Scene of refinery blast reveals signs of pressure wave
TEXAS CITY, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - Crumpled trailers, damaged cars and signs of a pressure wave were visible as the lead investigator into last week's deadly explosion at a BP refinery got her first tour of the site.
Angela Blair, with the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, said Monday she saw quite a bit of blast damage in the area where some of the 15 who died worked in trailers.
"Those are not substantial structures and there was a very significant amount of broken trailers and cars with their windows blown out and debris everywhere but no fire damage," she said. Blair said significant fire damage was visible on the other side of the unit, an indication of a fire on the ground on one side of the unit and a pressure wave out toward the trailers.
"It is very sobering to see first hand the place where 15 souls were taken," Blair said. "We are going to investigate this accident to the deepest level possible and to the broadest extent possible so that our mission to prevent this from happening here or at any other refinery can be accomplished."
Blair said investigators hope to get clearance Tuesday to check out the isomerization unit and begin measuring the extent of the damage from Wednesday's explosion.
About 2,200 contract workers were back at the plant on Monday along with BP employees, said BP spokesman Bill Stephens. Some employees took the day off to attend the funerals of co-workers. A makeshift memorial outside the plant's front gate continued to grow with individual floral memorials for two of the victims, Art Ramos and Lorena Cruz. Workers hugged and comforted each other.
The workers were offered counseling and underwent security briefings before returning to their job sites. Some of those who worked near or in the site of the explosion were told they could go home, but many stayed.
Stephens said that the refinery is back to normal operations except for the unit affected by the blast.
The explosion at the 1,200-acre plant shot flames, ash and blackened metal into the sky -- blowing out windows a half a mile away and injuring more than 100 workers and residents. Nine people remained hospitalized Monday, five of them in intensive care, according to a hospital spokesman.
Three funerals were held Monday in neighboring Baytown for Morris King, 57; Rafael Herrera, 27; and Larry Linsenbardt, 58.
King and Linsenbardt worked for J.E. Merit Constructors Inc., a Houston-based subsidiary of Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., based in Pasadena, Calif. Herrera worked for another California contractor, Fluor Corp. All 15 killed were contract workers; 12 worked for J.E. Merit and the rest worked for Fluor.
Blair said earlier that her team had talked for three hours with at least one unit operator working at the time of the explosion and got "good, very detailed information." She wouldn't discuss specifics.
The blast occurred in the plant's isomerization unit as a portion of it was brought up to full production after a two-week shutdown for routine maintenance.
Preliminary evidence suggests a flammable liquid and vapor were released and then ignited as the equipment was restarted, Blair said.
She said investigators are examining equipment that feeds the isomerization reactor, which converts the chemicals pentane and hexane, both highly flammable, into isopentane and isohexane, which boosts the octane rating of gasoline.
"We may be able to fairly quickly say what physically happened," Blair said. "But as to why there were 15 people killed and so many other people injured, those answers take a lot longer to get at."
The explosion was the third accident at the plant in a year. An explosion during maintenance in March 2004 forced an evacuation, but no one was injured. Two workers died in September after they were burned with superheated water.
Stephens said a moment of silence will be held at BP plants around the world at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday, exactly one week after the explosion and fire.
News from the Lone Star State
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Rodeo gives Houston reporter a rough ride
TV reporter challenges Houston institution, but his story never airs
By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON, Texas – Each February and March, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo takes over the city, trumpeting its charitable purpose, touting its economic impact, getting worshipful coverage in the local media.
This year the event that lets Houston's business and social elite play cowboy with ordinary folk collided with TV reporter Wayne Dolcefino, an award-winning slaughterer of sacred cows.
When Mr. Dolcefino pressed questions about how charitable the rodeo actually is – asking about cushy offices, high staff salaries and how much officials pay big-name musical acts – the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo filed suit to rein him in.
Mr. Dolcefino's employers, KTRK-TV, a longtime rodeo supporter and ABC affiliate, declined to air his story. Mr. Dolcefino threatened to quit and went on what amounts to a strike. He's had little to say publicly, and station officials have declined to comment.
Some chuckle at the showdown. "You have this hallowed institution on the one hand and this ... entertaining individual on the other who's made his reputation being extremely rude," said Garth Jowett, a University of Houston communications professor.
The dispute also raises serious questions.
It is generally acknowledged that the rodeo, organized in 1937 to promote the livestock industry, has charitable purposes. Officials point to $100 million in college scholarships awarded since 1957. Last year, 1,800 young people received $2,500 annual stipends.
However, the rodeo also is big business, with annual revenue totaling more than $66 million in 2004, much of the money coming from tickets to nightly concerts by high-dollar stars. For 11 straight years, the three-week event has drawn more than 1 million fans.
Mr. Dolcefino planned to cite rodeo offices that cost $11 million, including $2,400 chairs around a $53,000 conference table. Top staff salaries exceed $200,000, while 17,000 volunteers do much of the work in exchange for social status and networking opportunities.
By one calculation, the rodeo's net giving – about $11 million out of $66 million gross revenue in 2004 – is in the 17 percent range, well below the 65 percent minimum expected by many overseers of the 501c(3) tax code world.
Rodeo officials say a fairer way is to subtract the $50 million cost of putting on the show, leaving net revenue of $16 million. Then compare that to $11.3 million in giving, and the charity share of available funds rises to more than 70 percent.
Officials said they can explain everything and for weeks tried to cooperate with Mr. Dolcefino, giving him data and interviews. But they drew the line at star salaries, which they consider "trade secrets," rodeo spokesman Leroy Shafer said.
Although some star pay already had been disclosed – the show's 2002 IRS Form 990 disclosed paying George Strait $1.1 million and Bon Jovi $950,000 – that was a mistake, the spokesman said.
"We negotiate our entertainment contracts competitively," Mr. Shafer said. "If one found out what the others are making, it would cost the show over a period of years millions of dollars."
The rodeo went to court after Mr. Dolcefino threatened to seek help from the Texas attorney general by alleging violations of state law governing nonprofits, Mr. Shafer said. (The attorney general's office said it has no problems with the rodeo.)
As of last week, Mr. Dolcefino's story hadn't appeared, and he was still off the air, although efforts reportedly were under way to resolve his dispute with his bosses. (If you're thinking First Amendment, forget it. KTRK has no obligation to broadcast the story.)
Journalists worry when it appears community pressure is blocking a news inquiry, but the dust-up has gone almost unnoticed outside media circles. The Houston Chronicle, which touted the rodeo's success on the front page, has run two inside stories on problems in Wayne's world.
"Wayne's the apotheosis of ambush journalism," Mr. Jowett said, noting past stories about city officials taking two-hour lunches or police cars parked outside topless bars.
"Every now and then he uncovers a big one. Clearly he thought this was one," Mr. Jowett said. "Until the story actually breaks ... it's difficult for us to judge."
TV reporter challenges Houston institution, but his story never airs
By BRUCE NICHOLS / The Dallas Morning News
HOUSTON, Texas – Each February and March, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo takes over the city, trumpeting its charitable purpose, touting its economic impact, getting worshipful coverage in the local media.
This year the event that lets Houston's business and social elite play cowboy with ordinary folk collided with TV reporter Wayne Dolcefino, an award-winning slaughterer of sacred cows.
When Mr. Dolcefino pressed questions about how charitable the rodeo actually is – asking about cushy offices, high staff salaries and how much officials pay big-name musical acts – the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo filed suit to rein him in.
Mr. Dolcefino's employers, KTRK-TV, a longtime rodeo supporter and ABC affiliate, declined to air his story. Mr. Dolcefino threatened to quit and went on what amounts to a strike. He's had little to say publicly, and station officials have declined to comment.
Some chuckle at the showdown. "You have this hallowed institution on the one hand and this ... entertaining individual on the other who's made his reputation being extremely rude," said Garth Jowett, a University of Houston communications professor.
The dispute also raises serious questions.
It is generally acknowledged that the rodeo, organized in 1937 to promote the livestock industry, has charitable purposes. Officials point to $100 million in college scholarships awarded since 1957. Last year, 1,800 young people received $2,500 annual stipends.
However, the rodeo also is big business, with annual revenue totaling more than $66 million in 2004, much of the money coming from tickets to nightly concerts by high-dollar stars. For 11 straight years, the three-week event has drawn more than 1 million fans.
Mr. Dolcefino planned to cite rodeo offices that cost $11 million, including $2,400 chairs around a $53,000 conference table. Top staff salaries exceed $200,000, while 17,000 volunteers do much of the work in exchange for social status and networking opportunities.
By one calculation, the rodeo's net giving – about $11 million out of $66 million gross revenue in 2004 – is in the 17 percent range, well below the 65 percent minimum expected by many overseers of the 501c(3) tax code world.
Rodeo officials say a fairer way is to subtract the $50 million cost of putting on the show, leaving net revenue of $16 million. Then compare that to $11.3 million in giving, and the charity share of available funds rises to more than 70 percent.
Officials said they can explain everything and for weeks tried to cooperate with Mr. Dolcefino, giving him data and interviews. But they drew the line at star salaries, which they consider "trade secrets," rodeo spokesman Leroy Shafer said.
Although some star pay already had been disclosed – the show's 2002 IRS Form 990 disclosed paying George Strait $1.1 million and Bon Jovi $950,000 – that was a mistake, the spokesman said.
"We negotiate our entertainment contracts competitively," Mr. Shafer said. "If one found out what the others are making, it would cost the show over a period of years millions of dollars."
The rodeo went to court after Mr. Dolcefino threatened to seek help from the Texas attorney general by alleging violations of state law governing nonprofits, Mr. Shafer said. (The attorney general's office said it has no problems with the rodeo.)
As of last week, Mr. Dolcefino's story hadn't appeared, and he was still off the air, although efforts reportedly were under way to resolve his dispute with his bosses. (If you're thinking First Amendment, forget it. KTRK has no obligation to broadcast the story.)
Journalists worry when it appears community pressure is blocking a news inquiry, but the dust-up has gone almost unnoticed outside media circles. The Houston Chronicle, which touted the rodeo's success on the front page, has run two inside stories on problems in Wayne's world.
"Wayne's the apotheosis of ambush journalism," Mr. Jowett said, noting past stories about city officials taking two-hour lunches or police cars parked outside topless bars.
"Every now and then he uncovers a big one. Clearly he thought this was one," Mr. Jowett said. "Until the story actually breaks ... it's difficult for us to judge."
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Willie Nelson Bails Out Texas' Most Famous Truck Stop
By Jim Forsyth, WOAI NBC 4
HILLSBORO, Texas - The high price of diesel fuel has proven to be a boost, and not a burden, for Texas' most famous truck stop.
Carl Cornelius runs Carl's Corner on Interstate 35 near Hillsboro, just south of Dallas. He says when diesel prices started skyrocketing, he thought his truck stop, a landmark to motorists along the busy highway, which is so large it has it's own town, might be facing serious financial problems. Problems similar to the fire that leveled the truck stop in 1992.
But in stepped Willie Nelson, who made Cornelius the chief supplier of "Bio Willie," the 20% vegetable oil truck fuel the singer is pushing as a way to increase farm employment.
"It's made ot of soybean, vegetable oil, sunflower oil or peanut oil. The idea is to become self sufficient here in the United States instead of buying foreign oil," Cornelius, 61, told 1200 WOAI's Charity McCurdy.
All his career, Nelson has been a huge supporter of American agriculture. His FarmAid concerts have raised millions of dollars for farmers and farm groups.
Carl's Corner is more a phenomenon than a truck stop. Sprawling over several acres along Interstate 35, complete with it's trademark dancing frogs on the roof, the business includes a liquor store, motel, complete truck stop, swimming pool, even a strip club.
Cornelius says the instillation of a pump selling "Bio Willie" has turned his business around.
"Once the truckers get on it, they're sold, I think," he said. "So far, everybody who has come in to buy biodiesel has come back and bought more."
Now that Bio Willie has helped turn Carl's Corner around, what's his next plan?
"Put in a Starbucks."
By Jim Forsyth, WOAI NBC 4
HILLSBORO, Texas - The high price of diesel fuel has proven to be a boost, and not a burden, for Texas' most famous truck stop.
Carl Cornelius runs Carl's Corner on Interstate 35 near Hillsboro, just south of Dallas. He says when diesel prices started skyrocketing, he thought his truck stop, a landmark to motorists along the busy highway, which is so large it has it's own town, might be facing serious financial problems. Problems similar to the fire that leveled the truck stop in 1992.
But in stepped Willie Nelson, who made Cornelius the chief supplier of "Bio Willie," the 20% vegetable oil truck fuel the singer is pushing as a way to increase farm employment.
"It's made ot of soybean, vegetable oil, sunflower oil or peanut oil. The idea is to become self sufficient here in the United States instead of buying foreign oil," Cornelius, 61, told 1200 WOAI's Charity McCurdy.
All his career, Nelson has been a huge supporter of American agriculture. His FarmAid concerts have raised millions of dollars for farmers and farm groups.
Carl's Corner is more a phenomenon than a truck stop. Sprawling over several acres along Interstate 35, complete with it's trademark dancing frogs on the roof, the business includes a liquor store, motel, complete truck stop, swimming pool, even a strip club.
Cornelius says the instillation of a pump selling "Bio Willie" has turned his business around.
"Once the truckers get on it, they're sold, I think," he said. "So far, everybody who has come in to buy biodiesel has come back and bought more."
Now that Bio Willie has helped turn Carl's Corner around, what's his next plan?
"Put in a Starbucks."
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TexasStooge
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Ex-Scouts official pleads guilty on child stuff charges
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8
IRVING, Texas - Douglas Sovereign Smith, a former top official at the national Boy Scout headquarters in Irving, entered a guilty plea Thursday on child pornography charges.
Smith, 61, faces from five to 20 years in prison without parole when he is sentenced in July.
The government charged that Smith received and spread child stuff by computer. Federal agents found out about him during a sting operation that crossed international borders.
At his Colleyville home Tuesday afternoon, Smith had little to say about the serious charges he was facing. "You need to call my attorney Jack Strickland," Smith told News 8.
Smith, who spent 39 years with the Boy Scouts, worked as the director of programs at the organization's National Council Office in Irving. The Boy Scouts put Smith on leave in February when officials learned of the investigation; they said he retired a few days later.
Federal agents conducting an ongoing sting called Operation Predator developed the evidence against Smith after receiving a tip from police in Germany. They connected pornographic material to an e-mail they say traced back to Smith.
"It's an effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to root out persons that peddle in child pornography on the Internet," said U.S. Attorney Richard Roper.
The latest charges are part of what federal officials say are hundreds of arrests. The Boy Scouts issued a statement to say they were dismayed and shocked to learn of the charges.
Roper wouldn't say if agents found child stuff on Smith's computer at Boy Scouts headquarters, but a spokesman for the organization said Smith's office computer was turned over to agents.
The spokesman said Smith developed programs that scouts followed on the local level, like how to earn a merit badge. The spokesman added, "Smith showed no signs of criminal activity and had been a good employee."
The Boy Scouts emphasize that since Smith worked at the national office, he had no contact with children on that level. Additionally, federal officials said none of the pictures found on Smith's computer were Boy Scouts.
News 8 has also learned that Smith was chairman of the Boy Scout's Youth Protection League, which alerted Scout leaders to the dangers of sexual predators online.
"We need to do a better job of protecting our kids, and make no assumptions where our kids might be safe," said Shay Bilchik of the Child Welfare League.
WFAA-TV's Dan Ronan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8
IRVING, Texas - Douglas Sovereign Smith, a former top official at the national Boy Scout headquarters in Irving, entered a guilty plea Thursday on child pornography charges.
Smith, 61, faces from five to 20 years in prison without parole when he is sentenced in July.
The government charged that Smith received and spread child stuff by computer. Federal agents found out about him during a sting operation that crossed international borders.
At his Colleyville home Tuesday afternoon, Smith had little to say about the serious charges he was facing. "You need to call my attorney Jack Strickland," Smith told News 8.
Smith, who spent 39 years with the Boy Scouts, worked as the director of programs at the organization's National Council Office in Irving. The Boy Scouts put Smith on leave in February when officials learned of the investigation; they said he retired a few days later.
Federal agents conducting an ongoing sting called Operation Predator developed the evidence against Smith after receiving a tip from police in Germany. They connected pornographic material to an e-mail they say traced back to Smith.
"It's an effort by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to root out persons that peddle in child pornography on the Internet," said U.S. Attorney Richard Roper.
The latest charges are part of what federal officials say are hundreds of arrests. The Boy Scouts issued a statement to say they were dismayed and shocked to learn of the charges.
Roper wouldn't say if agents found child stuff on Smith's computer at Boy Scouts headquarters, but a spokesman for the organization said Smith's office computer was turned over to agents.
The spokesman said Smith developed programs that scouts followed on the local level, like how to earn a merit badge. The spokesman added, "Smith showed no signs of criminal activity and had been a good employee."
The Boy Scouts emphasize that since Smith worked at the national office, he had no contact with children on that level. Additionally, federal officials said none of the pictures found on Smith's computer were Boy Scouts.
News 8 has also learned that Smith was chairman of the Boy Scout's Youth Protection League, which alerted Scout leaders to the dangers of sexual predators online.
"We need to do a better job of protecting our kids, and make no assumptions where our kids might be safe," said Shay Bilchik of the Child Welfare League.
WFAA-TV's Dan Ronan and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Rush hour wreck jams up Bush Turnpike
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A serious accident on the President George Bush Turnpike in Plano Wednesday morning caused major traffic tie-ups for rush hour motorists.
Police said a sedan traveling eastbound veered off the highway around 8:30 a.m. and struck a concrete sign pillar near the Coit Road toll plaza.
Eastbound traffic was shut down so that emergency workers could free the car's driver, who was taken by air ambulance to a hospital.
The driver's identity and condition were not available.
Heavy delays were reported, with backups beyond the Dallas North Tollway.
Two westbound lanes remained open during the rescue effort, but traffic was slowed back to Custer Road.
PLANO, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A serious accident on the President George Bush Turnpike in Plano Wednesday morning caused major traffic tie-ups for rush hour motorists.
Police said a sedan traveling eastbound veered off the highway around 8:30 a.m. and struck a concrete sign pillar near the Coit Road toll plaza.
Eastbound traffic was shut down so that emergency workers could free the car's driver, who was taken by air ambulance to a hospital.
The driver's identity and condition were not available.
Heavy delays were reported, with backups beyond the Dallas North Tollway.
Two westbound lanes remained open during the rescue effort, but traffic was slowed back to Custer Road.
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TexasStooge
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Hinojosa named lone DISD finalist
Trustees' 6-2 vote favors Spring ISD leader for superintendent job
By TAWNELL D. HOBBS and TOYA LYNN STEWART / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Michael Hinojosa, superintendent of the Spring Independent School District, was approved in a split vote to be the lone finalist for the Dallas superintendent job after a marathon meeting Tuesday night.
Dr. Hinojosa received a supporting vote from six trustees. Two trustees opposed his selection and another abstained from voting.
Dr. Hinojosa briefly spoke to the media after the vote was taken.
"Certainly, I'm very honored to be considered a finalist for this great school district," he said. "I'm very excited to be able to work with an outstanding school board."
Trustee Hollis Brashear made a last ditch effort for the board to consider an internal candidate, Jim Scales, a DISD deputy superintendent, at the meeting that ended late Tuesday.
"I wanted two names, Dr. Scales and Dr. Hinojosa, to meet with the public," Mr. Brashear said after the vote. "I felt that we owed it to Dr. Scales. He has played a major role in the success we've had."
Trustee Joe May said after the meeting that "Hinojosa was clearly the best candidate."
"I saw him as being far more aggressive," he said.
Trustees Nancy Bingham, Lois Parrott, Ken Zornes, Jack Lowe, Jerome Garza and Mr. May voted for Dr. Hinojosa, who has led the 28,000-student Spring school district since 2002. Mr. Brashear and trustee Lew Blackburn voted against hiring Dr. Hinojosa, while trustee Ron Price abstained.
"I abstained, and it was a sign that I didn't approve – but I don't disapprove either," Mr. Price said, adding that he was looking for someone with a proven track record in an urban school district.
Mr. Price said that he didn't think the trustees did their job and that the search for a new superintendent should have been extended.
Dr. Hinojosa, president of the Texas Association of School Administrators, was the Texas Association of School Boards' 2002 Superintendent of the Year. He also was recognized in 1996 as a distinguished educator by the Texas Association of Hispanic School Administrators.
The possible competition of Dr. Scales and Dr. Hinojosa had set up a rivalry between trustees having to choose between a black and Hispanic candidate who both have notable careers. Dr. Hinojosa is Hispanic. Dr. Scales is black.
The DISD superintendent search has been marred by conflict. Two trustees have accused other board members of tainting the search by making backdoor deals. One trustee has accused others of pushing certain candidates based on ethnicity instead of experience. And a meeting to possibly announce a lone finalist for the job last week was abruptly canceled.
Mr. Price and Mr. Brashear have alleged that some trustees made back-door deals during the search. And on Monday, Mr. Brashear and Dr. Blackburn voiced concern that Mr. Zornes had taken a paid position with the Austin-based Texas Business and Education Coalition where Dr. Hinojosa and Mr. Lowe are on the board of directors. Dr. Blackburn had recommended that Mr. Lowe and Mr. Zornes recuse themselves from the superintendent selection process.
But on Tuesday, as the board held a closed meeting, a news release was issued that said the DISD board doesn't believe a conflict of interests exists concerning the coalition.
"After conferring with counsel, the Board of Trustees has determined that neither the service of Trustee Jack Lowe Jr. on the Board of Directors of the Texas Business and Education Coalition nor the announced hiring of Trustee Ken Zornes as deputy executive director of that coalition constitutes a conflict of interest pursuant either to the district's policies or relevant state law," the statement said. "Therefore these trustees should and will participate fully in the process of selecting the district's general superintendent.
"Both Trustee Lowe and Trustee Zornes have reported that neither have had conversations with Dr. Hinojosa regarding his candidacy for the position of general superintendent."
Trustees' 6-2 vote favors Spring ISD leader for superintendent job
By TAWNELL D. HOBBS and TOYA LYNN STEWART / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Michael Hinojosa, superintendent of the Spring Independent School District, was approved in a split vote to be the lone finalist for the Dallas superintendent job after a marathon meeting Tuesday night.
Dr. Hinojosa received a supporting vote from six trustees. Two trustees opposed his selection and another abstained from voting.
Dr. Hinojosa briefly spoke to the media after the vote was taken.
"Certainly, I'm very honored to be considered a finalist for this great school district," he said. "I'm very excited to be able to work with an outstanding school board."
Trustee Hollis Brashear made a last ditch effort for the board to consider an internal candidate, Jim Scales, a DISD deputy superintendent, at the meeting that ended late Tuesday.
"I wanted two names, Dr. Scales and Dr. Hinojosa, to meet with the public," Mr. Brashear said after the vote. "I felt that we owed it to Dr. Scales. He has played a major role in the success we've had."
Trustee Joe May said after the meeting that "Hinojosa was clearly the best candidate."
"I saw him as being far more aggressive," he said.
Trustees Nancy Bingham, Lois Parrott, Ken Zornes, Jack Lowe, Jerome Garza and Mr. May voted for Dr. Hinojosa, who has led the 28,000-student Spring school district since 2002. Mr. Brashear and trustee Lew Blackburn voted against hiring Dr. Hinojosa, while trustee Ron Price abstained.
"I abstained, and it was a sign that I didn't approve – but I don't disapprove either," Mr. Price said, adding that he was looking for someone with a proven track record in an urban school district.
Mr. Price said that he didn't think the trustees did their job and that the search for a new superintendent should have been extended.
Dr. Hinojosa, president of the Texas Association of School Administrators, was the Texas Association of School Boards' 2002 Superintendent of the Year. He also was recognized in 1996 as a distinguished educator by the Texas Association of Hispanic School Administrators.
The possible competition of Dr. Scales and Dr. Hinojosa had set up a rivalry between trustees having to choose between a black and Hispanic candidate who both have notable careers. Dr. Hinojosa is Hispanic. Dr. Scales is black.
The DISD superintendent search has been marred by conflict. Two trustees have accused other board members of tainting the search by making backdoor deals. One trustee has accused others of pushing certain candidates based on ethnicity instead of experience. And a meeting to possibly announce a lone finalist for the job last week was abruptly canceled.
Mr. Price and Mr. Brashear have alleged that some trustees made back-door deals during the search. And on Monday, Mr. Brashear and Dr. Blackburn voiced concern that Mr. Zornes had taken a paid position with the Austin-based Texas Business and Education Coalition where Dr. Hinojosa and Mr. Lowe are on the board of directors. Dr. Blackburn had recommended that Mr. Lowe and Mr. Zornes recuse themselves from the superintendent selection process.
But on Tuesday, as the board held a closed meeting, a news release was issued that said the DISD board doesn't believe a conflict of interests exists concerning the coalition.
"After conferring with counsel, the Board of Trustees has determined that neither the service of Trustee Jack Lowe Jr. on the Board of Directors of the Texas Business and Education Coalition nor the announced hiring of Trustee Ken Zornes as deputy executive director of that coalition constitutes a conflict of interest pursuant either to the district's policies or relevant state law," the statement said. "Therefore these trustees should and will participate fully in the process of selecting the district's general superintendent.
"Both Trustee Lowe and Trustee Zornes have reported that neither have had conversations with Dr. Hinojosa regarding his candidacy for the position of general superintendent."
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Murder victim's family seeks progress in case
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Doris Ojeda's office at Lopez Electric in Dallas is exactly as she left it a year ago, with pictures of her children on her desk and papers stacked a certain way.
Ojeda was shot and killed on March 29, 2004 while walking with her husband in front of Gooch Elementary in North Dallas. Her fellow employees keep her office as a small shrine to the 41-year-old mother, who is still missed.
"I guess we don't want to admit that she is not coming back," said Ojeda's brother Ernesto Lopez. "It's a little tribute to her."
Ojeda's family believes police have done little over the past year to catch the people responsible for her murder.
"It's been a hell like we've never known," Lopez said. "It's frustrating."
Family members say they're upset homicide detectives have focused their attention on Ojeda's husband, Raymon.
"I have been told they had a theory that it was Raymon, and they declared victory and went back to the coffee shop," Lopez said.
Ojeda's family said they don't believe Raymon Ojeda had anything to do with his wife's murder. They accuse detectives of not doing their jobs; they said it took them six months to even look at Ojeda's computer for clues.
Dallas Police officials said Ojeda could have eliminated himself as a suspect had he agreed to a polygraph test, but they said for months he's refused.
"We let the cases lead us to where they lead us," said Dallas Police Sgt. Ross Salverino. "We don't look around and make a supposition."
The case has now been turned over from the Homicide Division to a special unit for review.
"It's not anything uncommon," Salverino said. "Many times, cases such as this are exchanged so a fresh set of eyes can look at them. Sometimes you get too close to these cases, and you miss something."
Meanwhile, police and family both say they want the same thing: to find the person who took the life of an innocent woman.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Doris Ojeda's office at Lopez Electric in Dallas is exactly as she left it a year ago, with pictures of her children on her desk and papers stacked a certain way.
Ojeda was shot and killed on March 29, 2004 while walking with her husband in front of Gooch Elementary in North Dallas. Her fellow employees keep her office as a small shrine to the 41-year-old mother, who is still missed.
"I guess we don't want to admit that she is not coming back," said Ojeda's brother Ernesto Lopez. "It's a little tribute to her."
Ojeda's family believes police have done little over the past year to catch the people responsible for her murder.
"It's been a hell like we've never known," Lopez said. "It's frustrating."
Family members say they're upset homicide detectives have focused their attention on Ojeda's husband, Raymon.
"I have been told they had a theory that it was Raymon, and they declared victory and went back to the coffee shop," Lopez said.
Ojeda's family said they don't believe Raymon Ojeda had anything to do with his wife's murder. They accuse detectives of not doing their jobs; they said it took them six months to even look at Ojeda's computer for clues.
Dallas Police officials said Ojeda could have eliminated himself as a suspect had he agreed to a polygraph test, but they said for months he's refused.
"We let the cases lead us to where they lead us," said Dallas Police Sgt. Ross Salverino. "We don't look around and make a supposition."
The case has now been turned over from the Homicide Division to a special unit for review.
"It's not anything uncommon," Salverino said. "Many times, cases such as this are exchanged so a fresh set of eyes can look at them. Sometimes you get too close to these cases, and you miss something."
Meanwhile, police and family both say they want the same thing: to find the person who took the life of an innocent woman.
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Collin County files suit over computers
Officials claim firms promised system they couldn't deliver
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
MCKINNEY, Texas - Collin County is suing two high-tech companies for fraud.
The lawsuit claims the companies assured county leaders they could successfully install a new computer system, but then could not deliver.
Contractors from Siemens Business Services and SAP Public Services worked with county employees to install a single computer system for several county departments.
"Right now, the way this thing is set up it's a very laborious process," said County Judge Ron Harris.
County leaders said Siemens and SAP assured them the complicated new computer system could be built - that's why they agreed to pay the companies $6 million. But Collin officials claim on March 18, the contractors informed the county they could not produce the system they promised.
County leaders said they decided to stop the project at that point, or risk spending millions of dollars on a computer system that was destined to fail.
The lawsuit accuses Siemens and SAP of fraud, claiming the companies intentionally made false statements to get the deal. The county also claims they relied on those false statements when they agreed to a contract, so they want $10 million in damages.
"I always regret having to go to court," Harris said. "I would hope that we're able to negotiate through this and get it solved because we are wasting time."
The county has already spent $1 million in tax dollars to pay their employees working on the project. Siemens and SAP declined to talk with News 8, citing the pending litigation.
Officials claim firms promised system they couldn't deliver
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
MCKINNEY, Texas - Collin County is suing two high-tech companies for fraud.
The lawsuit claims the companies assured county leaders they could successfully install a new computer system, but then could not deliver.
Contractors from Siemens Business Services and SAP Public Services worked with county employees to install a single computer system for several county departments.
"Right now, the way this thing is set up it's a very laborious process," said County Judge Ron Harris.
County leaders said Siemens and SAP assured them the complicated new computer system could be built - that's why they agreed to pay the companies $6 million. But Collin officials claim on March 18, the contractors informed the county they could not produce the system they promised.
County leaders said they decided to stop the project at that point, or risk spending millions of dollars on a computer system that was destined to fail.
The lawsuit accuses Siemens and SAP of fraud, claiming the companies intentionally made false statements to get the deal. The county also claims they relied on those false statements when they agreed to a contract, so they want $10 million in damages.
"I always regret having to go to court," Harris said. "I would hope that we're able to negotiate through this and get it solved because we are wasting time."
The county has already spent $1 million in tax dollars to pay their employees working on the project. Siemens and SAP declined to talk with News 8, citing the pending litigation.
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TexasStooge
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Missing Balch Springs infant found safe
BALCH SPRINGS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - After a frantic search, a three-month-old baby who had been the subject of an Amber Alert in Balch Springs was reunited with her parents on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Sergeney Sherif was with her mother and father outside a Dollar General Store in the 11900 block of Lake June Road around 11:30 a.m. when the child was taken by a young woman in a van.
The parents told police that they knew the young woman, who is a reported runaway.
Police said the suspect was seated in the van when she asked to see the child. When the father handed Sergeney to the young woman, shouted "Go!" to the driver of the van and they sped away.
No details were available about how Sergeney was found.
BALCH SPRINGS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - After a frantic search, a three-month-old baby who had been the subject of an Amber Alert in Balch Springs was reunited with her parents on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said Sergeney Sherif was with her mother and father outside a Dollar General Store in the 11900 block of Lake June Road around 11:30 a.m. when the child was taken by a young woman in a van.
The parents told police that they knew the young woman, who is a reported runaway.
Police said the suspect was seated in the van when she asked to see the child. When the father handed Sergeney to the young woman, shouted "Go!" to the driver of the van and they sped away.
No details were available about how Sergeney was found.
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Trial begins in Deep Ellum beating case
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Testimony is under way at the trial of a man accused of severely beating a man in Dallas' Deep Ellum entertainment district last summer.
Nine months after victim David Cunniff, 44, was assaulted and left paralyzed in the attack, he stunned many in the courtroom by walking in on crutches to be sworn in on first day of testimony at the Crowley Courts Building.
Jesse Chaddock, 33, is accused of assaulting Cunniff after he and his teenage daughter, Kaitlin, attended a concert.
Prosecutors said Cunniff was targeted after he saw the defendant and some friends flick a cigarette over the head of an African-American patron. "That's not cool," Cunniff reportedly said.
Kaitlin Cunniff and prosecutors then showed the jury how Chaddock allegedly attacked the girl's father.
"He then takes his head and began slamming his torso into that concrete floor causing devasating injuries: a broken neck; a severed spinal cord," said prosecutor Toby Shook.
The state claims Chaddock is a member of a neo-Nazi skinhead gang and charged him with engaging in organized criminal activity the night Cunniff was attacked.
Chaddock entered a not guilty plea. Defense lawyer Phillip Hayes told jurors there is another side to the story of what happened.
"The assault that occured that night, you will hear the facts about," Hayes said. "It had nothing to do with racism, it had nothing to do with skinheads. It had to do with two people mouthing off at each other at a bar."
Cunniff, a father of three, was hospitalized for several months after the brutal beating.
Kaitlin Cunniff recalled for jurors his reaction when her father first realized he was paralyzed: "'I can't feel my back. I can't feel my hand. I cant feel anything.'"
If convicted, Chaddock could face life in prison.
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Testimony is under way at the trial of a man accused of severely beating a man in Dallas' Deep Ellum entertainment district last summer.
Nine months after victim David Cunniff, 44, was assaulted and left paralyzed in the attack, he stunned many in the courtroom by walking in on crutches to be sworn in on first day of testimony at the Crowley Courts Building.
Jesse Chaddock, 33, is accused of assaulting Cunniff after he and his teenage daughter, Kaitlin, attended a concert.
Prosecutors said Cunniff was targeted after he saw the defendant and some friends flick a cigarette over the head of an African-American patron. "That's not cool," Cunniff reportedly said.
Kaitlin Cunniff and prosecutors then showed the jury how Chaddock allegedly attacked the girl's father.
"He then takes his head and began slamming his torso into that concrete floor causing devasating injuries: a broken neck; a severed spinal cord," said prosecutor Toby Shook.
The state claims Chaddock is a member of a neo-Nazi skinhead gang and charged him with engaging in organized criminal activity the night Cunniff was attacked.
Chaddock entered a not guilty plea. Defense lawyer Phillip Hayes told jurors there is another side to the story of what happened.
"The assault that occured that night, you will hear the facts about," Hayes said. "It had nothing to do with racism, it had nothing to do with skinheads. It had to do with two people mouthing off at each other at a bar."
Cunniff, a father of three, was hospitalized for several months after the brutal beating.
Kaitlin Cunniff recalled for jurors his reaction when her father first realized he was paralyzed: "'I can't feel my back. I can't feel my hand. I cant feel anything.'"
If convicted, Chaddock could face life in prison.
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6-year-old boy killed by garbage truck
FLOWER MOUND, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Flower Mound police are investigating the death of a 6-year-old boy who died Tuesday after a garbage truck backed over him.
The boy, whose name is not being released, was riding his bike in the 5000 block of Timber Creek Road Tuesday afternoon as his grandfather walked beside him.
The boy rode up behind a Trinity Waste Services garbage truck which had stopped to pick up trash. The driver did not notice the boy was behind the truck when he backed up to turn onto another street, police said. The boy died at the scene.
FLOWER MOUND, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Flower Mound police are investigating the death of a 6-year-old boy who died Tuesday after a garbage truck backed over him.
The boy, whose name is not being released, was riding his bike in the 5000 block of Timber Creek Road Tuesday afternoon as his grandfather walked beside him.
The boy rode up behind a Trinity Waste Services garbage truck which had stopped to pick up trash. The driver did not notice the boy was behind the truck when he backed up to turn onto another street, police said. The boy died at the scene.
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Killer disease affecting N. Texas pets
By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A North Texas community is seeing a surge in a killer disease in dogs that can also affect humans.
Veterinarians are concerned, and want to warn pet owners as well.
He's now spry again, but 10-year-old terrier Shenendoa was near death a few weeks ago.
"He woke up one morning just vomiting," said owner Barbara Birgfeld. "It was real quick like that."
Shenandoah tested positive for leptospirosis, a rare bacterial illness that can cause liver and kidney failure in a matter of days. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to people, with the same potentially deadly outcome.
"We just kind of look up in the eyes here..."
The signs are yellow, jaundiced eyes, vomiting, and lethargy. Veterinarians in Flower Mound have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks - some fatal.
"It's definitely concerning," said veterinarian Dr. Beth Waisburd. "A lot of the cases that we've confirmed are indoor animals that are just going outside to play in the yard and take walks, so that's kind of scary."
Animal experts suspect urban sprawl may be to blame for its spread in Flower Mound. Wild animals, rats included, carry leptospirosis. As construction forces them out of natural habitats, they explore nearby neighborhoods and infect pets."
Because leptospirosis bacteria concentrate in urine, passing it from pets to people can be as easy as picking up a dog.
"If you're not thinking to wash your hands and be really careful every time you handle your animals, it's a possibility and definitely a concern," Waisburd said.
Birgfeld and her husband both took antibiotics to ward off any potential infection. They suspect Shenendoa picked up the sickness in their own backyard.
"Which is, you know, a scary thought," Birgfeld said.
They want other dog owners to be aware of the potential for sudden illness in their beloved pets.
By JANET ST. JAMES / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A North Texas community is seeing a surge in a killer disease in dogs that can also affect humans.
Veterinarians are concerned, and want to warn pet owners as well.
He's now spry again, but 10-year-old terrier Shenendoa was near death a few weeks ago.
"He woke up one morning just vomiting," said owner Barbara Birgfeld. "It was real quick like that."
Shenandoah tested positive for leptospirosis, a rare bacterial illness that can cause liver and kidney failure in a matter of days. Leptospirosis can be transmitted to people, with the same potentially deadly outcome.
"We just kind of look up in the eyes here..."
The signs are yellow, jaundiced eyes, vomiting, and lethargy. Veterinarians in Flower Mound have seen a surge in cases in recent weeks - some fatal.
"It's definitely concerning," said veterinarian Dr. Beth Waisburd. "A lot of the cases that we've confirmed are indoor animals that are just going outside to play in the yard and take walks, so that's kind of scary."
Animal experts suspect urban sprawl may be to blame for its spread in Flower Mound. Wild animals, rats included, carry leptospirosis. As construction forces them out of natural habitats, they explore nearby neighborhoods and infect pets."
Because leptospirosis bacteria concentrate in urine, passing it from pets to people can be as easy as picking up a dog.
"If you're not thinking to wash your hands and be really careful every time you handle your animals, it's a possibility and definitely a concern," Waisburd said.
Birgfeld and her husband both took antibiotics to ward off any potential infection. They suspect Shenendoa picked up the sickness in their own backyard.
"Which is, you know, a scary thought," Birgfeld said.
They want other dog owners to be aware of the potential for sudden illness in their beloved pets.
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TexasStooge
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3 hurt in construction site collapse
By MICHAEL REY / WFAA ABC 8
DUNCANVILLE, Texas — Three workers were hurt Tuesday morning in a structural collapse at a hotel construction site in Duncanville.
The workers were building an addition to the Hilton Garden Inn at Interstate 20 and Duncanville Road when a crane was being used to move heavy steel beams into place about 10:15 a.m.
Jamie Botter, a construction worker, said high winds gusting to 40 mph made it difficult to keep the heavy structural member under control. "The A-frame got hit by the crane because they didn't have no person on either end of the guy wires," he said.
"We had three construction workers that were on top of the steel at the time," said City of Duncanville spokesman Keith Bilbrey. "They fell to the ground approximately 20 feet. "
The workers were taken to Methodist Medical Center in Dallas for treatment. The extent of their injuries was unkown, but Bilbrey said the three men were stable when they left the scene; one had leg injuries and there were possible leg injuries.
Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were expected on the construction site later Tuesday.
This is the third major construction accident in recent weeks in North Texas.
On March 19, two workers were killed in Irving when a crane collapsed at a parking garage construction site.
Last Friday, 10 workers were hurt when scaffolding collapsed at the site of the new Texas Instruments fabrication plant in Richardson.
By MICHAEL REY / WFAA ABC 8
DUNCANVILLE, Texas — Three workers were hurt Tuesday morning in a structural collapse at a hotel construction site in Duncanville.
The workers were building an addition to the Hilton Garden Inn at Interstate 20 and Duncanville Road when a crane was being used to move heavy steel beams into place about 10:15 a.m.
Jamie Botter, a construction worker, said high winds gusting to 40 mph made it difficult to keep the heavy structural member under control. "The A-frame got hit by the crane because they didn't have no person on either end of the guy wires," he said.
"We had three construction workers that were on top of the steel at the time," said City of Duncanville spokesman Keith Bilbrey. "They fell to the ground approximately 20 feet. "
The workers were taken to Methodist Medical Center in Dallas for treatment. The extent of their injuries was unkown, but Bilbrey said the three men were stable when they left the scene; one had leg injuries and there were possible leg injuries.
Investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were expected on the construction site later Tuesday.
This is the third major construction accident in recent weeks in North Texas.
On March 19, two workers were killed in Irving when a crane collapsed at a parking garage construction site.
Last Friday, 10 workers were hurt when scaffolding collapsed at the site of the new Texas Instruments fabrication plant in Richardson.
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TexasStooge
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Blind dog appears at cruelty hearing
By AMY EIERMANN / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – Loco, a dachshund-beagle mix whose eyes were gouged out four years ago in Dallas, was the star witness before a committee hearing Tuesday considering whether to toughen animal cruelty laws.
His owner, Greg Autry of Red Oak, told the House Agriculture and Livestock Committee that Loco was taken from his back yard and returned five days later with both eyes gouged out.
"The people who commit these acts need to be held accountable at this stage, not when they do it to some child," Mr. Autry said.
Former FBI agent Mark Young testified that people who harm animals are often prone to violence against humans.
According to bill author Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, the new language would make it a misdemeanor to kill your own animal or stray animal in a cruel manner and also make it illegal to train or condition an animal for fighting. Repeat offenders could face felony charges.
"What the bill does do is clean up the statute, which you could essentially drive a truck through as a criminal defense lawyer," Mr. Goodman said.
Opponents worry that the proposed bill is so broad that it could make hunting, rodeos and livestock treatment subject to criminal sanctions.
"The law that we have on the books today is sufficient," said Charly Seale, executive director of the Exotic Wildlife Association. "Prosecutors have the tools they need under the current system to take care of animal cruelty that is going on today."
The bill was proposed after Bell County Attorney Richard J. Miller found that current law did not allow him to prosecute a man who killed his own puppy with a lawn mower.
Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, who sits on the committee, favors the idea of the bill but voiced concerns on what unintended effects it might have.
"We don't want to tell Barnum and Bailey they can't come to Texas," said Mr. Anderson, a veterinarian.
The bill was left pending before the committee and is expected to be reconsidered next week.
By AMY EIERMANN / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN, Texas – Loco, a dachshund-beagle mix whose eyes were gouged out four years ago in Dallas, was the star witness before a committee hearing Tuesday considering whether to toughen animal cruelty laws.
His owner, Greg Autry of Red Oak, told the House Agriculture and Livestock Committee that Loco was taken from his back yard and returned five days later with both eyes gouged out.
"The people who commit these acts need to be held accountable at this stage, not when they do it to some child," Mr. Autry said.
Former FBI agent Mark Young testified that people who harm animals are often prone to violence against humans.
According to bill author Rep. Toby Goodman, R-Arlington, the new language would make it a misdemeanor to kill your own animal or stray animal in a cruel manner and also make it illegal to train or condition an animal for fighting. Repeat offenders could face felony charges.
"What the bill does do is clean up the statute, which you could essentially drive a truck through as a criminal defense lawyer," Mr. Goodman said.
Opponents worry that the proposed bill is so broad that it could make hunting, rodeos and livestock treatment subject to criminal sanctions.
"The law that we have on the books today is sufficient," said Charly Seale, executive director of the Exotic Wildlife Association. "Prosecutors have the tools they need under the current system to take care of animal cruelty that is going on today."
The bill was proposed after Bell County Attorney Richard J. Miller found that current law did not allow him to prosecute a man who killed his own puppy with a lawn mower.
Rep. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, who sits on the committee, favors the idea of the bill but voiced concerns on what unintended effects it might have.
"We don't want to tell Barnum and Bailey they can't come to Texas," said Mr. Anderson, a veterinarian.
The bill was left pending before the committee and is expected to be reconsidered next week.
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Dallas PD hopes to reverse recruit shortage
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS, Texas - The Dallas Police Department needs more officers on the streets to fight crime, but is having problems hiring them.
The department could only find 36 qualified recruits in the latest class, even though there was room for 50 from a pool of hundreds of applicants.
News 8 has learned the department now has plans to lower the qualifications for military personnel to get more applicants.
"It's a difficult market right now to try and bring people in," said DPD assistant chief Tom Ward.
The DPD is much more selective now under Chief David Kunkle, following past criticism for recruiting people with serious discipline problems. Recruiters said they now thoroughly screen every applicant.
The latest class includes members like Ed Ducayet, a Harvard Law School graduate who gave up a law career to make $38,000 as a police recruit.
"I was considering criminal prosecution, but I really wanted something more hands-on," Ducayet said. "Something dealing with the community and people, and helping people out with their problems."
Because the department is tossing out so many applicantions, commanders feel they need a wider applicant pool, so they want to change the rules to allow more military personnel to apply.
Currently, DPD requires 45 hours of college credit. The new rule would allow military personnel who are honorably discharged to substitute four years' military experience for the college credit.
"Right now our job is to increase the number of applicants in Dallas so that we can actually bring in the best police officers for this city," Ward said.
Ducayet, who served five years in the Navy, said military experience is a plus.
"Education is a very fluid thing," he said. "It's not something you can define in a book."
Sources told News 8 that in 2004 the DPD missed out on recruiting more than 1,600 former military men and women. They hope the department can reverse that trend this year.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS, Texas - The Dallas Police Department needs more officers on the streets to fight crime, but is having problems hiring them.
The department could only find 36 qualified recruits in the latest class, even though there was room for 50 from a pool of hundreds of applicants.
News 8 has learned the department now has plans to lower the qualifications for military personnel to get more applicants.
"It's a difficult market right now to try and bring people in," said DPD assistant chief Tom Ward.
The DPD is much more selective now under Chief David Kunkle, following past criticism for recruiting people with serious discipline problems. Recruiters said they now thoroughly screen every applicant.
The latest class includes members like Ed Ducayet, a Harvard Law School graduate who gave up a law career to make $38,000 as a police recruit.
"I was considering criminal prosecution, but I really wanted something more hands-on," Ducayet said. "Something dealing with the community and people, and helping people out with their problems."
Because the department is tossing out so many applicantions, commanders feel they need a wider applicant pool, so they want to change the rules to allow more military personnel to apply.
Currently, DPD requires 45 hours of college credit. The new rule would allow military personnel who are honorably discharged to substitute four years' military experience for the college credit.
"Right now our job is to increase the number of applicants in Dallas so that we can actually bring in the best police officers for this city," Ward said.
Ducayet, who served five years in the Navy, said military experience is a plus.
"Education is a very fluid thing," he said. "It's not something you can define in a book."
Sources told News 8 that in 2004 the DPD missed out on recruiting more than 1,600 former military men and women. They hope the department can reverse that trend this year.
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TexasStooge
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Mansion burns in Northwest Dallas
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Two construction workers were injured in a fast-moving three-alarm fire that destroyed a large mansion near the Dallas North Tollway and Northwest Highway on Wednesday afternoon.
60 Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel were involved in fighting the fire, which started about 5:30 p.m. at the 11,000-square-foot home under construction in the 4900 block of Brookview Drive. Officials determined that the blaze was caused by improper use of a flammable liquid.
The workers were burned in the early stages of the fire, and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not known, though it appears they are non-life-threatening. A firefighter was also treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.
The mansion, which may end up being a total loss, had an estimated value of about $4 million. The owners were not present at the time of the fire.
At the height of the blaze, flames could be seen leaping into the air from several blocks away.
DALLAS, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - Two construction workers were injured in a fast-moving three-alarm fire that destroyed a large mansion near the Dallas North Tollway and Northwest Highway on Wednesday afternoon.
60 Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel were involved in fighting the fire, which started about 5:30 p.m. at the 11,000-square-foot home under construction in the 4900 block of Brookview Drive. Officials determined that the blaze was caused by improper use of a flammable liquid.
The workers were burned in the early stages of the fire, and were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not known, though it appears they are non-life-threatening. A firefighter was also treated at the scene for heat exhaustion.
The mansion, which may end up being a total loss, had an estimated value of about $4 million. The owners were not present at the time of the fire.
At the height of the blaze, flames could be seen leaping into the air from several blocks away.
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Bedford library closing amid major cuts
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
BEDFORD, Texas - Residents in Bedford are beginning to pay the price of rolling back recent property tax hikes.
Dozens of layoffs and major cuts in services are taking effect this week. The city's senior citizens center, aquatic center and even the library are closing, at least for the foreseeable future.
Robert Page and granddaughter Shelby were at the library on its closing day to practice reading.
"I feel it's a blight on the community not to have a library," Page said.
People are sad - and angry.
"I just can't imagine in the United States that they'd have a library closing," said library patron Virginia Duke.
The library's closing hurts employees too; all 30 workers are losing their jobs.
"They're looking at losing their house, losing everything," said librarian Marlene Whatling.
In all, 50 city employees in Bedford will soon be out of work. Not only will residents will lose the use of facilities, other city services will also be cut, including landscaping at parks.
"We'll cut chemical applications which take care of weeds and fire ants," said Bedford mayor pro tem Alicia McGlinchey. "We may be in violation of our own ordinances on high grass which we may have to amend."
Bedford's leaders agonized over many painful cuts across the city to save $2.5 million, in an effort to balance the budget. They said it's a necessity after voters rolled back the property taxes.
The decision passed by just 10 votes. Homeowners won a property tax refund, averaging about $150, but they lose as well.
State law prevents Bedford's animal shelter from shutting down, but two of six officers are out of work in two weeks.
And city leaders worry that Bedford will lose business.
"I'm afraid as the city starts to look shabby, that there will be a sense that Bedford is in decline," McGlinchey said.
The library and other facilities are not shutting down forever, but city leaders believe it could be October - the next budget year - before services return to what they were.
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
BEDFORD, Texas - Residents in Bedford are beginning to pay the price of rolling back recent property tax hikes.
Dozens of layoffs and major cuts in services are taking effect this week. The city's senior citizens center, aquatic center and even the library are closing, at least for the foreseeable future.
Robert Page and granddaughter Shelby were at the library on its closing day to practice reading.
"I feel it's a blight on the community not to have a library," Page said.
People are sad - and angry.
"I just can't imagine in the United States that they'd have a library closing," said library patron Virginia Duke.
The library's closing hurts employees too; all 30 workers are losing their jobs.
"They're looking at losing their house, losing everything," said librarian Marlene Whatling.
In all, 50 city employees in Bedford will soon be out of work. Not only will residents will lose the use of facilities, other city services will also be cut, including landscaping at parks.
"We'll cut chemical applications which take care of weeds and fire ants," said Bedford mayor pro tem Alicia McGlinchey. "We may be in violation of our own ordinances on high grass which we may have to amend."
Bedford's leaders agonized over many painful cuts across the city to save $2.5 million, in an effort to balance the budget. They said it's a necessity after voters rolled back the property taxes.
The decision passed by just 10 votes. Homeowners won a property tax refund, averaging about $150, but they lose as well.
State law prevents Bedford's animal shelter from shutting down, but two of six officers are out of work in two weeks.
And city leaders worry that Bedford will lose business.
"I'm afraid as the city starts to look shabby, that there will be a sense that Bedford is in decline," McGlinchey said.
The library and other facilities are not shutting down forever, but city leaders believe it could be October - the next budget year - before services return to what they were.
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Likely cause of BP accident ID'd
HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) – Investigators say it appears an ignition source on the ground likely combined with a hydrocarbon liquid and vapor release to set off a fiery refinery explosion that killed 15 and injured more than 100 last week.
"Witness evidence points to possible ignition sources on the ground," U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board manager Bill Hoyle said in a statement Wednesday. "At this time, the exact ignition source remains unknown."
But, based on reports, investigators are considering the possibility a vehicle's ignition set off the blast in the BP plant's isomerization unit at its refinery in Texas City, CSB spokesman Daniel Horowitz confirmed Wednesday.
Investigators have not been able to enter the isomerization unit, which boosts octane levels in gasoline, because the dome of a benzene storage tank at an adjoining refinery tank farm was damaged and may be leaking hazardous vapors.
"As soon as we are in the isomerization unit, they will be able to make some better determinations about that," Horowitz said of the reports related to a vehicle's ignition.
Hoyle said at the time of the explosion, the raffinate splitter subunit, which separates lighter hydrocarbon material from heavier hydrocarbons, was being restarted after maintenance on the isomerization unit.
The isomerization unit at the plant, which processes 433,000 barrels of crude oil a day and 3 percent of the nation's gasoline, converts the chemicals pentane and hexane, both highly flammable, into isopentane and isohexane.
Witnesses have told investigators there was a hydrocarbon liquid and vapor release that fell to the ground moments before the powerful explosion, which shot flames, ash and blackened metal into the sky and was felt miles away.
Investigators spent Wednesday cataloging blast damage at two units adjacent to the isomerization unit. Both are located several hundred yards from the explosion's presumed point of origin.
Investigators documented minor to moderate structural damage in the two units, Hoyle said.
BP spokesman Hugh Depland said the benzene vapors from the damaged tank were only detected in a "very small area within the facility" and workers plan to seal the tank with a temporary foam cap.
"Our primary priority is to make sure that whoever has to go in that area can do so safely," he said.
Horowitz said CSB investigators hope to enter the area that houses the isomerization unit Thursday, "but we have been hopeful for a while."
As investigators continued their work a week following the explosion, hundreds of workers at the plant paused to remember their 15 colleagues who died.
A moment of silence was observed at BP plants worldwide at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday and at a hospital where five workers remain in intensive care, BP spokesman Bill Stephens said.
"Fifteen people came to work for us last Wednesday and never returned home," the plant's director, Don Parus, said in a letter to employees, which Stephens said echoed what Parus told workers during the private memorial service.
"Engineers, craftsmen, supervisors and assistants. Fathers, mothers, husbands and wives. No matter what an investigation determines the cause of that terrible accident to be, they lost their lives while they were in our home," his statement said. "That is a terrible burden for each of us to carry."
Parus told workers that rescuers struggled heroically to save those hit by the blast.
"I know that, for me, it has been difficult to confront the enormity of what has happened, but I also know that, in the end, it will help give me the strength to move on and to be of greater benefit to those around me," Parus wrote.
He said workers must take the time they need to grieve and accept what has happened, but also need to move on to making the plant "a truly safe place for each of us to work."
"To do this we must keep each of those who were lost in our hearts and let them guide us to a place where outcomes such as this can never occur," he said.
HOUSTON, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) – Investigators say it appears an ignition source on the ground likely combined with a hydrocarbon liquid and vapor release to set off a fiery refinery explosion that killed 15 and injured more than 100 last week.
"Witness evidence points to possible ignition sources on the ground," U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board manager Bill Hoyle said in a statement Wednesday. "At this time, the exact ignition source remains unknown."
But, based on reports, investigators are considering the possibility a vehicle's ignition set off the blast in the BP plant's isomerization unit at its refinery in Texas City, CSB spokesman Daniel Horowitz confirmed Wednesday.
Investigators have not been able to enter the isomerization unit, which boosts octane levels in gasoline, because the dome of a benzene storage tank at an adjoining refinery tank farm was damaged and may be leaking hazardous vapors.
"As soon as we are in the isomerization unit, they will be able to make some better determinations about that," Horowitz said of the reports related to a vehicle's ignition.
Hoyle said at the time of the explosion, the raffinate splitter subunit, which separates lighter hydrocarbon material from heavier hydrocarbons, was being restarted after maintenance on the isomerization unit.
The isomerization unit at the plant, which processes 433,000 barrels of crude oil a day and 3 percent of the nation's gasoline, converts the chemicals pentane and hexane, both highly flammable, into isopentane and isohexane.
Witnesses have told investigators there was a hydrocarbon liquid and vapor release that fell to the ground moments before the powerful explosion, which shot flames, ash and blackened metal into the sky and was felt miles away.
Investigators spent Wednesday cataloging blast damage at two units adjacent to the isomerization unit. Both are located several hundred yards from the explosion's presumed point of origin.
Investigators documented minor to moderate structural damage in the two units, Hoyle said.
BP spokesman Hugh Depland said the benzene vapors from the damaged tank were only detected in a "very small area within the facility" and workers plan to seal the tank with a temporary foam cap.
"Our primary priority is to make sure that whoever has to go in that area can do so safely," he said.
Horowitz said CSB investigators hope to enter the area that houses the isomerization unit Thursday, "but we have been hopeful for a while."
As investigators continued their work a week following the explosion, hundreds of workers at the plant paused to remember their 15 colleagues who died.
A moment of silence was observed at BP plants worldwide at 1:20 p.m. Wednesday and at a hospital where five workers remain in intensive care, BP spokesman Bill Stephens said.
"Fifteen people came to work for us last Wednesday and never returned home," the plant's director, Don Parus, said in a letter to employees, which Stephens said echoed what Parus told workers during the private memorial service.
"Engineers, craftsmen, supervisors and assistants. Fathers, mothers, husbands and wives. No matter what an investigation determines the cause of that terrible accident to be, they lost their lives while they were in our home," his statement said. "That is a terrible burden for each of us to carry."
Parus told workers that rescuers struggled heroically to save those hit by the blast.
"I know that, for me, it has been difficult to confront the enormity of what has happened, but I also know that, in the end, it will help give me the strength to move on and to be of greater benefit to those around me," Parus wrote.
He said workers must take the time they need to grieve and accept what has happened, but also need to move on to making the plant "a truly safe place for each of us to work."
"To do this we must keep each of those who were lost in our hearts and let them guide us to a place where outcomes such as this can never occur," he said.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Viva Selena!
10 years after her death, her life and music are not forgotten
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Selena Quintanilla Perez transcended Latin music styles and audiences. Sure, she was technically a Tejano singer, but the effervescent Texan quickly outgrew the genre, injecting plenty of mainstream pop appeal and tropical rhythms in her increasingly successful repertoire. It's no wonder that by the time of 1994's Amor Prohibido, the last album released while she was alive, Selena had conquered the Latin pop landscape and was poised to cross over to mainstream success.
Selena died 10 years ago Thursday, so the time seems right to re-evaluate her career and her life. Like all legends cut down in their prime, Selena's national hit-making recording career was short, a mere five years since her self-titled major label debut in 1989 to Amor Prohibido. But her life was about more than just lyrics and melodies. Here are some of Selena's different sides:
The personal story
Born April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena showed musical inclinations early. The youngest child of Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla, her siblings, brother A.B. and sister Suzette, doted on the vivacious little girl. She was barely 10 years old when she began to sing with Los Dinos. The group, her father's former Tejano band, was reconfigured to back up Selena. She performed at the family's Mexican restaurant and at local parties, and put out a handful of early releases on independent Tejano labels before landing a recording contract with Capitol-EMI Latin at age 18. By then she was already an established regional act with a few Tejano Music Awards. Everything happened fast for her, including her marriage to Dinos guitarist, Chris Perez. They wed secretly on April 2, 1992, at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi. Tragically, her life ended rapidly, too, at 23. Her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldivar, fatally shot her March 31, 1995. Ms. Saldivar is serving a life sentence for the crime and is eligible for parole in 2025.
The music
Selena's final two albums showcase the power of her sound. The Grammy-winning Selena Live, from 1993, gives an audible reminder of her stage personality. She's sassy, bubbly and in full command of her talents. Few live albums are must-haves, but this is one. Her crowning glory is 1994's Amor Prohibido, a CD that took Tejano out of Texas and brought it to the rest of the country. She toys with pop, reggae, techno and traditional balladry, and even pulls off a cover of the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang," here retitled "Fotos y Recuerdos." For a glimpse of the pop crossover disc she was working on at the time of her death, pick up 1995's Dreaming of You. It's uneven, mainly because she hadn't finished it, but it still showcases her across-the-board appeal. Die-hard collectors can add to their tall stack of compilations with Selena – Unforgettable: The Ultimate Edition Box Set, two DVDs and two CDs, which arrives in stores Tuesday.
The performances
Those who experienced one of Selena's memorable concerts are lucky. She was a force of nature onstage, comfortable and confident but never cocky. But if you missed out, don't worry. In addition to the album Selena Live, there is also Selena Live: The Last Concert, a CD and DVD of the triumphant Houston Astrodome show on Feb. 26, 1995. Poured into her trademark glittery purple body suit and opening with a medley of disco classics, she whipped the crowd of more than 64,000 into a controlled frenzy. At every turn, she was in charge of the mania. To commemorate her musical prowess, Selena Vive!, a star-studded tribute concert, takes place April 7 at Houston's Reliant Stadium. A soundtrack CD of the show comes out in May. For concert details, call Ticketmaster.
The outside endeavors
Although best known for her enduring hits – from "Como la Flor" to "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" – Selena was becoming a designer and businesswoman. Her trademark bustiers were her creation, much to the chagrin of her dad, who always wanted his little girl to cover up more. She had an eye for fashion, and she parlayed that into her boutique, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi. Today, the shop is run by her sister, Suzette. Although it no longer carries the Selena line of clothing, it does offer modern wear aimed at young women, from teens to twentysomethings. At the store, you can also find Selena T-shirts, baseball caps, dolls, CDs and her perfume, Amor Prohibido.
The legacy
There are the tangible things: the compact discs, the clothes, the DVDs. But even if it's not as easy to measure, the inspiration she provided may be her most important contribution. She was a role model, a woman from a working class background who lived her dream and taught other Mexican-Americans (male and female) that hard work does pay off. Simple truths, yes, but hardly insignificant. She became the voice of a young Latino generation. For proof, look no further than the many Texas girls of Mexican descent who bear her name. There's no greater tribute than that. More on Selena
10 years after her death, her life and music are not forgotten
By MARIO TARRADELL / The Dallas Morning News
LAKE JACKSON, Texas - Selena Quintanilla Perez transcended Latin music styles and audiences. Sure, she was technically a Tejano singer, but the effervescent Texan quickly outgrew the genre, injecting plenty of mainstream pop appeal and tropical rhythms in her increasingly successful repertoire. It's no wonder that by the time of 1994's Amor Prohibido, the last album released while she was alive, Selena had conquered the Latin pop landscape and was poised to cross over to mainstream success.
Selena died 10 years ago Thursday, so the time seems right to re-evaluate her career and her life. Like all legends cut down in their prime, Selena's national hit-making recording career was short, a mere five years since her self-titled major label debut in 1989 to Amor Prohibido. But her life was about more than just lyrics and melodies. Here are some of Selena's different sides:
The personal story
Born April 16, 1971, in Lake Jackson, Texas, Selena showed musical inclinations early. The youngest child of Marcella and Abraham Quintanilla, her siblings, brother A.B. and sister Suzette, doted on the vivacious little girl. She was barely 10 years old when she began to sing with Los Dinos. The group, her father's former Tejano band, was reconfigured to back up Selena. She performed at the family's Mexican restaurant and at local parties, and put out a handful of early releases on independent Tejano labels before landing a recording contract with Capitol-EMI Latin at age 18. By then she was already an established regional act with a few Tejano Music Awards. Everything happened fast for her, including her marriage to Dinos guitarist, Chris Perez. They wed secretly on April 2, 1992, at the Nueces County Courthouse in Corpus Christi. Tragically, her life ended rapidly, too, at 23. Her former fan club president, Yolanda Saldivar, fatally shot her March 31, 1995. Ms. Saldivar is serving a life sentence for the crime and is eligible for parole in 2025.
The music
Selena's final two albums showcase the power of her sound. The Grammy-winning Selena Live, from 1993, gives an audible reminder of her stage personality. She's sassy, bubbly and in full command of her talents. Few live albums are must-haves, but this is one. Her crowning glory is 1994's Amor Prohibido, a CD that took Tejano out of Texas and brought it to the rest of the country. She toys with pop, reggae, techno and traditional balladry, and even pulls off a cover of the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang," here retitled "Fotos y Recuerdos." For a glimpse of the pop crossover disc she was working on at the time of her death, pick up 1995's Dreaming of You. It's uneven, mainly because she hadn't finished it, but it still showcases her across-the-board appeal. Die-hard collectors can add to their tall stack of compilations with Selena – Unforgettable: The Ultimate Edition Box Set, two DVDs and two CDs, which arrives in stores Tuesday.
The performances
Those who experienced one of Selena's memorable concerts are lucky. She was a force of nature onstage, comfortable and confident but never cocky. But if you missed out, don't worry. In addition to the album Selena Live, there is also Selena Live: The Last Concert, a CD and DVD of the triumphant Houston Astrodome show on Feb. 26, 1995. Poured into her trademark glittery purple body suit and opening with a medley of disco classics, she whipped the crowd of more than 64,000 into a controlled frenzy. At every turn, she was in charge of the mania. To commemorate her musical prowess, Selena Vive!, a star-studded tribute concert, takes place April 7 at Houston's Reliant Stadium. A soundtrack CD of the show comes out in May. For concert details, call Ticketmaster.
The outside endeavors
Although best known for her enduring hits – from "Como la Flor" to "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" – Selena was becoming a designer and businesswoman. Her trademark bustiers were her creation, much to the chagrin of her dad, who always wanted his little girl to cover up more. She had an eye for fashion, and she parlayed that into her boutique, Selena Etc., in Corpus Christi. Today, the shop is run by her sister, Suzette. Although it no longer carries the Selena line of clothing, it does offer modern wear aimed at young women, from teens to twentysomethings. At the store, you can also find Selena T-shirts, baseball caps, dolls, CDs and her perfume, Amor Prohibido.
The legacy
There are the tangible things: the compact discs, the clothes, the DVDs. But even if it's not as easy to measure, the inspiration she provided may be her most important contribution. She was a role model, a woman from a working class background who lived her dream and taught other Mexican-Americans (male and female) that hard work does pay off. Simple truths, yes, but hardly insignificant. She became the voice of a young Latino generation. For proof, look no further than the many Texas girls of Mexican descent who bear her name. There's no greater tribute than that. More on Selena
0 likes
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Flight attendants: Turnaround leading to fatigue
By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8
DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas - The nation's flight attendants have a new complaint: fatigue.
They say as airlines squeeze them to be more productive, it is leaving them little time to sleep, compromising passenger safety.
If the flight attendants on Southwest Airlines seem more bubbly than most, it may be because they are getting at least 10 hours of rest between workdays. Their competitors often get less.
"They put together trips that are for robots to work as opposed to human beings," said Northwest Airlines flight attendant union president Guy Meeks.
Flight attendants often get only the legal minimum eight hours of rest. ASA flight attendant Amy Green said she's often exhausted, because the rest period starts 15 minutes after the plane stops.
"I have eight hours to catch the employee bus to get to my car, which takes 20 to 30 min, and then I have a 20-minute drive home to get whatever sleep I can before I have to come back for that eight-hour shift," Green said.
To help airlines like American fight off bankruptcy, flight attendants agreed to take less rest. But now, they think the airlines have gone too far.
"I don't think the flying public would ever want flight personnel on that airplane who have had five or six hours' sleep when we are ultimately responsible for your health and safety," said American Airlines union president Tommie Hutto-Blake.
Regarding crew rest, American Airlines officials said the airline has no greater priority than safety, and will always operate within the guidelines of the FAA.
The presidents of the four major flight attendant unions said the solution is for the FAA to change the rules. At a rare meeting in Euless on Wednesday, they said such changes would be the best way to stop airlines from using rest rules to cut costs.
"What we'd like to do is have all management on the same level playing field," Hutto-Blake said.
Southwest even lets its flight attendants take time off for fatigue. Some find it curious that the airline with the longest rest periods is also the most profitable.
By GARY REAVES / WFAA ABC 8
DFW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Texas - The nation's flight attendants have a new complaint: fatigue.
They say as airlines squeeze them to be more productive, it is leaving them little time to sleep, compromising passenger safety.
If the flight attendants on Southwest Airlines seem more bubbly than most, it may be because they are getting at least 10 hours of rest between workdays. Their competitors often get less.
"They put together trips that are for robots to work as opposed to human beings," said Northwest Airlines flight attendant union president Guy Meeks.
Flight attendants often get only the legal minimum eight hours of rest. ASA flight attendant Amy Green said she's often exhausted, because the rest period starts 15 minutes after the plane stops.
"I have eight hours to catch the employee bus to get to my car, which takes 20 to 30 min, and then I have a 20-minute drive home to get whatever sleep I can before I have to come back for that eight-hour shift," Green said.
To help airlines like American fight off bankruptcy, flight attendants agreed to take less rest. But now, they think the airlines have gone too far.
"I don't think the flying public would ever want flight personnel on that airplane who have had five or six hours' sleep when we are ultimately responsible for your health and safety," said American Airlines union president Tommie Hutto-Blake.
Regarding crew rest, American Airlines officials said the airline has no greater priority than safety, and will always operate within the guidelines of the FAA.
The presidents of the four major flight attendant unions said the solution is for the FAA to change the rules. At a rare meeting in Euless on Wednesday, they said such changes would be the best way to stop airlines from using rest rules to cut costs.
"What we'd like to do is have all management on the same level playing field," Hutto-Blake said.
Southwest even lets its flight attendants take time off for fatigue. Some find it curious that the airline with the longest rest periods is also the most profitable.
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