Man clings to life after hit by police car
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A South Dallas man is clinging to life Friday night at Baylor University Medical Center after being hit by a police car.
The accident happened southeast of Fair Park at the intersection of Dixon and Audrey. Witnesses said a squad car hit the victim as he was crossing the street.
Dallas police are investigating the incident.
News from the Lone Star State
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TexasStooge
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Police identify man hit by patrol car
Dallas: 40-year-old struck by officer answering call
By PAUL MEYER and JAY PARSONS / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police continued their investigation Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Dallas man who died after he was hit by a patrol car.
Police identified the victim as L.V. Daniels Jr., 40, and the officer involved as Ken Wolverton. Officer Wolverton will remain on active duty during the investigation, Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez said Saturday.
"It will be investigated internally, but it will be up to his direct superiors to determine if they want to restrict him to any sort of desk duty or something like that," she said.
Witnesses said the incident occurred about 8 p.m. Friday as Mr. Daniels was leaving his parents' home, about 100 feet from the accident site on Dixon Avenue near the Bourquin Street intersection.
Officer Wolverton was responding to a disturbance call, but witnesses said that neither the patrol car's siren nor emergency lights was activated. The patrol car swerved past one car on the two-lane road and struck Mr. Daniels, witnesses said.
"He was speeding with no lights, no nothing," said Alton Marshall, 38, who witnessed the incident from the Dixon Grocery parking lot.
Mr. Daniels was dead upon arrival at Baylor University Medical Center.
Cpl. Hernandez did not address the details of the incident but said the investigation would be handled by the Police Department's traffic unit. She said the department's internal affairs unit could get involved if it is determined Officer Wolverton violated any department policies.
Ten police officers were at the intersection Saturday morning investigating the scene and conducting measurements.
"They took a lot of measurements last night, but it was after dark, so of course they want to go back during the day to see if there was anything they might have missed," Cpl. Hernandez said.
Relatives described Mr. Daniels as warm and friendly. He worked in construction and painting, said his father, L.V. Daniels Sr.
"He was a beautiful, churchgoing young man," said his mother, Lilly Daniels.
His father concurred.
"He was just a good person," his father said. "Everybody liked him."
Dallas: 40-year-old struck by officer answering call
By PAUL MEYER and JAY PARSONS / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas police continued their investigation Saturday into the circumstances surrounding the death of a Dallas man who died after he was hit by a patrol car.
Police identified the victim as L.V. Daniels Jr., 40, and the officer involved as Ken Wolverton. Officer Wolverton will remain on active duty during the investigation, Senior Cpl. Donna Hernandez said Saturday.
"It will be investigated internally, but it will be up to his direct superiors to determine if they want to restrict him to any sort of desk duty or something like that," she said.
Witnesses said the incident occurred about 8 p.m. Friday as Mr. Daniels was leaving his parents' home, about 100 feet from the accident site on Dixon Avenue near the Bourquin Street intersection.
Officer Wolverton was responding to a disturbance call, but witnesses said that neither the patrol car's siren nor emergency lights was activated. The patrol car swerved past one car on the two-lane road and struck Mr. Daniels, witnesses said.
"He was speeding with no lights, no nothing," said Alton Marshall, 38, who witnessed the incident from the Dixon Grocery parking lot.
Mr. Daniels was dead upon arrival at Baylor University Medical Center.
Cpl. Hernandez did not address the details of the incident but said the investigation would be handled by the Police Department's traffic unit. She said the department's internal affairs unit could get involved if it is determined Officer Wolverton violated any department policies.
Ten police officers were at the intersection Saturday morning investigating the scene and conducting measurements.
"They took a lot of measurements last night, but it was after dark, so of course they want to go back during the day to see if there was anything they might have missed," Cpl. Hernandez said.
Relatives described Mr. Daniels as warm and friendly. He worked in construction and painting, said his father, L.V. Daniels Sr.
"He was a beautiful, churchgoing young man," said his mother, Lilly Daniels.
His father concurred.
"He was just a good person," his father said. "Everybody liked him."
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rainstorm
[quote="TexasStooge"]Man clings to life after hit by police car
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A South Dallas man is clinging to life Friday night at Baylor University Medical Center after being hit by a police car.
The accident happened southeast of Fair Park at the intersection of Dixon and Audrey. Witnesses said a squad car hit the victim as he was crossing the street.
Dallas police are investigating the incident.[/quote
a horrible situation
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A South Dallas man is clinging to life Friday night at Baylor University Medical Center after being hit by a police car.
The accident happened southeast of Fair Park at the intersection of Dixon and Audrey. Witnesses said a squad car hit the victim as he was crossing the street.
Dallas police are investigating the incident.[/quote
a horrible situation
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Should failing TAKS keep kids from commencement?
Irving ISD: Survey asks if students should be able to participate
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - High school students in Irving who didn't pass all sections of the Texas exit exam weren't allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies last year.
The school district is now reconsidering that policy. The district intends to poll parents, teachers and students on whether students who fail the test but complete all their course requirements should be allowed to take part in commencement. The students still would not receive diplomas.
Last year's graduating class was the first to have to pass all parts of the new TAKS exam, which is said to be more difficult than the TAAS. Those who don't pass the TAKS exit exam can continue to retake the test until they pass or pursue a GED.
"We're now reviewing the policy to see if we have to make a change," said Lane Ladewig, director of campus operations. "It's a tougher test and a more rigorous test."
Whit Johnstone, the district's director of planning, research and evaluation, said 65 students took either the TAKS or TAAS exit exams in July. That indicates they had not passed the test in time for June graduation ceremonies.
Some students had already ordered caps and gowns and sent out graduation invitations, only to learn they had failed the test.
District officials said no when Michel Sanchez, an English teacher at The Academy, asked last year to allow students who failed the tests to participate in graduation. The existing policy states that "participation in graduation activities is a privilege, not a right."
But it appears the district may be softening its stance.
"This TAKS test is very hard, particularly the science and math tests," Superintendent Jack Singley said Wednesday at a Council of PTAs meeting. "I think when a kid finishes high school, and we're telling him he can't graduate because he didn't pass, he feels like he has no value."
The majority of area school districts, including Dallas, do not allow students who haven't passed the exit exam to participate in graduation. But some, such as Grand Prairie, Grapevine-Colleyville and Frisco, allow students to participate if they have completed all coursework requirements.
Ms. Sanchez, who has tutored students after school in preparation for the TAKS, said many of the students not passing are recent immigrants who have a difficult time with the vocabulary.
"My greatest concern is that the public thinks that this is a basic skills test, and it is not – it is very difficult," Ms. Sanchez said. "These students should still be recognized for earning all their credits. They've been in our system, and they really want to walk across that stage."
School board President Ruben Franco said he sympathizes with students who don't pass.
"I feel for these kids – they're having to pass all these tests at the last minute," he said. "But I know the first thing you will hear from people who are really smart, whose kids are doing really well, is 'Why are you lowering the standards?' "
Irving ISD: Survey asks if students should be able to participate
By KATHERINE LEAL UNMUTH / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas - High school students in Irving who didn't pass all sections of the Texas exit exam weren't allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies last year.
The school district is now reconsidering that policy. The district intends to poll parents, teachers and students on whether students who fail the test but complete all their course requirements should be allowed to take part in commencement. The students still would not receive diplomas.
Last year's graduating class was the first to have to pass all parts of the new TAKS exam, which is said to be more difficult than the TAAS. Those who don't pass the TAKS exit exam can continue to retake the test until they pass or pursue a GED.
"We're now reviewing the policy to see if we have to make a change," said Lane Ladewig, director of campus operations. "It's a tougher test and a more rigorous test."
Whit Johnstone, the district's director of planning, research and evaluation, said 65 students took either the TAKS or TAAS exit exams in July. That indicates they had not passed the test in time for June graduation ceremonies.
Some students had already ordered caps and gowns and sent out graduation invitations, only to learn they had failed the test.
District officials said no when Michel Sanchez, an English teacher at The Academy, asked last year to allow students who failed the tests to participate in graduation. The existing policy states that "participation in graduation activities is a privilege, not a right."
But it appears the district may be softening its stance.
"This TAKS test is very hard, particularly the science and math tests," Superintendent Jack Singley said Wednesday at a Council of PTAs meeting. "I think when a kid finishes high school, and we're telling him he can't graduate because he didn't pass, he feels like he has no value."
The majority of area school districts, including Dallas, do not allow students who haven't passed the exit exam to participate in graduation. But some, such as Grand Prairie, Grapevine-Colleyville and Frisco, allow students to participate if they have completed all coursework requirements.
Ms. Sanchez, who has tutored students after school in preparation for the TAKS, said many of the students not passing are recent immigrants who have a difficult time with the vocabulary.
"My greatest concern is that the public thinks that this is a basic skills test, and it is not – it is very difficult," Ms. Sanchez said. "These students should still be recognized for earning all their credits. They've been in our system, and they really want to walk across that stage."
School board President Ruben Franco said he sympathizes with students who don't pass.
"I feel for these kids – they're having to pass all these tests at the last minute," he said. "But I know the first thing you will hear from people who are really smart, whose kids are doing really well, is 'Why are you lowering the standards?' "
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183 expansion could be bad for business
Irving: 183 expansion will help traffic but displace businesses
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – Located next to bustling State Highway 183, Mason's Pharmacy is proud of its loyal customers and personalized service.
But the pharmacy will eventually have to move out of its longtime home.
The highway, which runs past D/FW International Airport, Irving Mall and Texas Stadium, is scheduled to undergo a massive expansion. Dozens of businesses will be forced to find new homes, slim down their operations or shut down.
There are mixed emotions along the highway. While many business owners and residents see the need to relieve congestion on one of the city's main arteries, they're concerned about the impact on uprooted businesses.
Edrie Wade, a customer at Mason's, isn't happy about the expansion.
"I dread it," she said. "It's going to be a mess."
The project, however, is far from a reality. It's not clear when construction will begin or how long it will last.
Texas Department of Transportation officials are still tracking down the more than $900 million they need.
In Irving, the six-lane highway will be widened up to 12 lanes, state transportation officials said.
The stretch of highway in Irving is lined with churches, apartments, homes and myriad businesses, including car dealerships and restaurants.
Daily traffic volumes on the highway are 20 to 50 percent over capacity, the transportation agency estimates. Nearly 217,000 cars travel daily along the highway between State Highway 360 and Loop 12, according to a 2000 estimate. In 2029, that number is expected to climb to over 347,000 automobiles.
Toyota of Irving will likely have to shut down, says the owner, Vernon Schoemaker. The highway widening won't eat up all of his property, but he says he won't have enough land to operate.
Mr. Schoemaker, who moved his dealership to the highway in 1978, says company guidelines restrict him from simply picking up and staking out new land.
"I don't know where I would go," he said. "I'd be out of business."
The city would be better off keeping businesses that line the highway, Mr. Schoemaker says, because they contribute more money to the city's tax base.
But the owner says he hasn't given up. He's talking with Mayor Herbert Gears to try to salvage the dealership.
Mr. Gears sees the need for an improved highway but hopes some businesses can be saved.
"I don't believe that we should so hastily wipe out such large portions of our commercial tax base," he said. "If we can avoid that and have the most minimal impact as possible on homeowners, that's where we're going to go."
Back at Mason's, co-owner Chris Pittman plans to move in the next few years to a new location nearby. He's looking forward to a larger space with better roadway access.
"We frankly don't want to be in the midst of that construction," he said. "We don't want to be here when it starts."
In fact, many residents are looking forward to the expansion. At a forum in the spring, one resident complained that the highway is worn out and said the road needs to be expanded if the city wants to grow, according to a meeting transcript.
It's hard to please everybody with such a big project, but the city has had "good general acceptance of the project," said Jim Cline, the city's public works and transportation director.
But he's aware of the concerns. Patricia Boone Grego, who lives a couple of blocks from the highway, is concerned about the expansion's impact on neighborhoods, particularly noise levels.
"I'm fed up with people who don't live in a place determining the outcome of the area," she said.
Irving: 183 expansion will help traffic but displace businesses
By ERIC AASEN / The Dallas Morning News
IRVING, Texas – Located next to bustling State Highway 183, Mason's Pharmacy is proud of its loyal customers and personalized service.
But the pharmacy will eventually have to move out of its longtime home.
The highway, which runs past D/FW International Airport, Irving Mall and Texas Stadium, is scheduled to undergo a massive expansion. Dozens of businesses will be forced to find new homes, slim down their operations or shut down.
There are mixed emotions along the highway. While many business owners and residents see the need to relieve congestion on one of the city's main arteries, they're concerned about the impact on uprooted businesses.
Edrie Wade, a customer at Mason's, isn't happy about the expansion.
"I dread it," she said. "It's going to be a mess."
The project, however, is far from a reality. It's not clear when construction will begin or how long it will last.
Texas Department of Transportation officials are still tracking down the more than $900 million they need.
In Irving, the six-lane highway will be widened up to 12 lanes, state transportation officials said.
The stretch of highway in Irving is lined with churches, apartments, homes and myriad businesses, including car dealerships and restaurants.
Daily traffic volumes on the highway are 20 to 50 percent over capacity, the transportation agency estimates. Nearly 217,000 cars travel daily along the highway between State Highway 360 and Loop 12, according to a 2000 estimate. In 2029, that number is expected to climb to over 347,000 automobiles.
Toyota of Irving will likely have to shut down, says the owner, Vernon Schoemaker. The highway widening won't eat up all of his property, but he says he won't have enough land to operate.
Mr. Schoemaker, who moved his dealership to the highway in 1978, says company guidelines restrict him from simply picking up and staking out new land.
"I don't know where I would go," he said. "I'd be out of business."
The city would be better off keeping businesses that line the highway, Mr. Schoemaker says, because they contribute more money to the city's tax base.
But the owner says he hasn't given up. He's talking with Mayor Herbert Gears to try to salvage the dealership.
Mr. Gears sees the need for an improved highway but hopes some businesses can be saved.
"I don't believe that we should so hastily wipe out such large portions of our commercial tax base," he said. "If we can avoid that and have the most minimal impact as possible on homeowners, that's where we're going to go."
Back at Mason's, co-owner Chris Pittman plans to move in the next few years to a new location nearby. He's looking forward to a larger space with better roadway access.
"We frankly don't want to be in the midst of that construction," he said. "We don't want to be here when it starts."
In fact, many residents are looking forward to the expansion. At a forum in the spring, one resident complained that the highway is worn out and said the road needs to be expanded if the city wants to grow, according to a meeting transcript.
It's hard to please everybody with such a big project, but the city has had "good general acceptance of the project," said Jim Cline, the city's public works and transportation director.
But he's aware of the concerns. Patricia Boone Grego, who lives a couple of blocks from the highway, is concerned about the expansion's impact on neighborhoods, particularly noise levels.
"I'm fed up with people who don't live in a place determining the outcome of the area," she said.
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TexasStooge
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Suspected Arlington rapist caught
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
ARLINGTON, Texas - Police caught a suspected serial rapist Monday that allegedly was involved in several attacks of Arlington women.
The suspect, Michael Anthony Tristan, is a registered high-risk sex offender after an incident involving a 10-year-old boy in Houston. Now, police are investigating whether the man is also linked to recent assaults on women in North Texas.
All of the alleged attacks happened within two miles of one another in Arlington. One reported attack occurred Sept. 19th on Quail Run Road. On Sept. 12, two other attacks were reported, which included one on Landers Lane and the other on East Timberview. Landers Lane was previously the site of another reported attack on Sept. 5.
Of the four incidents in question, police have arrested the suspect on two of the cases. The other two cases are still under investigation, and police said there could be more.
"He had given information, apparently to someone down in Harris County, that he was relocating to Dallas," said Christy Gilfour, an Arlington Police Department spokeswoman. "And [he] did not, as far as we know, make any attempt to register here in Arlington where [he] is actually staying."
Police said he had only been in Arlington about a month before he was suspected to come in contact with two of the women.
One of the women said he attacked her inside an apartment and the other reported that he tried to assault her inside her town home, police said.
"There's always the possibility, unfortunately, that there could be some victims who have not yet come forward," Gilfour said.
While police are encouraging other possible victims to come forward, rape counselors said that may be hard for some victims.
"Many times we hear it's just difficult because fear of the unknown," said Becka Meier, a rape counselor. "They don't know what will happen to them once they make a report."
Meier, who works with sexual assault victims in Arlington, said victims usually find a form of release if they do decide to make a report.
"If it's possible to come forward, we can encourage people so that they can feel like they have got some ownership in saying this isn't okay," she said.
Police said they are grateful for one of the woman who came forward in the Tristan case, which helped them link a couple of other investigations.
"...It was due to that victim's courage and coming forward that we were able to make an arrest in her case, and another one," Gilfour said.
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
ARLINGTON, Texas - Police caught a suspected serial rapist Monday that allegedly was involved in several attacks of Arlington women.
The suspect, Michael Anthony Tristan, is a registered high-risk sex offender after an incident involving a 10-year-old boy in Houston. Now, police are investigating whether the man is also linked to recent assaults on women in North Texas.
All of the alleged attacks happened within two miles of one another in Arlington. One reported attack occurred Sept. 19th on Quail Run Road. On Sept. 12, two other attacks were reported, which included one on Landers Lane and the other on East Timberview. Landers Lane was previously the site of another reported attack on Sept. 5.
Of the four incidents in question, police have arrested the suspect on two of the cases. The other two cases are still under investigation, and police said there could be more.
"He had given information, apparently to someone down in Harris County, that he was relocating to Dallas," said Christy Gilfour, an Arlington Police Department spokeswoman. "And [he] did not, as far as we know, make any attempt to register here in Arlington where [he] is actually staying."
Police said he had only been in Arlington about a month before he was suspected to come in contact with two of the women.
One of the women said he attacked her inside an apartment and the other reported that he tried to assault her inside her town home, police said.
"There's always the possibility, unfortunately, that there could be some victims who have not yet come forward," Gilfour said.
While police are encouraging other possible victims to come forward, rape counselors said that may be hard for some victims.
"Many times we hear it's just difficult because fear of the unknown," said Becka Meier, a rape counselor. "They don't know what will happen to them once they make a report."
Meier, who works with sexual assault victims in Arlington, said victims usually find a form of release if they do decide to make a report.
"If it's possible to come forward, we can encourage people so that they can feel like they have got some ownership in saying this isn't okay," she said.
Police said they are grateful for one of the woman who came forward in the Tristan case, which helped them link a couple of other investigations.
"...It was due to that victim's courage and coming forward that we were able to make an arrest in her case, and another one," Gilfour said.
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TexasStooge
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Instant DVDs let fans relive concerts
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA ABC 8
ADDISON, Texas - Last month in Addison, new technology allowed concert-goers at a George Clinton concert to receive the gift of reliving the concert for free.
Each fan in the packed audience received a DVD of the concert just minutes after the last set.
"..That was fantastic," said concert attendee Candice Beck. "From what I understand, this is the first time it's happened."
The DVD-making process, developed by Richardson company DiscLive, uses new high-speed dubbing technologies and proprietary software.
"A year ago, a lot of this would not have been possible," said Zavh Bair, DiscLive CEO. "DVD burning speeds were just not up to par as to what they are now..."
The same technology that has Hollywood worried about pirating and copyright infringement, has allowed DiscLive to produce concert DVDs at the actual live show.
"A DVD the night of the show, I'm excited," said Misty Rhynes, another concert concert-goer. "I want to go home and watch it."
While the technology may have those in Hollywood worried, it's perfect for the live music industry. Clinton, or any participating artist, receive a share of the proceeds and Disc-Live retain no rights to the master recordings
The company spokesmen called it a better souvenir than a t-shirt or CD.
"Basically, it gives people the real opportunity to take home the experience," Bair said.
So far, fans have expressed equal excitement about the new technology.
"I'm sure it's gonna be great, just bringing it all back again," said one Clinton attendee. "I mean, you put this on and you will have a funky party in your house again, and again and again."
By JEFF BRADY / WFAA ABC 8
ADDISON, Texas - Last month in Addison, new technology allowed concert-goers at a George Clinton concert to receive the gift of reliving the concert for free.
Each fan in the packed audience received a DVD of the concert just minutes after the last set.
"..That was fantastic," said concert attendee Candice Beck. "From what I understand, this is the first time it's happened."
The DVD-making process, developed by Richardson company DiscLive, uses new high-speed dubbing technologies and proprietary software.
"A year ago, a lot of this would not have been possible," said Zavh Bair, DiscLive CEO. "DVD burning speeds were just not up to par as to what they are now..."
The same technology that has Hollywood worried about pirating and copyright infringement, has allowed DiscLive to produce concert DVDs at the actual live show.
"A DVD the night of the show, I'm excited," said Misty Rhynes, another concert concert-goer. "I want to go home and watch it."
While the technology may have those in Hollywood worried, it's perfect for the live music industry. Clinton, or any participating artist, receive a share of the proceeds and Disc-Live retain no rights to the master recordings
The company spokesmen called it a better souvenir than a t-shirt or CD.
"Basically, it gives people the real opportunity to take home the experience," Bair said.
So far, fans have expressed equal excitement about the new technology.
"I'm sure it's gonna be great, just bringing it all back again," said one Clinton attendee. "I mean, you put this on and you will have a funky party in your house again, and again and again."
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TexasStooge
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County budget not business as usual
Rare tax hike would boost staff for DA, Sheriff's Department
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County commissioners plan to approve a most unusual document today – a new $700 million budget that calls for a rare 5 percent tax rate increase, steep salary raises and the addition of almost 300 new county positions.
For well over a decade, commissioners have made a habit of cutting the tax rate, freezing salaries and slashing staff. So the 2006 budget, up for a vote today, is a striking departure.
Much of the effort is to boost the Dallas County Sheriff's Department staff to bring the county jail back into compliance with state regulations. In addition, significant pay raises for lawyers in the district attorney's office are designed to help retain staff and attract applicants.
"Nobody likes to raise taxes, but District Attorney Bill Hill and Sheriff Lupe Valdez have made compelling arguments," Commissioner Mike Cantrell said. "We've historically made cuts in our departments over the years. That's how we were able to cut taxes. But at a certain point you end up cutting too much."
If commissioners approve the tax rate increase today, it would be only the second tax rate hike in more than a decade. The proposed new rate is 21.39 cents per $100 in assessed property value, which would mean a tax increase of $11 on a $139,000 home, the average value in the county, taking into consideration the 20 percent homestead exemption.
Mr. Cantrell said a 15 percent pay raise for county prosecutors would keep good staff members from jumping to other counties that pay more.
"If we're losing top prosecutors, the only way to address it is through pay," Mr. Cantrell said.
New DA posts
Besides the raise, the district attorney will get 23 new positions, including 12 slots for two new criminal district courts, three family violence attorneys, a civil attorney and a capital murder attorney.
District attorney spokeswoman Rachel Horton said Mr. Hill was "very appreciative of the commissioners for recognizing the urgency of the criminal justice needs facing the county."
The pay raises, she said, sends employees "the message that we value their hard work and are willing to invest in them so we don't lose them."
More than 120 of the new positions will go to the Sheriff's Department. The state agency that monitors jails gave the Dallas facility a failing grade this year, in part because there were too few staffers to handle the jail population. The state requires a jail guard for every 48 inmates.
The budget includes 33 new guard positions to bring the jail into compliance. There are also 46 new positions to run the Decker jail facility, an overflow jail that was reopened a few months ago because the county jail population has risen to about 7,000.
The Sheriff's Department will also get 43 new positions, phased in over the year, to boost highway patrols, so municipal police departments can focus on neighborhood crime prevention.
Sgt. Don Peritz, Sheriff's Department spokesman, said Sheriff Valdez was "very pleased the open lines of communication with the commissioners resulted in adding much-needed personnel and much-needed pay raises."
Commissioner John Wiley Price said he thinks the additional staff will be enough to bring the jail into compliance. He said he expects high overtime costs will drop by adding the full-time positions. It costs the county $250,000 a month in overtime to open each floor of the Decker overflow jail.
County budget director Ryan Brown said the county has spent $6.2 million in overtime for the current fiscal year, and most was logged by sheriff's employees. The budget for the 2006 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, projects a $4.2 million drop in overtime.
Planning for raises
Commissioners are also bucking past behavior by handing out big pay raises. The budget includes a 5 percent pay raise for all county civilian employees at a cost of $6.7 million.
In addition, law enforcement staff – jailers, sheriff's deputies and constable staff – will get a 10 percent raise, plus their standard step increases that are based on years of service. That will cost an additional $8.8 million.
Finally, the 15 percent pay hike for lawyers in the district attorney's office and public defender's office will cost $2.8 million.
About 60 percent of the general operating budget is devoted to salaries for the county's 5,000 employees. The new positions and pay raises will boost that part of the budget 12 percent.
"I'm all right with all those additional staff positions," County Judge Margaret Keliher said. "A lot of them need to go to the Sheriff's Department because we need to get the jail back into compliance."
She said the pay raises might help recruit people for the newly created openings. County officials have difficulty filling jail guard positions in particular. The Sheriff's Department has 30 vacancies.
Sgt. Stan Thedford, president of the Dallas County Sheriff's Association, said the group has pushed for this kind of raise for years, as the average pay fell well below that of peer agencies in the region. He said the department has seen the county waste money by training new staff who then leave for better pay elsewhere.
He said Sheriff Valdez worked behind the scenes for the increase, but he gave significant credit to Ms. Keliher.
"We're pleased," Sgt. Thedford said.
The new positions and salary increases countywide will cost an additional $26.2 million, increasing what the county spends on staff to $240 million.
The budget also leaves $2 million in a contingency fund, to address issues for which the commissioners have not agreed on solutions. For instance, officials have identified a need to reduce a backlog of child abuse cases, but they have not decided whether to spend money to create new courts for those cases or to add more district attorney staff to existing courts.
The $389 million general operating budget for the county's 2006 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, would represent an 8.8 percent increase, or about $32 million.
The bulk of that increased spending will be covered by $21 million in new revenue generated by the tax increase, rising property values and new construction. Other fines and fees will cover most of the rest.
Commissioners will conduct a public hearing at 9 a.m. today on the budget before voting.
Rare tax hike would boost staff for DA, Sheriff's Department
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County commissioners plan to approve a most unusual document today – a new $700 million budget that calls for a rare 5 percent tax rate increase, steep salary raises and the addition of almost 300 new county positions.
For well over a decade, commissioners have made a habit of cutting the tax rate, freezing salaries and slashing staff. So the 2006 budget, up for a vote today, is a striking departure.
Much of the effort is to boost the Dallas County Sheriff's Department staff to bring the county jail back into compliance with state regulations. In addition, significant pay raises for lawyers in the district attorney's office are designed to help retain staff and attract applicants.
"Nobody likes to raise taxes, but District Attorney Bill Hill and Sheriff Lupe Valdez have made compelling arguments," Commissioner Mike Cantrell said. "We've historically made cuts in our departments over the years. That's how we were able to cut taxes. But at a certain point you end up cutting too much."
If commissioners approve the tax rate increase today, it would be only the second tax rate hike in more than a decade. The proposed new rate is 21.39 cents per $100 in assessed property value, which would mean a tax increase of $11 on a $139,000 home, the average value in the county, taking into consideration the 20 percent homestead exemption.
Mr. Cantrell said a 15 percent pay raise for county prosecutors would keep good staff members from jumping to other counties that pay more.
"If we're losing top prosecutors, the only way to address it is through pay," Mr. Cantrell said.
New DA posts
Besides the raise, the district attorney will get 23 new positions, including 12 slots for two new criminal district courts, three family violence attorneys, a civil attorney and a capital murder attorney.
District attorney spokeswoman Rachel Horton said Mr. Hill was "very appreciative of the commissioners for recognizing the urgency of the criminal justice needs facing the county."
The pay raises, she said, sends employees "the message that we value their hard work and are willing to invest in them so we don't lose them."
More than 120 of the new positions will go to the Sheriff's Department. The state agency that monitors jails gave the Dallas facility a failing grade this year, in part because there were too few staffers to handle the jail population. The state requires a jail guard for every 48 inmates.
The budget includes 33 new guard positions to bring the jail into compliance. There are also 46 new positions to run the Decker jail facility, an overflow jail that was reopened a few months ago because the county jail population has risen to about 7,000.
The Sheriff's Department will also get 43 new positions, phased in over the year, to boost highway patrols, so municipal police departments can focus on neighborhood crime prevention.
Sgt. Don Peritz, Sheriff's Department spokesman, said Sheriff Valdez was "very pleased the open lines of communication with the commissioners resulted in adding much-needed personnel and much-needed pay raises."
Commissioner John Wiley Price said he thinks the additional staff will be enough to bring the jail into compliance. He said he expects high overtime costs will drop by adding the full-time positions. It costs the county $250,000 a month in overtime to open each floor of the Decker overflow jail.
County budget director Ryan Brown said the county has spent $6.2 million in overtime for the current fiscal year, and most was logged by sheriff's employees. The budget for the 2006 fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1, projects a $4.2 million drop in overtime.
Planning for raises
Commissioners are also bucking past behavior by handing out big pay raises. The budget includes a 5 percent pay raise for all county civilian employees at a cost of $6.7 million.
In addition, law enforcement staff – jailers, sheriff's deputies and constable staff – will get a 10 percent raise, plus their standard step increases that are based on years of service. That will cost an additional $8.8 million.
Finally, the 15 percent pay hike for lawyers in the district attorney's office and public defender's office will cost $2.8 million.
About 60 percent of the general operating budget is devoted to salaries for the county's 5,000 employees. The new positions and pay raises will boost that part of the budget 12 percent.
"I'm all right with all those additional staff positions," County Judge Margaret Keliher said. "A lot of them need to go to the Sheriff's Department because we need to get the jail back into compliance."
She said the pay raises might help recruit people for the newly created openings. County officials have difficulty filling jail guard positions in particular. The Sheriff's Department has 30 vacancies.
Sgt. Stan Thedford, president of the Dallas County Sheriff's Association, said the group has pushed for this kind of raise for years, as the average pay fell well below that of peer agencies in the region. He said the department has seen the county waste money by training new staff who then leave for better pay elsewhere.
He said Sheriff Valdez worked behind the scenes for the increase, but he gave significant credit to Ms. Keliher.
"We're pleased," Sgt. Thedford said.
The new positions and salary increases countywide will cost an additional $26.2 million, increasing what the county spends on staff to $240 million.
The budget also leaves $2 million in a contingency fund, to address issues for which the commissioners have not agreed on solutions. For instance, officials have identified a need to reduce a backlog of child abuse cases, but they have not decided whether to spend money to create new courts for those cases or to add more district attorney staff to existing courts.
The $389 million general operating budget for the county's 2006 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, would represent an 8.8 percent increase, or about $32 million.
The bulk of that increased spending will be covered by $21 million in new revenue generated by the tax increase, rising property values and new construction. Other fines and fees will cover most of the rest.
Commissioners will conduct a public hearing at 9 a.m. today on the budget before voting.
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TexasStooge
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Mayor power vote stirs up less fuss
Dallas: This election so far lacks campaign blitz that accompanied May's
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Six weeks before May's strong-mayor election, everyone had a dog in the fight.
Advocates and opponents were storming neighborhood meetings and public hearings.
The campaigns for and against were papering city streets with yard signs and mailers.
And Dallas City Council members, who had lined up against Mayor Laura Miller to defeat the referendum, had begun crafting their own alternative.
But with just six weeks to go until this alternative – a compromise measure that would increase some of the mayor's powers – appears on the November ballot, the political climate couldn't be more different.
No yard signs; no mailers. No vocal support; no angry opposition. No mobilized City Council – and no sign of Ms. Miller.
From a campaign standpoint, the atmosphere will change very soon, said Elaine Agather, chairwoman of the Dallas Citizens Council. Summers are always quiet, Ms. Agather said, but the Citizens Council, which has teamed up with the Greater Dallas Chamber to run a nearly $300,000 campaign in favor of the measure, will hold its kickoff within a couple of weeks.
"We're off and running," said Ms. Agather, who, along with former Mayor Ron Kirk, helped design the alternative referendum. "People are holding our feet to the fire."
But on the City Council – the body that officially crafted the November ballot measure – no one appears to be in a rush to campaign for it.
"I hadn't even thought about it until you mentioned it," said council member Mitchell Rasansky, who supports the measure.
And Ms. Miller, who has said she supports the proposition – sort of – still vows she won't campaign for or against it.
"This is not a strong-mayor campaign," she said. "This is three steps forward and two steps back. If you want that, you should vote for it."
Dallas residents overwhelmingly defeated a May 7 ballot measure to greatly increase mayoral power, bolstered by unprecedented voter turnout in the city's southern sector and a powerful, diverse opposition group.
Carol Reed, a political consultant who worked with the strong-mayor opposition team last spring, is running this fall's campaign for the Citizens Council. And she said her strategy won't be much different: distributing yard signs and mailers, and setting up phone banks.
These messages will start to go out by the end of the month. But voters are well educated this time around, she said, and the campaign won't need to be as intense as it was last spring.
"I don't think you need the kind of effort we had last time," she said. The public "pretty much debated the issues and decided them. Now it's basically ratifying what they had discussions on in May."
And while Ms. Miller has so far expressed no interest in being the face of the campaign, Ms. Reed said she'd welcome the mayor's involvement. Mr. Kirk is one of the co-chairs of the campaign, and it would be a powerful message if both he and Ms. Miller were involved, she said.
Ms. Miller's response: "No thank you."
But even those most deeply involved in crafting the alternative – namely Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill and council member Ed Oakley – don't see much urgency with the upcoming ballot measure.
When asked whether anyone at Dallas City Hall cares whether the measure passes or fails, Mr. Oakley smiled.
"That's a real good question," he said.
Mr. Hill had a similar response.
"I've asked myself the same thing," he said. "There does seem to be a little bit of indifference to it."
And neither seemed tied to voting for the measure. Mr. Hill and Mr. Oakley said that they committed to crafting the alternative and putting it on the ballot – not campaigning for it – and that they needed to see where their constituents stand. Both of their districts overwhelmingly voted against May's strong-mayor referendum.
"I made a promise to craft this, to put something on the ballot. And I've done that," Mr. Oakley said. "I'm not going to go against my constituents."
Whether or not the City Council campaigns for the measure, Ms. Agather said, the Citizens Council will do it. Her organization is contributing $250,000 to the effort, and the chamber has agreed to spend $25,000 to $50,000.
Jim Erwin, chairman of the chamber's Charter Review Committee, said the chamber believes "it's as important to get this proposition passed ... as it was to not pass" May's proposition. While this campaign has been slower going than the last one, he said, the learning curve isn't nearly as steep. Many people who voted against the May referendum did so with the understanding that they'd have an alternative to vote on in November.
"A lot of energy was spent on the last one, and a lot of people developed their sense of what was the right thing to do," he said. "What we have on the ballot is pretty close to that."
Dallas' black residents will oppose the November ballot measure like they did the May ballot measure, Mr. Hill said, because they associate any increase in mayoral power with Ms. Miller. But there's been no real effort in that community to organize, and "they probably won't come out [to vote] in the same numbers," he said.
"There was some real motivation for that rejection the first time around," he said. "This time, there's a little bit of ambivalence."
It's not about ambivalence, said southern Dallas political analyst Rufus Shaw Jr. It's about a lack of money. Black voters turned out en masse for May's election because of a concerted – and costly – mobilization effort, largely funded by donations north of the Trinity River. Now that alliances have changed, he said, who will fund a campaign against the November referendum?
"I know there are a lot of people [in the southern sector] who still don't want it. But not wanting something and getting it defeated are two separate issues," Mr. Shaw said. "They have resigned themselves to the political reality that, without money, it's impossible to defeat it."
So far, supporters of the November ballot measure are a formidable group. The campaign co-chairs include Mr. Kirk, former council member Alan Walne, lawyer and Hispanic community activist Adelfa Callejo, and Bill Blase, president and CEO of SBC Southwest. Mr. Walne and Ms. Callejo headed the chief strong-mayor opposition group last spring. Mr. Blase supported the strong-mayor referendum and was handpicked by Ms. Miller to lead a transition task force had the measure passed.
The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce is also on board to support the measure, said chairwoman Peg Donahue Hall. But so far, the campaign has been so low-energy that her membership doesn't even know who to contribute to, she said.
And president Steve Taylor said that while he wouldn't be surprised if most other chambers did nothing at all, he still thinks the measure will pass.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRONGER-MAYOR PROVISIONS
Under the Nov. 8 ballot measure:
The mayor would hire and fire the city manager, and a simple majority of the City Council would be able to remove the manager.
The mayor and the city manager would prepare the budget and hire the police and fire chiefs.
The council would hire the auditor and the finance and budget overview officer – a new position – to serve as a check on the mayor's new powers.
The mayor's annual salary would double to $120,000.
The amendments, if approved by voters in November, would go into effect in 2007.
Dallas: This election so far lacks campaign blitz that accompanied May's
By EMILY RAMSHAW / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Six weeks before May's strong-mayor election, everyone had a dog in the fight.
Advocates and opponents were storming neighborhood meetings and public hearings.
The campaigns for and against were papering city streets with yard signs and mailers.
And Dallas City Council members, who had lined up against Mayor Laura Miller to defeat the referendum, had begun crafting their own alternative.
But with just six weeks to go until this alternative – a compromise measure that would increase some of the mayor's powers – appears on the November ballot, the political climate couldn't be more different.
No yard signs; no mailers. No vocal support; no angry opposition. No mobilized City Council – and no sign of Ms. Miller.
From a campaign standpoint, the atmosphere will change very soon, said Elaine Agather, chairwoman of the Dallas Citizens Council. Summers are always quiet, Ms. Agather said, but the Citizens Council, which has teamed up with the Greater Dallas Chamber to run a nearly $300,000 campaign in favor of the measure, will hold its kickoff within a couple of weeks.
"We're off and running," said Ms. Agather, who, along with former Mayor Ron Kirk, helped design the alternative referendum. "People are holding our feet to the fire."
But on the City Council – the body that officially crafted the November ballot measure – no one appears to be in a rush to campaign for it.
"I hadn't even thought about it until you mentioned it," said council member Mitchell Rasansky, who supports the measure.
And Ms. Miller, who has said she supports the proposition – sort of – still vows she won't campaign for or against it.
"This is not a strong-mayor campaign," she said. "This is three steps forward and two steps back. If you want that, you should vote for it."
Dallas residents overwhelmingly defeated a May 7 ballot measure to greatly increase mayoral power, bolstered by unprecedented voter turnout in the city's southern sector and a powerful, diverse opposition group.
Carol Reed, a political consultant who worked with the strong-mayor opposition team last spring, is running this fall's campaign for the Citizens Council. And she said her strategy won't be much different: distributing yard signs and mailers, and setting up phone banks.
These messages will start to go out by the end of the month. But voters are well educated this time around, she said, and the campaign won't need to be as intense as it was last spring.
"I don't think you need the kind of effort we had last time," she said. The public "pretty much debated the issues and decided them. Now it's basically ratifying what they had discussions on in May."
And while Ms. Miller has so far expressed no interest in being the face of the campaign, Ms. Reed said she'd welcome the mayor's involvement. Mr. Kirk is one of the co-chairs of the campaign, and it would be a powerful message if both he and Ms. Miller were involved, she said.
Ms. Miller's response: "No thank you."
But even those most deeply involved in crafting the alternative – namely Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill and council member Ed Oakley – don't see much urgency with the upcoming ballot measure.
When asked whether anyone at Dallas City Hall cares whether the measure passes or fails, Mr. Oakley smiled.
"That's a real good question," he said.
Mr. Hill had a similar response.
"I've asked myself the same thing," he said. "There does seem to be a little bit of indifference to it."
And neither seemed tied to voting for the measure. Mr. Hill and Mr. Oakley said that they committed to crafting the alternative and putting it on the ballot – not campaigning for it – and that they needed to see where their constituents stand. Both of their districts overwhelmingly voted against May's strong-mayor referendum.
"I made a promise to craft this, to put something on the ballot. And I've done that," Mr. Oakley said. "I'm not going to go against my constituents."
Whether or not the City Council campaigns for the measure, Ms. Agather said, the Citizens Council will do it. Her organization is contributing $250,000 to the effort, and the chamber has agreed to spend $25,000 to $50,000.
Jim Erwin, chairman of the chamber's Charter Review Committee, said the chamber believes "it's as important to get this proposition passed ... as it was to not pass" May's proposition. While this campaign has been slower going than the last one, he said, the learning curve isn't nearly as steep. Many people who voted against the May referendum did so with the understanding that they'd have an alternative to vote on in November.
"A lot of energy was spent on the last one, and a lot of people developed their sense of what was the right thing to do," he said. "What we have on the ballot is pretty close to that."
Dallas' black residents will oppose the November ballot measure like they did the May ballot measure, Mr. Hill said, because they associate any increase in mayoral power with Ms. Miller. But there's been no real effort in that community to organize, and "they probably won't come out [to vote] in the same numbers," he said.
"There was some real motivation for that rejection the first time around," he said. "This time, there's a little bit of ambivalence."
It's not about ambivalence, said southern Dallas political analyst Rufus Shaw Jr. It's about a lack of money. Black voters turned out en masse for May's election because of a concerted – and costly – mobilization effort, largely funded by donations north of the Trinity River. Now that alliances have changed, he said, who will fund a campaign against the November referendum?
"I know there are a lot of people [in the southern sector] who still don't want it. But not wanting something and getting it defeated are two separate issues," Mr. Shaw said. "They have resigned themselves to the political reality that, without money, it's impossible to defeat it."
So far, supporters of the November ballot measure are a formidable group. The campaign co-chairs include Mr. Kirk, former council member Alan Walne, lawyer and Hispanic community activist Adelfa Callejo, and Bill Blase, president and CEO of SBC Southwest. Mr. Walne and Ms. Callejo headed the chief strong-mayor opposition group last spring. Mr. Blase supported the strong-mayor referendum and was handpicked by Ms. Miller to lead a transition task force had the measure passed.
The North Dallas Chamber of Commerce is also on board to support the measure, said chairwoman Peg Donahue Hall. But so far, the campaign has been so low-energy that her membership doesn't even know who to contribute to, she said.
And president Steve Taylor said that while he wouldn't be surprised if most other chambers did nothing at all, he still thinks the measure will pass.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRONGER-MAYOR PROVISIONS
Under the Nov. 8 ballot measure:
The mayor would hire and fire the city manager, and a simple majority of the City Council would be able to remove the manager.
The mayor and the city manager would prepare the budget and hire the police and fire chiefs.
The council would hire the auditor and the finance and budget overview officer – a new position – to serve as a check on the mayor's new powers.
The mayor's annual salary would double to $120,000.
The amendments, if approved by voters in November, would go into effect in 2007.
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TexasStooge
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Police promise strong presence at fair
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Big Tex will have some help keeping an eye on visitors at the State Fair of Texas.
Dallas police presence will be strong on the fair's opening day Friday and throughout its run, officials said Tuesday.
They gathered on the fairgrounds to mark the big guy's first public appearance and to announce security measures.
Police will monitor the fairgrounds by patrol car, foot, horseback, golf cart and elevated platforms. Surveillance cameras and K-9 units will also be used.
"We will literally be everywhere," said Deputy Chief Jesse Reyes, who is overseeing security for the fair.
This is Chief Reyes' first year to head up the fair's security, although he worked the beat in 2002.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE FAIR OPENING WEEKEND FORECAST via NWS:
Friday: <IMG alt="Partly Cloudy" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/30.gif" border=0> High: 85°F | Low: 69°F
Saturday: <IMG alt="Isolated Thunderstorms" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/37.gif" border=0> High: 86°F | Low: 68°F
Sunday: <IMG alt="Isolated Thunderstorms" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/37.gif" border=0> High: 85°F | Low: 66°F
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Big Tex will have some help keeping an eye on visitors at the State Fair of Texas.
Dallas police presence will be strong on the fair's opening day Friday and throughout its run, officials said Tuesday.
They gathered on the fairgrounds to mark the big guy's first public appearance and to announce security measures.
Police will monitor the fairgrounds by patrol car, foot, horseback, golf cart and elevated platforms. Surveillance cameras and K-9 units will also be used.
"We will literally be everywhere," said Deputy Chief Jesse Reyes, who is overseeing security for the fair.
This is Chief Reyes' first year to head up the fair's security, although he worked the beat in 2002.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STATE FAIR OPENING WEEKEND FORECAST via NWS:
Friday: <IMG alt="Partly Cloudy" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/30.gif" border=0> High: 85°F | Low: 69°F
Saturday: <IMG alt="Isolated Thunderstorms" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/37.gif" border=0> High: 86°F | Low: 68°F
Sunday: <IMG alt="Isolated Thunderstorms" src="http://image.weather.com/web/common/wxicons/52/37.gif" border=0> High: 85°F | Low: 66°F
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TexasStooge
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Dallas Commissioners OK tax hike
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County Commissioners approved a five percent property tax rate hike Tuesday to help foot the bill for their next fiscal budget.
There was no opposition from the public, and there were no sparks flying at Commissioners Court before the unanimous vote to endorse a $700 million budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
Kenneth Mayfield was the only commissioner to vote against the tax hike before the budget was approved.
"Look at that: one cent in ten years," said Commissioner John Wiley Price. "The second tax rate increase, lowest tax rate of any urban county in the state? I'm okay with that."
County Judge Margaret Keliher agreed. "We still have the lowest tax rate in the State of Texas, so I think we've done a great job managing our money."
Approval of the new budget means the county jail now gets the green light to eventually hire as many as 200 new employees to comply with state mandates requiring one guard for every 48 prisoners.
The facility has been failing recent inspections with the inmate population surging to 7,000.
The budget also allows for 10 to 15 percent raises for jailers and prosecutors and 5 percent pay hikes for all civilian employees.
The 2006 budget will also pay for about 50 new sheriff's deputies who will be hired to help with freeway patrols so Dallas Police can focus on neighborhood patrols.
By CYNTHIA VEGA / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Dallas County Commissioners approved a five percent property tax rate hike Tuesday to help foot the bill for their next fiscal budget.
There was no opposition from the public, and there were no sparks flying at Commissioners Court before the unanimous vote to endorse a $700 million budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1.
Kenneth Mayfield was the only commissioner to vote against the tax hike before the budget was approved.
"Look at that: one cent in ten years," said Commissioner John Wiley Price. "The second tax rate increase, lowest tax rate of any urban county in the state? I'm okay with that."
County Judge Margaret Keliher agreed. "We still have the lowest tax rate in the State of Texas, so I think we've done a great job managing our money."
Approval of the new budget means the county jail now gets the green light to eventually hire as many as 200 new employees to comply with state mandates requiring one guard for every 48 prisoners.
The facility has been failing recent inspections with the inmate population surging to 7,000.
The budget also allows for 10 to 15 percent raises for jailers and prosecutors and 5 percent pay hikes for all civilian employees.
The 2006 budget will also pay for about 50 new sheriff's deputies who will be hired to help with freeway patrols so Dallas Police can focus on neighborhood patrols.
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TexasStooge
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
'Survival party' marks anniversary of plane crash
By COURTNEY GUTHRIE / Neighbors Editor
IRVING, Texas - When Jeff Price’s wife, Laura, received the call that her husband had been in a plane crash, she did not believe it. This was one of his numerous pranks, she thought.
The same sense of humor would have Jeff asking the doctor if the screws used to hold him together required a Phillips or flathead screwdriver in the event his wife needed to tighten them.
Irving residents Jeff Price and Pete Salas were seriously injured when their single-engine plane crashed in the northern end of Lewisville Lake Saturday afternoon July 17, 2004. Jeff broke 12 ribs, his sternum, pelvis, tailbone and four vertebrae in the accident. He wore an upper-body brace for three months, confined for two of those months to a wheelchair.
Jeff and Laura celebrated the anniversary of the flight and Jeff’s recovery by opening their Irving home to the family and friends that supported them after the tragic ordeal. The “survival party” guest list would not stop growing, according to Jeff. “And, unlike most parties, nearly everyone showed up,” he said.
Ninety-three of the invited 120 guests gathered to celebrate with food, friends and entertainment provided by David Fox from the Midnight Thunder Band.
Guests included Mike Murphy the bystander who pulled Jeff from the water, Darlene Summer who took care of the Price’s pool, Ben and Bethel Stevens who handled the Price’s yard work, Cliff Verville who helped care for Jeff when he was released from his four-week hospital stay, and sister-in-law Linda Arthur and neighbor Lisa Wofford who transported Jeff to and from therapy for three months.
Jeff finally returned to work in January this year and credits his wife Laura for her Florence Nightingale role in his life.
“I think she has learned more about me,” Jeff said about his wife’s experience of caring for him while still maintaining a 40-hour work week and continuing her love of teaching dance two to three nights a week.
Jeff stressed that the “survival party” was not for him.
“All we did was fall out of the sky,” he said.
The celebration was held instead to honor the people who helped him get to where he is now — from the man who pulled him from the water to the friends who encouraged him to ‘get well soon.’
“There were a lot of people who contributed. We did it in thanks to them,” Jeff said.
By COURTNEY GUTHRIE / Neighbors Editor
IRVING, Texas - When Jeff Price’s wife, Laura, received the call that her husband had been in a plane crash, she did not believe it. This was one of his numerous pranks, she thought.
The same sense of humor would have Jeff asking the doctor if the screws used to hold him together required a Phillips or flathead screwdriver in the event his wife needed to tighten them.
Irving residents Jeff Price and Pete Salas were seriously injured when their single-engine plane crashed in the northern end of Lewisville Lake Saturday afternoon July 17, 2004. Jeff broke 12 ribs, his sternum, pelvis, tailbone and four vertebrae in the accident. He wore an upper-body brace for three months, confined for two of those months to a wheelchair.
Jeff and Laura celebrated the anniversary of the flight and Jeff’s recovery by opening their Irving home to the family and friends that supported them after the tragic ordeal. The “survival party” guest list would not stop growing, according to Jeff. “And, unlike most parties, nearly everyone showed up,” he said.
Ninety-three of the invited 120 guests gathered to celebrate with food, friends and entertainment provided by David Fox from the Midnight Thunder Band.
Guests included Mike Murphy the bystander who pulled Jeff from the water, Darlene Summer who took care of the Price’s pool, Ben and Bethel Stevens who handled the Price’s yard work, Cliff Verville who helped care for Jeff when he was released from his four-week hospital stay, and sister-in-law Linda Arthur and neighbor Lisa Wofford who transported Jeff to and from therapy for three months.
Jeff finally returned to work in January this year and credits his wife Laura for her Florence Nightingale role in his life.
“I think she has learned more about me,” Jeff said about his wife’s experience of caring for him while still maintaining a 40-hour work week and continuing her love of teaching dance two to three nights a week.
Jeff stressed that the “survival party” was not for him.
“All we did was fall out of the sky,” he said.
The celebration was held instead to honor the people who helped him get to where he is now — from the man who pulled him from the water to the friends who encouraged him to ‘get well soon.’
“There were a lot of people who contributed. We did it in thanks to them,” Jeff said.
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YMCA, 'Neighbors' announce partnership
By SARAH BYROM
IRVING, Texas - The YMCA and The Dallas Morning News Neighbors sections have announced a partnership that better allows readers to share their great news with the community, as well as keep up with what’s going on at their local Y.
Readers can drop off story ideas for the Neighbors publication at one of the convenient story submission boxes at their local YMCA.
Families are the focus of both the YMCA and Neighbors. Right here, families can learn about everything that’s important to them. Each week a different topic in a column from your local YMCA will help you and your family grow and connect to our community.
We are excited about a new partnership with the Dallas Morning News Neighbors edition. Starting Oct. 1, watch for news from the YMCA.
Sarah Byrom is associate vice president of marketing and communication for YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.
By SARAH BYROM
IRVING, Texas - The YMCA and The Dallas Morning News Neighbors sections have announced a partnership that better allows readers to share their great news with the community, as well as keep up with what’s going on at their local Y.
Readers can drop off story ideas for the Neighbors publication at one of the convenient story submission boxes at their local YMCA.
Families are the focus of both the YMCA and Neighbors. Right here, families can learn about everything that’s important to them. Each week a different topic in a column from your local YMCA will help you and your family grow and connect to our community.
We are excited about a new partnership with the Dallas Morning News Neighbors edition. Starting Oct. 1, watch for news from the YMCA.
Sarah Byrom is associate vice president of marketing and communication for YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas.
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TexasStooge
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Irving youth inducted into hall of fame
By Mark Zeske
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Luke Zeske, 12-year-old Irving resident, was inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in late July.
Zeske played in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament with the Colleyville Eagles, which set two Cooperstown records during the week they were in upstate New York. The team established marks for most games with more than one double play by one team in a week (five) and most double plays turned by one team in a week (12).
In April and May, Zeske helped his school team to a 15-0 perfect season. The St. Monica School sixth-grade team won the Dallas Parochial League championship by beating St. Mark’s School from Plano, 9-8, in the championship game.
Zeske also won a league title and a state championship with the Dallas Reds, his primary team the past three summers. The Reds won the Plano Baseball Association 12-under Premier League title, winning the regular season with a 17-1 record and then going 3-0 in the playoffs. In June, the Reds won the USSSA North Zone Texas State Championship Tournament held in DeSoto.
In early July, the Reds tried to add a USSSA national title to their haul when they played in the USSSA American World Series in Hutchison, Kan. Pool play went well for the Reds and Zeske, as they won three games and gave up just one run to become the tournament’s top seed heading into bracket play. Zeske got eight hits in nine at-bats in the three games of pool play, driving in five runs and winning a game as a pitcher.
The hot Reds couldn’t keep it up their winning ways in the elimination rounds, quickly losing twice to finish their season at 44-6.
Zeske started playing baseball in Irving down at the “river bottoms” with the Irving Boys Baseball Association. In T-ball, he played for the Royals and Irving youth-sports coaching legend Pappa Reese.
Mark Zeske is Luke Zeske’s father and an Irving resident. He is a volunteer youth-sports coach.
By Mark Zeske
IRVING, Texas (The Dallas Morning News) - Luke Zeske, 12-year-old Irving resident, was inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., in late July.
Zeske played in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament with the Colleyville Eagles, which set two Cooperstown records during the week they were in upstate New York. The team established marks for most games with more than one double play by one team in a week (five) and most double plays turned by one team in a week (12).
In April and May, Zeske helped his school team to a 15-0 perfect season. The St. Monica School sixth-grade team won the Dallas Parochial League championship by beating St. Mark’s School from Plano, 9-8, in the championship game.
Zeske also won a league title and a state championship with the Dallas Reds, his primary team the past three summers. The Reds won the Plano Baseball Association 12-under Premier League title, winning the regular season with a 17-1 record and then going 3-0 in the playoffs. In June, the Reds won the USSSA North Zone Texas State Championship Tournament held in DeSoto.
In early July, the Reds tried to add a USSSA national title to their haul when they played in the USSSA American World Series in Hutchison, Kan. Pool play went well for the Reds and Zeske, as they won three games and gave up just one run to become the tournament’s top seed heading into bracket play. Zeske got eight hits in nine at-bats in the three games of pool play, driving in five runs and winning a game as a pitcher.
The hot Reds couldn’t keep it up their winning ways in the elimination rounds, quickly losing twice to finish their season at 44-6.
Zeske started playing baseball in Irving down at the “river bottoms” with the Irving Boys Baseball Association. In T-ball, he played for the Royals and Irving youth-sports coaching legend Pappa Reese.
Mark Zeske is Luke Zeske’s father and an Irving resident. He is a volunteer youth-sports coach.
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TexasStooge
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- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Millions of dollars missing in Ft. Worth
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - The city of Fort Worth has been dealing with a case of missing money - a lot of money.
Auditors first discovered a $10 million discrepancy in February. Today, they've whittled that figure down to nearly $4 million, but now city officials are shoring up bookkeeping practices to prevent more problems.
Accounting and finance workers at Fort Worth City Hall have been working for weeks to solve the $10 million mystery. That's how much money was missing from the city books; only $6.2 million has been accounted for so far.
"I think that's awful," said Fort Worth resident Mary Ann Sutter. "I thought there were auditors to make sure things like that didn't happen."
"As a taxpayer, I think they should try and figure out exactly where it did go," said resident Robert Craton.
Even City Manager Charles Boswell is baffled by this one.
"It's certainly nothing I've ever seen here before," Boswell said.
Auditors are going department by department, checking the books to find the discrepancies that date back to 1999 under on a former administration's watch. Current city leaders aren't ready to believe fraud or foul play is involved.
"Hopefully, there will not be any cause for alarm," said City Council member Chuck Silcox. "It just seems like what it is right now is some very sloppy bookeeping a number of years ago."
"It's not going to affect our budget, as far as the priorities that have been identified by this council and recommedations of staff as we move the city forward," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.
The mayor and others are still concerned, and the situation has left many taxpayers wondering who's watching over who.
"Fort Worth is a wonderful place; I think it's one of the best cities in the world," said resident Cammie Carter. "But I think every department needs to have a lot of management, not just on one level but a lot of levels."
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - The city of Fort Worth has been dealing with a case of missing money - a lot of money.
Auditors first discovered a $10 million discrepancy in February. Today, they've whittled that figure down to nearly $4 million, but now city officials are shoring up bookkeeping practices to prevent more problems.
Accounting and finance workers at Fort Worth City Hall have been working for weeks to solve the $10 million mystery. That's how much money was missing from the city books; only $6.2 million has been accounted for so far.
"I think that's awful," said Fort Worth resident Mary Ann Sutter. "I thought there were auditors to make sure things like that didn't happen."
"As a taxpayer, I think they should try and figure out exactly where it did go," said resident Robert Craton.
Even City Manager Charles Boswell is baffled by this one.
"It's certainly nothing I've ever seen here before," Boswell said.
Auditors are going department by department, checking the books to find the discrepancies that date back to 1999 under on a former administration's watch. Current city leaders aren't ready to believe fraud or foul play is involved.
"Hopefully, there will not be any cause for alarm," said City Council member Chuck Silcox. "It just seems like what it is right now is some very sloppy bookeeping a number of years ago."
"It's not going to affect our budget, as far as the priorities that have been identified by this council and recommedations of staff as we move the city forward," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.
The mayor and others are still concerned, and the situation has left many taxpayers wondering who's watching over who.
"Fort Worth is a wonderful place; I think it's one of the best cities in the world," said resident Cammie Carter. "But I think every department needs to have a lot of management, not just on one level but a lot of levels."
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TexasStooge
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Police: Multi-million drug operation busted
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police said they shut down a multi-million dollar drug dealing operation Tuesday and seized drugs, guns, cars and cash.
Police zeroed in on the 2500 block of Jonesboro Avenue in Dallas after surrounding residents tipped officers that suspicious activity was occurring inside the home.
After entering the house and seizing large amounts of drugs, officers said they believe the busted suspects were probably tied to a large drug cartel out of Mexico.
Officers with Operation Disruption found more than $200,000 in cash and evidence that more than $14 million worth of drugs were most likely sold out of the residence. They also found more than a dozen weapons, which included high-powered guns and rifles. Police said two kilos of cocaine and 400 pounds of marijuana seized at the residence had a street value of more than $2 million.
"This is definitely upper level," said Sgt. John Madison. "It's not normally what we see on the street...All the cars we are seizing, they were using to transport [drugs]. We found gas tanks they were using to hide dope inside. So, this was a large-scale, probably a 100 kilo a month operation."
Four men were arrested and eight vehicles confiscated during the operation.
WFAA ABC 8
A police car's trunk was filled with seized guns.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Police said they shut down a multi-million dollar drug dealing operation Tuesday and seized drugs, guns, cars and cash.
Police zeroed in on the 2500 block of Jonesboro Avenue in Dallas after surrounding residents tipped officers that suspicious activity was occurring inside the home.
After entering the house and seizing large amounts of drugs, officers said they believe the busted suspects were probably tied to a large drug cartel out of Mexico.
Officers with Operation Disruption found more than $200,000 in cash and evidence that more than $14 million worth of drugs were most likely sold out of the residence. They also found more than a dozen weapons, which included high-powered guns and rifles. Police said two kilos of cocaine and 400 pounds of marijuana seized at the residence had a street value of more than $2 million.
"This is definitely upper level," said Sgt. John Madison. "It's not normally what we see on the street...All the cars we are seizing, they were using to transport [drugs]. We found gas tanks they were using to hide dope inside. So, this was a large-scale, probably a 100 kilo a month operation."
Four men were arrested and eight vehicles confiscated during the operation.
WFAA ABC 8
A police car's trunk was filled with seized guns.
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rainstorm
TexasStooge wrote:Millions of dollars missing in Ft. Worth
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - The city of Fort Worth has been dealing with a case of missing money - a lot of money.
Auditors first discovered a $10 million discrepancy in February. Today, they've whittled that figure down to nearly $4 million, but now city officials are shoring up bookkeeping practices to prevent more problems.
Accounting and finance workers at Fort Worth City Hall have been working for weeks to solve the $10 million mystery. That's how much money was missing from the city books; only $6.2 million has been accounted for so far.
"I think that's awful," said Fort Worth resident Mary Ann Sutter. "I thought there were auditors to make sure things like that didn't happen."
"As a taxpayer, I think they should try and figure out exactly where it did go," said resident Robert Craton.
Even City Manager Charles Boswell is baffled by this one.
"It's certainly nothing I've ever seen here before," Boswell said.
Auditors are going department by department, checking the books to find the discrepancies that date back to 1999 under on a former administration's watch. Current city leaders aren't ready to believe fraud or foul play is involved.
"Hopefully, there will not be any cause for alarm," said City Council member Chuck Silcox. "It just seems like what it is right now is some very sloppy bookeeping a number of years ago."
"It's not going to affect our budget, as far as the priorities that have been identified by this council and recommedations of staff as we move the city forward," said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief.
The mayor and others are still concerned, and the situation has left many taxpayers wondering who's watching over who.
"Fort Worth is a wonderful place; I think it's one of the best cities in the world," said resident Cammie Carter. "But I think every department needs to have a lot of management, not just on one level but a lot of levels."
lots of waste in govt
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TexasStooge
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- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Town narrowly averts 'frontier law'
With too few officers on hand, Bridge City lets residents come home
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – In a darkened and battered Bridge City, a confrontation between police and residents at a highway barricade has led city officials – against their best judgment – to allow people to go home again.
Smashed by the winds of Hurricane Rita, the town just east of Beaumont is hamstrung by gas leaks, downed electrical wires and sharp-edged debris. Trees are down everywhere. There is no running water, and sewers don't work. There is no electricity. The first and only truckload of ice and water to arrive there is already gone.
But among the many scarcities is law enforcement. Too few officers are there to hold back the many who are anxious to return.
On Sunday night, two officers stood at a barricade on State Highway 87 and defended the Cow Bayou Bridge against an angry swarm of more than 50 residents who wanted to enter the city.
"People are tired, hungry and frustrated," said City Manager Don Fields. "Their tempers are getting short."
Things got ugly in a hurry.
"It got to the point where it looked like weapons were going to be necessary," Mr. Fields said. "There were threats made from outside of the barricades."
Officers showed great restraint, but it was a scary moment, said Mr. Fields, who witnessed some of the confrontation and received reports from others there.
Finally, one person in the crowd decided to back off just enough, and others relented. The situation was defused.
Town officials consider themselves fortunate and think they narrowly avoided a second catastrophe.
"We don't need frontier law here. We don't need people taking things into their own hands," Mr. Fields said.
The town of just less than 9,000 people is supposed to be closed until further notice. And while the Department of Public Safety has sent some officers, town officials have decided to let residents into the area to avert another confrontation.
"We're trying to control it at that level now," Mr. Fields said. "Our problems continue to be that we don't have enough people to totally secure the area. I have been assured that we are going to get additional personnel."
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange said that 1,000 state troopers have been sent to the counties hardest hit by Rita – including Orange County, where Bridge City is located.
"There is additional law enforcement in the area. We'll offer whatever assistance we can," she said.
She said the officers are moved around as needs arise but that some are in Bridge City. She said she wasn't sure if more would be sent there.
"We understand people are frustrated," she said. "It's a fluid situation, responding to places as they need troopers."
Greg Barr, a spokesman for the state's emergency operations center, said the main concern of his office has been saving lives and not necessarily securing property.
"Search and rescue are still going on. There are still calls for water, food and fuel. We're still sending out generators," he said. "We're trying to get them what they need."
Mr. Fields said one of the needs people feel is to return home, compounding a dangerous situation. "People are going to get in here and realize they are facing possibly worse conditions than wherever they were," he said.
Now there are more people in the town, and there's less control of the circumstances, Mr. Fields said.
Of state and federal officials, he said, "I don't want to say they have not done what needs to be done. I'm just saying we didn't get that assistance."
With too few officers on hand, Bridge City lets residents come home
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – In a darkened and battered Bridge City, a confrontation between police and residents at a highway barricade has led city officials – against their best judgment – to allow people to go home again.
Smashed by the winds of Hurricane Rita, the town just east of Beaumont is hamstrung by gas leaks, downed electrical wires and sharp-edged debris. Trees are down everywhere. There is no running water, and sewers don't work. There is no electricity. The first and only truckload of ice and water to arrive there is already gone.
But among the many scarcities is law enforcement. Too few officers are there to hold back the many who are anxious to return.
On Sunday night, two officers stood at a barricade on State Highway 87 and defended the Cow Bayou Bridge against an angry swarm of more than 50 residents who wanted to enter the city.
"People are tired, hungry and frustrated," said City Manager Don Fields. "Their tempers are getting short."
Things got ugly in a hurry.
"It got to the point where it looked like weapons were going to be necessary," Mr. Fields said. "There were threats made from outside of the barricades."
Officers showed great restraint, but it was a scary moment, said Mr. Fields, who witnessed some of the confrontation and received reports from others there.
Finally, one person in the crowd decided to back off just enough, and others relented. The situation was defused.
Town officials consider themselves fortunate and think they narrowly avoided a second catastrophe.
"We don't need frontier law here. We don't need people taking things into their own hands," Mr. Fields said.
The town of just less than 9,000 people is supposed to be closed until further notice. And while the Department of Public Safety has sent some officers, town officials have decided to let residents into the area to avert another confrontation.
"We're trying to control it at that level now," Mr. Fields said. "Our problems continue to be that we don't have enough people to totally secure the area. I have been assured that we are going to get additional personnel."
Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Tela Mange said that 1,000 state troopers have been sent to the counties hardest hit by Rita – including Orange County, where Bridge City is located.
"There is additional law enforcement in the area. We'll offer whatever assistance we can," she said.
She said the officers are moved around as needs arise but that some are in Bridge City. She said she wasn't sure if more would be sent there.
"We understand people are frustrated," she said. "It's a fluid situation, responding to places as they need troopers."
Greg Barr, a spokesman for the state's emergency operations center, said the main concern of his office has been saving lives and not necessarily securing property.
"Search and rescue are still going on. There are still calls for water, food and fuel. We're still sending out generators," he said. "We're trying to get them what they need."
Mr. Fields said one of the needs people feel is to return home, compounding a dangerous situation. "People are going to get in here and realize they are facing possibly worse conditions than wherever they were," he said.
Now there are more people in the town, and there's less control of the circumstances, Mr. Fields said.
Of state and federal officials, he said, "I don't want to say they have not done what needs to be done. I'm just saying we didn't get that assistance."
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TexasStooge
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- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Gym opens for people with spinal cord injuries
By CLARA TUMA / KVUE ABC 24 in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - A new gym for people with spinal cord injuries has opened in Austin, through the Brain and Spine Center at Brackenridge Hospital.
Some of the machines will even exercise parts of the body people can't move on their own.
Many people pump iron, pound the pavement and get physical to stay fit, but for Peter MacIntyre, fitness is an extra burden.
"...Kept thinking it was a nightmare and that I'd wake up out of bed and get up and do my usual chores," he said. "I was paralyzed from the waist down, and my hands were paralyzed. They were shut."
A recent fall claimed his mobility, but MacIntyre is fighting to get it back. He and others with spinal cord injuries now have a new place to get fit at the Brain and Spine Center at Brackenridge.
"Now I can feed myself; I can cut meat, which I couldn't do before," MacIntyre said.
The equipment is custom made for those in wheelchairs, and provides everything from cardio to upper body workouts.
"It's fantastic. It's going to be able to offer the clients in town, the wheelchair bound individuals, a place to go and be able to work out, without fear of people looking at them," said Brian Bowles, HealthSouth. "Hopefully what we're looking for is to build muscle mass, increase circulation bone density and eventually, if technology procures a spinal cord cure, then it will be able to help more people get up and walk again."
The gym also has hard mats off the floor, so clients can stretch out and exercise -- something you really can't do in a bed.
"It leads to a better prognostic outcome; the people have more chance of recovering more function -- that's really the bottom line, said Craig Kemper, M.D., Brain & Spine Center Medical Director.
For Peter MacIntyre, the road ahead is still rocky, but thanks to the gym, a little brighter.
"If I cry all the time, forget it. You're going nowhere. I got to look to the future. I'm 76."
By CLARA TUMA / KVUE ABC 24 in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - A new gym for people with spinal cord injuries has opened in Austin, through the Brain and Spine Center at Brackenridge Hospital.
Some of the machines will even exercise parts of the body people can't move on their own.
Many people pump iron, pound the pavement and get physical to stay fit, but for Peter MacIntyre, fitness is an extra burden.
"...Kept thinking it was a nightmare and that I'd wake up out of bed and get up and do my usual chores," he said. "I was paralyzed from the waist down, and my hands were paralyzed. They were shut."
A recent fall claimed his mobility, but MacIntyre is fighting to get it back. He and others with spinal cord injuries now have a new place to get fit at the Brain and Spine Center at Brackenridge.
"Now I can feed myself; I can cut meat, which I couldn't do before," MacIntyre said.
The equipment is custom made for those in wheelchairs, and provides everything from cardio to upper body workouts.
"It's fantastic. It's going to be able to offer the clients in town, the wheelchair bound individuals, a place to go and be able to work out, without fear of people looking at them," said Brian Bowles, HealthSouth. "Hopefully what we're looking for is to build muscle mass, increase circulation bone density and eventually, if technology procures a spinal cord cure, then it will be able to help more people get up and walk again."
The gym also has hard mats off the floor, so clients can stretch out and exercise -- something you really can't do in a bed.
"It leads to a better prognostic outcome; the people have more chance of recovering more function -- that's really the bottom line, said Craig Kemper, M.D., Brain & Spine Center Medical Director.
For Peter MacIntyre, the road ahead is still rocky, but thanks to the gym, a little brighter.
"If I cry all the time, forget it. You're going nowhere. I got to look to the future. I'm 76."
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TexasStooge
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Natural gas forecast: Bigger bills
From KVUE ABC 24 in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - Energy officials say consumers should expect the price of natural gas to rise this winter in the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
The hurricanes aggravated tight supplies, and demand is expected to be strong.
"There are estimates that natural gas prices will range an increase from 35 percent to 70 - 95 percent," said Ramona Nye, Texas Railroad Commission.
The higher natural gas prices will mean a higher electric bill for most people.
More than half of all electrical plants in Texas rely on natural gas.
In January, Austin Energy will increase its fuel charge. Bills will go up three to five percent.
From KVUE ABC 24 in Austin
AUSTIN, Texas - Energy officials say consumers should expect the price of natural gas to rise this winter in the wake of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina.
The hurricanes aggravated tight supplies, and demand is expected to be strong.
"There are estimates that natural gas prices will range an increase from 35 percent to 70 - 95 percent," said Ramona Nye, Texas Railroad Commission.
The higher natural gas prices will mean a higher electric bill for most people.
More than half of all electrical plants in Texas rely on natural gas.
In January, Austin Energy will increase its fuel charge. Bills will go up three to five percent.
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