives and authorities—she went to her husband's home to talk about divorce plans.
Since then her family has organized more than a half dozen search efforts to find her.
"I try to go on with a normal life, but when you stop and relax a little bit it comes back," said Chris Munday, the missing woman's brother.
Volunteers and family members are trying to eliminate areas that have not been subject to earlier searches, like lake bridges.
"My concern is that it would have been a convenient situation for someone to drive out there in the middle of the night—where there's really not a lot of traffic—and throw someone over," Munday said.
Stobaugh's husband told authorities she left his home on a December evening and the next morning he discovered her car in the driveway.
While the victim's family has no tips or clues bringing them closer to a resolution, they vow never to give up searching until they find Katherine Stobaugh.
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DENTON COUNTY, Texas — Volunteers fanned out over land and water Saturday afternoon in a search for Katherine Stobaugh, who disappeared more than five months ago.
The search extended to farmland in Cooke County and to an area lake.
Stobaugh, a 43-year-old schoolteacher and mother of two, was last seen in December, 2004 when—according to relatives and authorities—she went to her husband's home to talk about divorce plans.
Since then her family has organized more than a half dozen search efforts to find her.
"I try to go on with a normal life, but when you stop and relax a little bit it comes back," said Chris Munday, the missing woman's brother.
Volunteers and family members are trying to eliminate areas that have not been subject to earlier searches, like lake bridges.
"My concern is that it would have been a convenient situation for someone to drive out there in the middle of the night—where there's really not a lot of traffic—and throw someone over," Munday said.
Stobaugh's husband told authorities she left his home on a December evening and the next morning he discovered her car in the driveway.
While the victim's family has no tips or clues bringing them closer to a resolution, they vow never to give up searching until they find Katherine Stobaugh.
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Squirrel costs an hour of power in Plano
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A squirrel knocked out power briefly Saturday morning for 3,100 TXU Energy customers in and around downtown Plano.
The squirrel overcame several barriers at a TXU substation and knocked out a piece of equipment called switchgear, causing the substation to short out at 9:58 a.m., said TXU spokesman John Hardesty. The squirrel died. TXU restored power at 11:08 a.m. "Sometimes those animals get in there and hit the wrong thing," Mr. Hardesty said. Police officers manned several downtown intersections that lost power to traffic signals. One minor traffic accident was reported at Avenue K and 14th Street during the outage, police said. No one was injured.
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A squirrel knocked out power briefly Saturday morning for 3,100 TXU Energy customers in and around downtown Plano.
The squirrel overcame several barriers at a TXU substation and knocked out a piece of equipment called switchgear, causing the substation to short out at 9:58 a.m., said TXU spokesman John Hardesty. The squirrel died. TXU restored power at 11:08 a.m. "Sometimes those animals get in there and hit the wrong thing," Mr. Hardesty said. Police officers manned several downtown intersections that lost power to traffic signals. One minor traffic accident was reported at Avenue K and 14th Street during the outage, police said. No one was injured.
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Prince of Hamburgers' reign toppled
Dallas: Buyer is tearing down longtime drive-in to build retail center
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The Prince has been dethroned.
Lemmon Avenue's Prince of Hamburgers has been sold to a local investment company with plans to replace the longtime Dallas drive-in burger joint with a retail shopping center.
Prince's impending destruction will mark the end of a hamburger-root beer empire that had reigned over carloads of hungry folks since 1929.
The restaurant was shut down by the state in April for nonpayment of taxes.
The owner who sold the property last week said she had "millions" of inquiries from people who wanted to reopen the restaurant, but she decided it was time to let go of the drive-in that her father bought from its founder in the early 1930s.
"I just don't want to fool with it anymore," Connie Pace said.
Real estate broker R.L. Ross said no tenants have been lined up for the retail development, which is now owned by Manchester Investments.
"I've been going there ever since I was a kid," Mr. Ross said of Prince's. "I hate to see it go, but it was already gone. The hamburger stand will be torn down, and something brand new and nice will take its place."
Dan Holzschuh, a local sign collector and designer, has bought the restaurant's awnings and red-and-green neon sign with a golden-haired boy holding a plate of burgers.
He hustled Friday to get a crane to take them down before bulldozers show up to raze the building.
"Those are a super part of the image of the place and the history of Dallas," he said. "I just couldn't let them be lost."
Dallas: Buyer is tearing down longtime drive-in to build retail center
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - The Prince has been dethroned.
Lemmon Avenue's Prince of Hamburgers has been sold to a local investment company with plans to replace the longtime Dallas drive-in burger joint with a retail shopping center.
Prince's impending destruction will mark the end of a hamburger-root beer empire that had reigned over carloads of hungry folks since 1929.
The restaurant was shut down by the state in April for nonpayment of taxes.
The owner who sold the property last week said she had "millions" of inquiries from people who wanted to reopen the restaurant, but she decided it was time to let go of the drive-in that her father bought from its founder in the early 1930s.
"I just don't want to fool with it anymore," Connie Pace said.
Real estate broker R.L. Ross said no tenants have been lined up for the retail development, which is now owned by Manchester Investments.
"I've been going there ever since I was a kid," Mr. Ross said of Prince's. "I hate to see it go, but it was already gone. The hamburger stand will be torn down, and something brand new and nice will take its place."
Dan Holzschuh, a local sign collector and designer, has bought the restaurant's awnings and red-and-green neon sign with a golden-haired boy holding a plate of burgers.
He hustled Friday to get a crane to take them down before bulldozers show up to raze the building.
"Those are a super part of the image of the place and the history of Dallas," he said. "I just couldn't let them be lost."
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County took retirement path less traveled
Galveston plan shuns market for security of bonds and annuities
By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON, Texas – The men who created a successful Texas alternative to Social Security say President Bush needs to drop investing in the stock market from his plan to privatize the system.
They speak from experience. When they put together a plan for Galveston County employees 25 years ago, then-County Judge Ray Holbrook and financial planners Don Kebodeaux and Rick Gornto started off suggesting that county employees hitch their retirement to the stock market.
"We tested it with a few groups, and they'd stand up and say, 'I'm not putting my money in the market,' " Mr. Kebodeaux said. "We knew then. Forget the market."
Employees considered it too risky, so the planners chose another path.
"We went strictly with bonds and annuity investment," Judge Holbrook said. "Safe as taking your money to the bank. We had that little slogan."
It meant slower growth than riding the market, but it also protected workers from steep declines in the value of their savings, he said. And it led employees to vote 2-to-1 in favor of leaving Social Security. The plan took effect in 1981, and it has operated since with few gripes, Judge Holbrook said.
You could say the rest is history. But there's more to the story.
After putting the Galveston plan in place, and adding neighboring Brazoria and Matagorda counties as well as the city of Texas City and the Galveston appraisal district, Mr. Kebodeaux and Mr. Gornto took the idea nationwide.
The response was strong.
"I had hundreds and hundreds of counties and cities lined up," Mr. Gornto said. "We had people coming to our seminars from all over the country."
It was a time of growing concern about Social Security, and many governments were interested in the loophole that allowed them to withdraw from the system. (The Constitution does not allow the federal government to tax the states, so state and local governments were excluded when Social Security was created in 1935. Amendments in the 1950s allowed them to join and leave, as they wished.)
But Congress took steps to strengthen Social Security in 1983, and one of its decisions was to bar state and local governments that had joined from leaving the system. The move stopped Mr. Gornto and Mr. Kebodeaux in their tracks.
"It's a shame," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
If they had succeeded in triggering an avalanche of local governments switching to alternatives in the '80s, it might have educated the public and made it easier to fix Social Security now, he said.
Most teacher retirement plans cover employees outside Social Security, but for some reason it hasn't raised public awareness of the possibilities, he said.
"Had they not stopped that, we'd have half the nation, maybe three-quarters of the nation, in private plans – good, solid, guaranteed plans. ... That, in itself, would have been a tremendous start for this national plan," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
Instead, their campaign to sell a new gospel – that Social Security is not sacred and that there are other ways to guarantee Americans a secure retirement – became a footnote in history that has gotten more attention recently, Mr. Gornto said.
It's an effort they recall with pride, and a story they love to tell – as they did recently over lemonade and coffee about the ups and downs of their mini-revolution.
They credit then-Galveston County Attorney Bill Decker, now deceased, with starting the whole thing after studying the potential risks of Social Security. The issue was beginning to get attention nationally, but Mr. Decker "was way ahead of his time," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
Judge Holbrook, 78, has retired. Mr. Kebodeaux, 73, has moved on to other businesses. Mr. Gornto, 59, is still helping run the Galveston plan, which he said could be shaped nationally to answer almost any criticism.
But they're concerned that the reform effort won't succeed unless the head cheerleader, Mr. Bush, adjusts his message to make the public feel more secure. "They ought to get off this stock market stuff," Judge Holbrook said.
Galveston plan shuns market for security of bonds and annuities
By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON, Texas – The men who created a successful Texas alternative to Social Security say President Bush needs to drop investing in the stock market from his plan to privatize the system.
They speak from experience. When they put together a plan for Galveston County employees 25 years ago, then-County Judge Ray Holbrook and financial planners Don Kebodeaux and Rick Gornto started off suggesting that county employees hitch their retirement to the stock market.
"We tested it with a few groups, and they'd stand up and say, 'I'm not putting my money in the market,' " Mr. Kebodeaux said. "We knew then. Forget the market."
Employees considered it too risky, so the planners chose another path.
"We went strictly with bonds and annuity investment," Judge Holbrook said. "Safe as taking your money to the bank. We had that little slogan."
It meant slower growth than riding the market, but it also protected workers from steep declines in the value of their savings, he said. And it led employees to vote 2-to-1 in favor of leaving Social Security. The plan took effect in 1981, and it has operated since with few gripes, Judge Holbrook said.
You could say the rest is history. But there's more to the story.
After putting the Galveston plan in place, and adding neighboring Brazoria and Matagorda counties as well as the city of Texas City and the Galveston appraisal district, Mr. Kebodeaux and Mr. Gornto took the idea nationwide.
The response was strong.
"I had hundreds and hundreds of counties and cities lined up," Mr. Gornto said. "We had people coming to our seminars from all over the country."
It was a time of growing concern about Social Security, and many governments were interested in the loophole that allowed them to withdraw from the system. (The Constitution does not allow the federal government to tax the states, so state and local governments were excluded when Social Security was created in 1935. Amendments in the 1950s allowed them to join and leave, as they wished.)
But Congress took steps to strengthen Social Security in 1983, and one of its decisions was to bar state and local governments that had joined from leaving the system. The move stopped Mr. Gornto and Mr. Kebodeaux in their tracks.
"It's a shame," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
If they had succeeded in triggering an avalanche of local governments switching to alternatives in the '80s, it might have educated the public and made it easier to fix Social Security now, he said.
Most teacher retirement plans cover employees outside Social Security, but for some reason it hasn't raised public awareness of the possibilities, he said.
"Had they not stopped that, we'd have half the nation, maybe three-quarters of the nation, in private plans – good, solid, guaranteed plans. ... That, in itself, would have been a tremendous start for this national plan," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
Instead, their campaign to sell a new gospel – that Social Security is not sacred and that there are other ways to guarantee Americans a secure retirement – became a footnote in history that has gotten more attention recently, Mr. Gornto said.
It's an effort they recall with pride, and a story they love to tell – as they did recently over lemonade and coffee about the ups and downs of their mini-revolution.
They credit then-Galveston County Attorney Bill Decker, now deceased, with starting the whole thing after studying the potential risks of Social Security. The issue was beginning to get attention nationally, but Mr. Decker "was way ahead of his time," Mr. Kebodeaux said.
Judge Holbrook, 78, has retired. Mr. Kebodeaux, 73, has moved on to other businesses. Mr. Gornto, 59, is still helping run the Galveston plan, which he said could be shaped nationally to answer almost any criticism.
But they're concerned that the reform effort won't succeed unless the head cheerleader, Mr. Bush, adjusts his message to make the public feel more secure. "They ought to get off this stock market stuff," Judge Holbrook said.
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TexasStooge
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For the eagle-eyed, a rare glimpse
Crowds flock to lookout near Tyler to see bird family's roost
By JESSICA LEEDER / The Dallas Morning News
NOONDAY, Texas – Every day, sometimes twice a day, strangers abandon their cars along a section of FM2661.
Toting binoculars, camcorders and tripods, they walk along the west side of the highway to the narrow strip of reddish dirt that has become their meeting place. They cluster in a loose order (those with cameras to the front, first-timers on the fringe). They face east and stare into a bush thick with pine and oak trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of this town's newest, wildest tourist attraction.
Then, they wait. If they stay long enough they're sure to see at least one member of the bald eagle family that has become famous for its roadside roost.
The routine began in early March, when word of the rare nest on FM2661 in Smith County southwest of Tyler began to spread.
State law normally prevents onlookers from getting closer than 1,000 feet to an eagle's nest. And fines for disturbing the birds while they're nesting run as high as $100,000 and one year in jail. But the nest's proximity to the highway has given birders unusually good access without breaking the law, said Chris Green, Smith County's game warden, adding that the nest belongs to one of only six breeding pairs in the Lake Palestine area.
From the day two eaglets began poking their heads up from the nest – a 6-foot-wide mass splayed at the top of a 60-foot pine tree – curious birders have been making daily pilgrimages. "It's been quite a spectacle," said Mr. Green, adding that at times, crowds have been "extreme."
On several occasions, Mr. Green said he's counted more than 100 people at the site, about a mile from the lake.
Some onlookers have even figured out how to make a profit from the roadside hours they have logged, from selling lemonade and cookies to offering digital photographs.
"You sort of get addicted," said Rachel Anderson, a Noonday resident who's taken her four children 15 or 20 times to see the nest. When the eagles were first learning to fly, her girls made nearly $20 selling lemonade at the site, she said.
Jerry Clark is a former business owner and amateur photographer who recently set up a Web site documenting the eagles' growth. Because he's seen setting up his tripod each day at the site, Mr. Clark tends to be the person visitors go to first for updates.
"It's gotten to be so personal with people out here. It's like a family," Mr. Clark said. "I've met more people out here than I did in 25 years of business."
The only thing more awing than the eagles on FM2661 might be the development of a social hierarchy among their admirers.
Like eager parents, "regulars" jockey for bragging rights to the eagles' firsts – signs of fledging, flight and feeding.
"Everybody has become possessive," said Mr. Clark, who has been involved in friendly photographic competition with another regular.
Tom Barber, a local resident, says he took the first pictures of the birds on March 19. He spends about four hours a day at the site. And because he lives closer to it than Mr. Clark does, he's often the first one there. Mr. Barber can point out a secondary nest the eagles built a quarter-mile from their main roost and the dead trees where they prefer to linger.
"There isn't much about these birds I don't now," he said as he tucked a wad of chewing tobacco behind his lip. Mr. Barber said he's skeptical about how well the eaglets' parents have taught them to hunt and fly. "I don't think they've got everything down pat," he said.
Most regulars try to coordinate their site visits with the eagles' feeding times – sunrise and sunset – when adult birds can most often be seen flying into the nest with fish or small pigs in their talons. It's also the time when crowds swell at the roadside.
On a recent weeknight, nearly 50 people, including four friends who drove from Dallas, ranging in age from 8 months to 80 years stopped to look at the nest over the course of two hours.
Ricky Maxi, a regional wildlife diversity biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said the adult eagles may have nested late or had to nest a second time after a failed attempt. Because bald eagles often reuse their nests, there is a good chance they'll be back next year, he said.
But Mr. Green, the game warden, said he hopes the eagles move on so traffic on the road will thin out. "If it continues, eventually someone's going to get hurt," he said.
Crowds flock to lookout near Tyler to see bird family's roost
By JESSICA LEEDER / The Dallas Morning News
NOONDAY, Texas – Every day, sometimes twice a day, strangers abandon their cars along a section of FM2661.
Toting binoculars, camcorders and tripods, they walk along the west side of the highway to the narrow strip of reddish dirt that has become their meeting place. They cluster in a loose order (those with cameras to the front, first-timers on the fringe). They face east and stare into a bush thick with pine and oak trees, hoping to catch a glimpse of this town's newest, wildest tourist attraction.
Then, they wait. If they stay long enough they're sure to see at least one member of the bald eagle family that has become famous for its roadside roost.
The routine began in early March, when word of the rare nest on FM2661 in Smith County southwest of Tyler began to spread.
State law normally prevents onlookers from getting closer than 1,000 feet to an eagle's nest. And fines for disturbing the birds while they're nesting run as high as $100,000 and one year in jail. But the nest's proximity to the highway has given birders unusually good access without breaking the law, said Chris Green, Smith County's game warden, adding that the nest belongs to one of only six breeding pairs in the Lake Palestine area.
From the day two eaglets began poking their heads up from the nest – a 6-foot-wide mass splayed at the top of a 60-foot pine tree – curious birders have been making daily pilgrimages. "It's been quite a spectacle," said Mr. Green, adding that at times, crowds have been "extreme."
On several occasions, Mr. Green said he's counted more than 100 people at the site, about a mile from the lake.
Some onlookers have even figured out how to make a profit from the roadside hours they have logged, from selling lemonade and cookies to offering digital photographs.
"You sort of get addicted," said Rachel Anderson, a Noonday resident who's taken her four children 15 or 20 times to see the nest. When the eagles were first learning to fly, her girls made nearly $20 selling lemonade at the site, she said.
Jerry Clark is a former business owner and amateur photographer who recently set up a Web site documenting the eagles' growth. Because he's seen setting up his tripod each day at the site, Mr. Clark tends to be the person visitors go to first for updates.
"It's gotten to be so personal with people out here. It's like a family," Mr. Clark said. "I've met more people out here than I did in 25 years of business."
The only thing more awing than the eagles on FM2661 might be the development of a social hierarchy among their admirers.
Like eager parents, "regulars" jockey for bragging rights to the eagles' firsts – signs of fledging, flight and feeding.
"Everybody has become possessive," said Mr. Clark, who has been involved in friendly photographic competition with another regular.
Tom Barber, a local resident, says he took the first pictures of the birds on March 19. He spends about four hours a day at the site. And because he lives closer to it than Mr. Clark does, he's often the first one there. Mr. Barber can point out a secondary nest the eagles built a quarter-mile from their main roost and the dead trees where they prefer to linger.
"There isn't much about these birds I don't now," he said as he tucked a wad of chewing tobacco behind his lip. Mr. Barber said he's skeptical about how well the eaglets' parents have taught them to hunt and fly. "I don't think they've got everything down pat," he said.
Most regulars try to coordinate their site visits with the eagles' feeding times – sunrise and sunset – when adult birds can most often be seen flying into the nest with fish or small pigs in their talons. It's also the time when crowds swell at the roadside.
On a recent weeknight, nearly 50 people, including four friends who drove from Dallas, ranging in age from 8 months to 80 years stopped to look at the nest over the course of two hours.
Ricky Maxi, a regional wildlife diversity biologist for Texas Parks and Wildlife, said the adult eagles may have nested late or had to nest a second time after a failed attempt. Because bald eagles often reuse their nests, there is a good chance they'll be back next year, he said.
But Mr. Green, the game warden, said he hopes the eagles move on so traffic on the road will thin out. "If it continues, eventually someone's going to get hurt," he said.
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TexasStooge
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Perry sticking close to base
Governor embraces social conservatism, minus some rhetoric
By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – As the pastor spoke, Gov. Rick Perry sat a few seats away with his hands in his lap.
"Homosexuals are anything but happy and anything but fine," said Ohio evangelist Rod Parsley, who called gay sex "a veritable breeding ground of disease" and said lesbians can expect to live only to age 45 in the United States.
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt later sought to distance the governor from the white-hot rhetoric at Sunday's bill-signing arranged by the governor. But she also reasserted Mr. Perry's opposition to gay marriage and abortion.
"People know where he stands," said Ms. Walt. "What others who participated in that event chose to say was entirely up to them."
Political analysts say the episode underscores a dilemma for the Republican governor as he seeks re-election next year. Mr. Perry's active pursuit of social conservatives could attract new voters but come at a cost – alienating moderates uncomfortable with the religious right.
"Certainly there is an invitation to a backlash here," said Bruce Buchanan, a government professor at the University of Texas.
"But I think he's concluded that the potential costs are worth the risk, especially if he gets into a primary with somebody like Kay Bailey Hutchison who was going to take all those moderates away from him anyway."
Ms. Hutchison, who is considering challenging Mr. Perry in the 2006 Republican primary, opposes gay marriage but is perceived as more moderate on abortion.
The Perry political team has sought to discourage Ms. Hutchison from entering the race and have taken steps to portray the governor as the more conservative candidate.
Christian network
In addition to showcasing the bill-signing at a church school in Fort Worth, Mr. Perry is helping develop an unprecedented network of Christian pastors to register at least 300,000 new "values voters" and get churches involved in politics.
Mr. Parsley was on the program with Mr. Perry at the first meeting of the so-called Texas Restoration Project that drew 500 pastors to Austin last month. The governor and top members of his administration were actively involved in the event.
Dave Carney, the governor's chief political adviser, said he sees little downside to Mr. Perry's public identification with religious conservatives and their issues.
"The people who criticize are the people who, for whatever reason, don't agree with his policy positions," said Mr. Carney. "They can't understand why people who have conservative values want to get into the public square. Sometimes you're known by your enemies."
As a measure of the highly charged environment, Mr. Perry came under fire after suggesting at last week's bill-signing that Texas gays and lesbians go elsewhere if they want to be married.
Asked by a reporter what he would tell gay and lesbian veterans returning from Iraq who want to wed, Mr. Perry said, "If there is some other state that has a more lenient view than Texas, then maybe that's a better place for them to live."
Ms. Walt said the governor was simply stating the fact that Texas law does not permit gay marriage. Gay-rights activists accused the governor of intolerance.
"It was like he told us we had to move out of this state," said Johnny Bennett, a 42-year-old gay man from Mesquite who protested the bill signing. "To me, that statement will do nothing but fester hate. It's going to cause more people to go out and say, 'If you don't like it, leave.' "
Dr. Buchanan said the governor's decision to actively court religious conservatives reflects the strategy employed by the President Bush to boost turnout among his political base in the 2004 election.
"Those are the ones he needs to mobilize and not worry about the middle so much, which might not turn out as well and which, in any case, are going to be picked off by the opposition," he said.
Nonvoting church-goers
Perry's political camp calculates there are nearly 1 million Texas Republicans who attend church at least once a week and don't vote in GOP primaries. Recent Republican primaries in nonpresidential years have averaged about 600,000 voters, and the governor's political advisers believe efforts to boost turnout by active churchgoers will benefit Mr. Perry's re-election.
Ms. Hutchison's political campaign have touted her conservative credentials, including her support of parental consent before minors can get abortions, opposition to gay marriage and involvement in winning confirmation of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Ms. Hutchison said last week she is "in the homestretch of making a decision" whether to challenge Mr. Perry.
Kathy Miller, president of the progressive Texas Freedom Network, said the governor's public bill-signing at a church school and his involvement in a church-based voter-registration drive sends a bad signal to people who don't share the agenda of religious conservatives.
"You have a governor whose only showing respect for the conservative Christians whose votes he needs to win reelection, not the beliefs of all people of faith in this state," she said.
"Secondly, you have this blatant disrespect for our sacred spaces, turning them into mere campaign props, and that is a huge downside for Texas," she said.
Mr. Carney said the Fort Worth bill-signing was a prelude to Mr. Perry's public support for the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot to ban gay marriage.
"This will be an important battle," he said, and a measure of who will vote in the March GOP primary.
"People who turn out Nov. 8 to support of the marriage amendment will clearly be potential Perry supporters," he said, "and it will be incumbent on our campaign to go out, talk to them and turn them out to vote in March."
Staff writer Jessica Leeder in Dallas contributed to this report.
Governor embraces social conservatism, minus some rhetoric
By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – As the pastor spoke, Gov. Rick Perry sat a few seats away with his hands in his lap.
"Homosexuals are anything but happy and anything but fine," said Ohio evangelist Rod Parsley, who called gay sex "a veritable breeding ground of disease" and said lesbians can expect to live only to age 45 in the United States.
Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt later sought to distance the governor from the white-hot rhetoric at Sunday's bill-signing arranged by the governor. But she also reasserted Mr. Perry's opposition to gay marriage and abortion.
"People know where he stands," said Ms. Walt. "What others who participated in that event chose to say was entirely up to them."
Political analysts say the episode underscores a dilemma for the Republican governor as he seeks re-election next year. Mr. Perry's active pursuit of social conservatives could attract new voters but come at a cost – alienating moderates uncomfortable with the religious right.
"Certainly there is an invitation to a backlash here," said Bruce Buchanan, a government professor at the University of Texas.
"But I think he's concluded that the potential costs are worth the risk, especially if he gets into a primary with somebody like Kay Bailey Hutchison who was going to take all those moderates away from him anyway."
Ms. Hutchison, who is considering challenging Mr. Perry in the 2006 Republican primary, opposes gay marriage but is perceived as more moderate on abortion.
The Perry political team has sought to discourage Ms. Hutchison from entering the race and have taken steps to portray the governor as the more conservative candidate.
Christian network
In addition to showcasing the bill-signing at a church school in Fort Worth, Mr. Perry is helping develop an unprecedented network of Christian pastors to register at least 300,000 new "values voters" and get churches involved in politics.
Mr. Parsley was on the program with Mr. Perry at the first meeting of the so-called Texas Restoration Project that drew 500 pastors to Austin last month. The governor and top members of his administration were actively involved in the event.
Dave Carney, the governor's chief political adviser, said he sees little downside to Mr. Perry's public identification with religious conservatives and their issues.
"The people who criticize are the people who, for whatever reason, don't agree with his policy positions," said Mr. Carney. "They can't understand why people who have conservative values want to get into the public square. Sometimes you're known by your enemies."
As a measure of the highly charged environment, Mr. Perry came under fire after suggesting at last week's bill-signing that Texas gays and lesbians go elsewhere if they want to be married.
Asked by a reporter what he would tell gay and lesbian veterans returning from Iraq who want to wed, Mr. Perry said, "If there is some other state that has a more lenient view than Texas, then maybe that's a better place for them to live."
Ms. Walt said the governor was simply stating the fact that Texas law does not permit gay marriage. Gay-rights activists accused the governor of intolerance.
"It was like he told us we had to move out of this state," said Johnny Bennett, a 42-year-old gay man from Mesquite who protested the bill signing. "To me, that statement will do nothing but fester hate. It's going to cause more people to go out and say, 'If you don't like it, leave.' "
Dr. Buchanan said the governor's decision to actively court religious conservatives reflects the strategy employed by the President Bush to boost turnout among his political base in the 2004 election.
"Those are the ones he needs to mobilize and not worry about the middle so much, which might not turn out as well and which, in any case, are going to be picked off by the opposition," he said.
Nonvoting church-goers
Perry's political camp calculates there are nearly 1 million Texas Republicans who attend church at least once a week and don't vote in GOP primaries. Recent Republican primaries in nonpresidential years have averaged about 600,000 voters, and the governor's political advisers believe efforts to boost turnout by active churchgoers will benefit Mr. Perry's re-election.
Ms. Hutchison's political campaign have touted her conservative credentials, including her support of parental consent before minors can get abortions, opposition to gay marriage and involvement in winning confirmation of President Bush's judicial nominees.
Ms. Hutchison said last week she is "in the homestretch of making a decision" whether to challenge Mr. Perry.
Kathy Miller, president of the progressive Texas Freedom Network, said the governor's public bill-signing at a church school and his involvement in a church-based voter-registration drive sends a bad signal to people who don't share the agenda of religious conservatives.
"You have a governor whose only showing respect for the conservative Christians whose votes he needs to win reelection, not the beliefs of all people of faith in this state," she said.
"Secondly, you have this blatant disrespect for our sacred spaces, turning them into mere campaign props, and that is a huge downside for Texas," she said.
Mr. Carney said the Fort Worth bill-signing was a prelude to Mr. Perry's public support for the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot to ban gay marriage.
"This will be an important battle," he said, and a measure of who will vote in the March GOP primary.
"People who turn out Nov. 8 to support of the marriage amendment will clearly be potential Perry supporters," he said, "and it will be incumbent on our campaign to go out, talk to them and turn them out to vote in March."
Staff writer Jessica Leeder in Dallas contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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State: Looks like teachers get raise
TEA still reviewing, but thousands may benefit from obscure provision
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – It's looking more like thousands of Texas teachers are in for a raise because of a little-noticed provision in the state budget.
John Cole, president of the Texas Federation of Teachers, argued to the state education chief this week that a tweak to the per-pupil funding formula for schools warrants an automatic increase in state minimum pay standards.
Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency, said Friday that "we're still reviewing it, but I think John is going to turn out to be accurate."
The federation estimates that about 150 of Texas' roughly 1,100 school districts pay the minimum allowable under state law. For beginning teachers, that's $24,240; for teachers with 20 or more years, it's $40,800.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, most districts' starting pay approaches $40,000.
But in rural or very small districts, teachers could be looking forward to a raise of 3 percent to 7 percent, the federation estimates.
Teacher pay everywhere could be influenced by the rising minimum, Ms. Ratcliffe said, but "budgets are so tight this year that they may find that very difficult to do in a lot of districts."
The state has not raised its minimum teacher pay scale since the 1999-2000 school year.
Ms. Ratcliffe said that during the 1997 legislative session, then-Sen. Bill Ratliff created a budget clause that mandated an increase in minimum salaries each time school funding was increased. The mechanism kicked in that year, the federation confirmed, but it hasn't since.
The reason, Ms. Ratcliffe explained, is that the state waived the requirement in 1999 and 2001 – with the blessing of teacher groups – because the Legislature raised either salaries or benefits.
The requirement was again waived in 2003, mostly because the budget was tight and lawmakers had no extra money for anything, she said.
This time, however, the waiver was not included in the Legislative Budget Board's initial draft of the 2005-06 budget.
TEA still reviewing, but thousands may benefit from obscure provision
By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – It's looking more like thousands of Texas teachers are in for a raise because of a little-noticed provision in the state budget.
John Cole, president of the Texas Federation of Teachers, argued to the state education chief this week that a tweak to the per-pupil funding formula for schools warrants an automatic increase in state minimum pay standards.
Debbie Graves Ratcliffe, a spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency, said Friday that "we're still reviewing it, but I think John is going to turn out to be accurate."
The federation estimates that about 150 of Texas' roughly 1,100 school districts pay the minimum allowable under state law. For beginning teachers, that's $24,240; for teachers with 20 or more years, it's $40,800.
In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, most districts' starting pay approaches $40,000.
But in rural or very small districts, teachers could be looking forward to a raise of 3 percent to 7 percent, the federation estimates.
Teacher pay everywhere could be influenced by the rising minimum, Ms. Ratcliffe said, but "budgets are so tight this year that they may find that very difficult to do in a lot of districts."
The state has not raised its minimum teacher pay scale since the 1999-2000 school year.
Ms. Ratcliffe said that during the 1997 legislative session, then-Sen. Bill Ratliff created a budget clause that mandated an increase in minimum salaries each time school funding was increased. The mechanism kicked in that year, the federation confirmed, but it hasn't since.
The reason, Ms. Ratcliffe explained, is that the state waived the requirement in 1999 and 2001 – with the blessing of teacher groups – because the Legislature raised either salaries or benefits.
The requirement was again waived in 2003, mostly because the budget was tight and lawmakers had no extra money for anything, she said.
This time, however, the waiver was not included in the Legislative Budget Board's initial draft of the 2005-06 budget.
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