Brothers guilty of supporting terror
By ROY APPLETON and MATT STILES / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - A federal jury on Wednesday convicted a former Richardson company and three of its employees of doing business with a terrorist, ending a case that prosecutors said shows the government's will to disrupt terrorism financing.
Brothers Bayan, Ghassan and Basman Elashi and their company InfoCom Corp. also were found guilty of conspiring to launder money in their dealings with a leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
"Our country, on our watch, will not be used as a platform to raise money and to support terrorism, wherever it's found," Nathan Garrett, assistant U.S. attorney, said after the verdict.
Defense attorneys argued during the two-week trial that the Elashis ran a legitimate business and that their ties to Mousa Abu Marzook, a U.S.-designated terrorist, were not illegal.
Bayan Elashi's attorney, Mike Gibson, said Wednesday that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the government overreacted by prosecuting the men for a financial arrangement intended to help Mr. Marzook's wife.
"These aren't some dark, nefarious guys out there doing evil things," he said, adding later, "This is not a case that should have been prosecuted."
U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay set sentencing for Aug. 1.
Bayan Elashi, the company's chief executive, and brother Ghassan, its vice president, were convicted on all 21 counts. The jury acquitted Basman Elashi, the company's logistics and credit manager, of most of the charges but found him guilty in the broader conspiracy.
Mr. Marzook and his wife, Nadia Elashi, also were charged in the case. They remain federal fugitives.
In closing arguments Tuesday, prosecutors told the jury that the brothers were guilty of ignoring a 1995 presidential executive order banning business with terrorists when they sent interest payments to Ms. Elashi, who is their cousin.
The government's case centered on a $250,000 investment in InfoCom. The indictment alleged that Mr. Marzook, a former U.S. resident believed to be living in Syria, put up the money for the March 1993 transaction. The company and the Elashis, the indictment alleged, later credited his wife with the financing to conceal his involvement.
Defense attorneys said Mr. Marzook, 54, had no involvement in the transaction and gave the money to his wife. Offering financial records as evidence, the attorneys said the investment repayments helped cover her living expenses.
The verdict caps a 10-year investigation involving four grand juries in three states. It began when Mr. Marzook was arrested at a New York airport in summer 1995. Days later, federal agents took subpoenaed records from InfoCom and the company's accountant.
A month later, the government designated Mr. Marzook a terrorist because of his leadership with Hamas, which uses violence to further its goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state.
The Elashi brothers weren't accused in this case of providing direct financing to the Israeli-opposition group – or allege that any of their transactions supported terrorist activities.
But after their December 2002 indictment, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft described them as "terrorist money men" for Hamas.
Mr. Garrett said Wednesday that prosecutors hope the verdict "sends a message that we are going to vigilantly pursue terrorist assets."
Ghassan Elashi's attorney, Tim Evans, said the government's zeal continues to send a different message.
"These are hard times for people of Middle Eastern descent," he said.
Created in 1992, the firm sold computers and computer components and later provided Internet services to a mostly Middle Eastern clientele.
Last July, as part of the same indictment, a federal court jury convicted the three Elashis and their brothers, Hazim and Ihsan, of violating U.S. export laws with illegal shipments from InfoCom to Libya and Syria – nations considered state sponsors of terrorism.
The government decided to split the case into two trials. The five defendants await sentencing.
Ghassan Elashi, 51, and six other men also face a federal trial in February on charges that they funneled more than $12 million to Hamas through the now-defunct Holy Land Foundation.
The Bush administration closed the Richardson-based Islamic charity in 2001, claiming it was a financial front for Hamas.
News from the Lone Star State
Moderator: S2k Moderators
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TexasStooge
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TexasStooge
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New contractor begins Tarrant body delivery
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Tarrant County has a new contractor to pick up the bodies of people who have died without an attending doctor.
D/FW Crematory replaces a mortuary driver whose actions shocked many after three bodies dead for years were found stored in his van.
Andrew Totz, a D/FW Crematory driver, just wrapped up his first 24 hours working for the county's medical examiner. Totz heads to the scene when a person is killed in Tarrant County, on the road or anywhere else.
"They call me on my phone, (and) they give me the address where the decedent is located," Totz said.
For about $120 per trip, he'll respond to accidents and homicides, as well as locations outside a hospital when a person dies without a doctor to sign the death certificate.
Someone has to pick up the bodies and deliver them to the medical examiner; it's an unusual job that requires someone prompt, compassionate and accurate. County officials feared that wasn't the case when former contractor Don Short neglected the bodies of three men who died five years ago.
Short was arrested after the bodies were discovered in his repossessed van. They were linked to a funeral home; though the incident was unrelated to his county job, he lost it anyway.
Totz, a licensed funeral director, owns one of the 10 crematories in North Texas.
"The first thing you learn is to have compassion for the family," he said. "Record-keeping is a very important aspect of any job, and when you're dealing with something as valuable as a loved one ... "
Totz believes attention to detail is crucial in every line of work.
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Tarrant County has a new contractor to pick up the bodies of people who have died without an attending doctor.
D/FW Crematory replaces a mortuary driver whose actions shocked many after three bodies dead for years were found stored in his van.
Andrew Totz, a D/FW Crematory driver, just wrapped up his first 24 hours working for the county's medical examiner. Totz heads to the scene when a person is killed in Tarrant County, on the road or anywhere else.
"They call me on my phone, (and) they give me the address where the decedent is located," Totz said.
For about $120 per trip, he'll respond to accidents and homicides, as well as locations outside a hospital when a person dies without a doctor to sign the death certificate.
Someone has to pick up the bodies and deliver them to the medical examiner; it's an unusual job that requires someone prompt, compassionate and accurate. County officials feared that wasn't the case when former contractor Don Short neglected the bodies of three men who died five years ago.
Short was arrested after the bodies were discovered in his repossessed van. They were linked to a funeral home; though the incident was unrelated to his county job, he lost it anyway.
Totz, a licensed funeral director, owns one of the 10 crematories in North Texas.
"The first thing you learn is to have compassion for the family," he said. "Record-keeping is a very important aspect of any job, and when you're dealing with something as valuable as a loved one ... "
Totz believes attention to detail is crucial in every line of work.
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TexasStooge
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Navarro County official killed in crash
CORSICANA, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - Navarro County Commissioner Olin Nickelberry died Wednesday morning in a one-car wreck on Interstate 45 near Wilmer.
Nickelberry, who represents District 2, was traveling north just south of Pleasant Run Road around 9:30 a.m. when he apparently lost control of his car, which came to a stop upside down in the grassy median.
Initial reports were that Nickelberry may have swerved to avoid debris on the highway.
Motorists managed to remove Nickelberry's wife from the wreckage, but they said Nickelberry was trapped and unconscious.
He was dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.
Nickelberry was a member of the Texas Organization of Black County Commissioners.
CORSICANA, Texas (WFAA ABC 8/AP) - Navarro County Commissioner Olin Nickelberry died Wednesday morning in a one-car wreck on Interstate 45 near Wilmer.
Nickelberry, who represents District 2, was traveling north just south of Pleasant Run Road around 9:30 a.m. when he apparently lost control of his car, which came to a stop upside down in the grassy median.
Initial reports were that Nickelberry may have swerved to avoid debris on the highway.
Motorists managed to remove Nickelberry's wife from the wreckage, but they said Nickelberry was trapped and unconscious.
He was dead upon arrival at a nearby hospital.
Nickelberry was a member of the Texas Organization of Black County Commissioners.
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Rockwall growth no longer tops in state
By PAULA LAVIGNE / The Dallas Morning News
ROCKWALL, Texas - Sorry, Rockwall County, the streak is over.
The state’s smallest county already lost the title of the nation’s fastest-growing county last year, and now it’s no longer the state growth record holder, either.
According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released Thursday, Lampasas County in Central Texas surpassed Rockwall as the fastest-growing county in Texas in 2004.
Lampasas grew 7.3 percent and had 20,700 people last year, whereas Rockwall County grew by 6.5 percent and totaled 58,260.
Some of the change is pure math, because the larger a place gets, the harder it is to post the same percentage increase. But that didn’t affect Collin County, which actually saw a slightly larger percentage increase from 2003 to 2004 than from 2002 to 2003.
Its 5.1 percent increase netted about 30,630 people, with most of them moving to Collin County from another county within the United States. Collin, Harris and Tarrant counties also were among the top 10 counties in the United States that saw the largest increase in number of new people from 2003 to 2004.
Lampasas County Judge Virgil Lilley said the fastest-growing title was a surprise and a “dubious honor.”
“In a way, it probably foreshadows future growth problems,” he said.
The still rural county welcomes new residents, and it’s attracting a lot of retirees from nearby Fort Hood, he said. But Mr. Lilley said he's worried that property taxes from the new houses won’t generate enough revenue to pay for the services they’ll need.
Maybe he could get some advice from Rockwall County Judge Bill Bell, who said he won’t miss the fastest-growing title. He said the county is still trying to catch up with its infrastructure and wouldn’t mind a little breathing room.
“We’re still growing crazy, whether we’re first or second or third,” he said. “We’ve got a buildout of 250,000. We’ve got a long ways to go.”
By PAULA LAVIGNE / The Dallas Morning News
ROCKWALL, Texas - Sorry, Rockwall County, the streak is over.
The state’s smallest county already lost the title of the nation’s fastest-growing county last year, and now it’s no longer the state growth record holder, either.
According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released Thursday, Lampasas County in Central Texas surpassed Rockwall as the fastest-growing county in Texas in 2004.
Lampasas grew 7.3 percent and had 20,700 people last year, whereas Rockwall County grew by 6.5 percent and totaled 58,260.
Some of the change is pure math, because the larger a place gets, the harder it is to post the same percentage increase. But that didn’t affect Collin County, which actually saw a slightly larger percentage increase from 2003 to 2004 than from 2002 to 2003.
Its 5.1 percent increase netted about 30,630 people, with most of them moving to Collin County from another county within the United States. Collin, Harris and Tarrant counties also were among the top 10 counties in the United States that saw the largest increase in number of new people from 2003 to 2004.
Lampasas County Judge Virgil Lilley said the fastest-growing title was a surprise and a “dubious honor.”
“In a way, it probably foreshadows future growth problems,” he said.
The still rural county welcomes new residents, and it’s attracting a lot of retirees from nearby Fort Hood, he said. But Mr. Lilley said he's worried that property taxes from the new houses won’t generate enough revenue to pay for the services they’ll need.
Maybe he could get some advice from Rockwall County Judge Bill Bell, who said he won’t miss the fastest-growing title. He said the county is still trying to catch up with its infrastructure and wouldn’t mind a little breathing room.
“We’re still growing crazy, whether we’re first or second or third,” he said. “We’ve got a buildout of 250,000. We’ve got a long ways to go.”
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TexasStooge
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Some defend pastor in indecency case
Exclusive: Minister was accused by boy at earlier church; he says he was cleared
By GRETEL C. KOVACH / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - When a Dallas pastor was arrested last month on suspicion of molesting a boy in his congregation, some insisted the charge was a lie. Others who knew the minister praised God that he had "finally been stopped."
The Rev. Larry Joe Crocker, the 56-year-old pastor of Lakeview Christian Church in Dallas, was arrested March 16 at his Garland home and charged with two counts of indecency with a child by contact. He denies the charges.
Almost 20 years ago, Mr. Crocker, a Disciples of Christ pastor, was asked to resign from another Texas church after a boy said the pastor had persuaded him to swim naked together in the church baptistery, said an elder and a deacon in the church, who are the boy's mother and father.
The Rockdale boy, who is now 30 and a professional at a prominent Texas company, also said Mr. Crocker took him on an overnight fishing trip and let him drive a pickup through a pasture while the minister rode beside him in the nude.
Mr. Crocker said he had been "cleared of any wrongdoing." He and his attorney declined to provide details of who might have investigated the case; the accuser and his family say it was never referred to police.
As the police investigation into the recent charges continues, those who believe Mr. Crocker has been wrongly accused say his ordeal reveals the danger of false reports in an era of deep mistrust of religious figures.
Others say Mr. Crocker's history shows that even in the wake of huge penalties paid by the Catholic Church for lawsuits brought by abused parishioners, some Protestant denominations are not doing enough to protect children.
Lisa Atkins, a family friend who remembers hearing the Rockdale boy first mention that the pastor was kind of "weird," said: "It makes me sick to think he could have been stopped years ago. ... How many times does this have to happen before all denominations take action when church leaders are reported for this type of behavior?"
The 10-year-old's case
In 1985, Mr. Crocker was a minister at the First Christian Church of Rockdale, a small town in Central Texas.
He is still remembered there as a warm, charismatic preacher who once gave a sermon from the church steeple to increase Sunday school enrollment.
When the 10-year-old boy told his parents and Ms. Atkins that he had been naked with the pastor, he saw his father weep for the first time. The family confronted Mr. Crocker, who was married and had a young son of his own, but they said he portrayed the nude encounters as innocent.
The family stopped going to that church but returned two years later to fight for Mr. Crocker's ouster. Some church members called the boy a liar and said he was trying to ruin their church. The church board finally asked the minister to resign.
The parents said they notified regional Disciples of Christ church authorities and a San Antonio congregation that was considering hiring Mr. Crocker after he left Rockdale. But, the family said, the pastor continued his ministry with no apparent limitations.
The Dallas Morning News does not generally name victims of sexual abuse, and the man from Rockdale said he wants to remain anonymous to limit further turmoil for his family. Mr. Crocker should have lost his standing with the Disciples of Christ, he said – "the church failed me 20 years ago, and they're doing the same again."
His mother said she wasn't interested in filing charges 20 years ago, she just wanted Mr. Crocker to get help.
Ed Coble, a lawyer and interim co-minister for the southwest region of the Disciples of Christ, said that he did not know why Mr. Crocker had resigned his position in Rockdale and that he was not aware of any allegations against him there.
The church would not have kept records of the church board's vote or the family's complaints then, he said, though the regional church now has a stringent sexual misconduct policy and requires all clergy to attend sexual misconduct workshops.
After he left Rockdale, Mr. Crocker was hired in 1988 as minister of Woodlawn Christian Church, a small, elderly congregation in San Antonio. Church leaders knew of the boy's allegation involving skinny-dipping in the baptistery, but they didn't believe it, said the Rev. Don Selman, 58, the church's current head minister.
"They just didn't think anything like that could happen," said Mr. Selman, whose father was a trustee and elder at the church who opposed hiring Mr. Crocker.
Mr. Crocker resigned from that church in 1991 amid discontent over "unapproved spending," Mr. Selman said.
He served as head minister of another San Antonio congregation, Marbach Christian Church, until his return about four years ago to his childhood church in Dallas.
The Rev. Jim Reisser, the current Marbach pastor, said: "The folks in this church have spoken very highly of him. Justice needs to be done, and if he's guilty, fine. But if he's not, let's not hang the man."
Mr. Reisser said pastors must be careful not to leave themselves open to accusations. He said he sometimes invites his wife or a female secretary to observe what used to be private talks.
"It's the smart thing to do," he said. "But it makes it difficult when we're supposed to counsel in confidence."
After Mr. Crocker's arrest last month, he posted $20,000 bail for the two felony charges, and Lakeview Christian Church placed him on administrative leave. Authorities are continuing to investigate the new allegations, which police said involved reports of incidents in recent months at the pastor's home.
Through his lawyer, Craig Jett, Mr. Crocker said he did not have sexual contact with the boy from the Lakeview church.
The Rockdale man and his parents said they would testify against Mr. Crocker if needed to support the current accuser and encourage others who may have been victims to come forward.
The Rockdale mother said it was painful to tell her son's story to the congregation she had spent her life in, but "the most important thing is to protect that next child. My fear is that ... [my son] was not the first and that this boy now was not the second."
Mr. Coble, the church lawyer, said the regional committee on ministry will wait for police to investigate before voting on whether to revoke Mr. Crocker's good standing with the Disciples of Christ.
Brian Cook, a trustee at Lakeview Christian Church who has known Mr. Crocker since kindergarten, said he is convinced that Mr. Crocker is innocent.
Mr. Cook reiterated that their Dallas congregation, which has about 60 members, is standing behind Mr. Crocker. He said he had never heard of the Rockdale allegations.
Confronting the issue
The Rev. Marie Fortune, a United Church of Christ minister from Seattle, founded the FaithTrust Institute, formerly known as the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, in 1977.
When a clergyman is accused, "it's very hard for people to deal with the fact that there are two things going on with a sex abuser – they love and admire him, but realizing that no, this person did something that hurt someone," she said.
The Disciples of Christ, which has more than 1 million American members, leaves it to regional church entities to set policy on sexual misconduct, and individual congregations make all hiring decisions. But in 2002, the Disciples of Christ's general minister and president called on regional leaders to develop clear policies to prevent sexual misconduct.
"The financial costs of not having such a policy or ... not following it can devastate a church's budget in legal fees," wrote Sherri Wood Emmons, managing editor of DisciplesWorld magazine, in a June 2002 article. "The emotional costs to the congregation, the offender, and the children, however, are even more devastating."
As for the Rockdale boy, he didn't go to church for many years but eventually started attending a different Christian denomination with his wife.
Even before he learned of Mr. Crocker's arrest, he sometimes thought of confronting him.
He wanted to tower over him as a 6-foot-3 adult. "I just want to make him feel small," he said. Back then, "I felt vulnerable, I felt attacked.
"I lost my trust, my faith, not just in him, but the whole church," he said. "It's hard to rebuild that."
His 1-year-old son has been baptized and he wants to raise him to be a good, strong Christian.
But he said he does not know whether he could ever trust his pastor to spend time alone with his son.
"I don't know. I would hope that I can say yes, but I don't know," he said.
Exclusive: Minister was accused by boy at earlier church; he says he was cleared
By GRETEL C. KOVACH / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - When a Dallas pastor was arrested last month on suspicion of molesting a boy in his congregation, some insisted the charge was a lie. Others who knew the minister praised God that he had "finally been stopped."
The Rev. Larry Joe Crocker, the 56-year-old pastor of Lakeview Christian Church in Dallas, was arrested March 16 at his Garland home and charged with two counts of indecency with a child by contact. He denies the charges.
Almost 20 years ago, Mr. Crocker, a Disciples of Christ pastor, was asked to resign from another Texas church after a boy said the pastor had persuaded him to swim naked together in the church baptistery, said an elder and a deacon in the church, who are the boy's mother and father.
The Rockdale boy, who is now 30 and a professional at a prominent Texas company, also said Mr. Crocker took him on an overnight fishing trip and let him drive a pickup through a pasture while the minister rode beside him in the nude.
Mr. Crocker said he had been "cleared of any wrongdoing." He and his attorney declined to provide details of who might have investigated the case; the accuser and his family say it was never referred to police.
As the police investigation into the recent charges continues, those who believe Mr. Crocker has been wrongly accused say his ordeal reveals the danger of false reports in an era of deep mistrust of religious figures.
Others say Mr. Crocker's history shows that even in the wake of huge penalties paid by the Catholic Church for lawsuits brought by abused parishioners, some Protestant denominations are not doing enough to protect children.
Lisa Atkins, a family friend who remembers hearing the Rockdale boy first mention that the pastor was kind of "weird," said: "It makes me sick to think he could have been stopped years ago. ... How many times does this have to happen before all denominations take action when church leaders are reported for this type of behavior?"
The 10-year-old's case
In 1985, Mr. Crocker was a minister at the First Christian Church of Rockdale, a small town in Central Texas.
He is still remembered there as a warm, charismatic preacher who once gave a sermon from the church steeple to increase Sunday school enrollment.
When the 10-year-old boy told his parents and Ms. Atkins that he had been naked with the pastor, he saw his father weep for the first time. The family confronted Mr. Crocker, who was married and had a young son of his own, but they said he portrayed the nude encounters as innocent.
The family stopped going to that church but returned two years later to fight for Mr. Crocker's ouster. Some church members called the boy a liar and said he was trying to ruin their church. The church board finally asked the minister to resign.
The parents said they notified regional Disciples of Christ church authorities and a San Antonio congregation that was considering hiring Mr. Crocker after he left Rockdale. But, the family said, the pastor continued his ministry with no apparent limitations.
The Dallas Morning News does not generally name victims of sexual abuse, and the man from Rockdale said he wants to remain anonymous to limit further turmoil for his family. Mr. Crocker should have lost his standing with the Disciples of Christ, he said – "the church failed me 20 years ago, and they're doing the same again."
His mother said she wasn't interested in filing charges 20 years ago, she just wanted Mr. Crocker to get help.
Ed Coble, a lawyer and interim co-minister for the southwest region of the Disciples of Christ, said that he did not know why Mr. Crocker had resigned his position in Rockdale and that he was not aware of any allegations against him there.
The church would not have kept records of the church board's vote or the family's complaints then, he said, though the regional church now has a stringent sexual misconduct policy and requires all clergy to attend sexual misconduct workshops.
After he left Rockdale, Mr. Crocker was hired in 1988 as minister of Woodlawn Christian Church, a small, elderly congregation in San Antonio. Church leaders knew of the boy's allegation involving skinny-dipping in the baptistery, but they didn't believe it, said the Rev. Don Selman, 58, the church's current head minister.
"They just didn't think anything like that could happen," said Mr. Selman, whose father was a trustee and elder at the church who opposed hiring Mr. Crocker.
Mr. Crocker resigned from that church in 1991 amid discontent over "unapproved spending," Mr. Selman said.
He served as head minister of another San Antonio congregation, Marbach Christian Church, until his return about four years ago to his childhood church in Dallas.
The Rev. Jim Reisser, the current Marbach pastor, said: "The folks in this church have spoken very highly of him. Justice needs to be done, and if he's guilty, fine. But if he's not, let's not hang the man."
Mr. Reisser said pastors must be careful not to leave themselves open to accusations. He said he sometimes invites his wife or a female secretary to observe what used to be private talks.
"It's the smart thing to do," he said. "But it makes it difficult when we're supposed to counsel in confidence."
After Mr. Crocker's arrest last month, he posted $20,000 bail for the two felony charges, and Lakeview Christian Church placed him on administrative leave. Authorities are continuing to investigate the new allegations, which police said involved reports of incidents in recent months at the pastor's home.
Through his lawyer, Craig Jett, Mr. Crocker said he did not have sexual contact with the boy from the Lakeview church.
The Rockdale man and his parents said they would testify against Mr. Crocker if needed to support the current accuser and encourage others who may have been victims to come forward.
The Rockdale mother said it was painful to tell her son's story to the congregation she had spent her life in, but "the most important thing is to protect that next child. My fear is that ... [my son] was not the first and that this boy now was not the second."
Mr. Coble, the church lawyer, said the regional committee on ministry will wait for police to investigate before voting on whether to revoke Mr. Crocker's good standing with the Disciples of Christ.
Brian Cook, a trustee at Lakeview Christian Church who has known Mr. Crocker since kindergarten, said he is convinced that Mr. Crocker is innocent.
Mr. Cook reiterated that their Dallas congregation, which has about 60 members, is standing behind Mr. Crocker. He said he had never heard of the Rockdale allegations.
Confronting the issue
The Rev. Marie Fortune, a United Church of Christ minister from Seattle, founded the FaithTrust Institute, formerly known as the Center for the Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, in 1977.
When a clergyman is accused, "it's very hard for people to deal with the fact that there are two things going on with a sex abuser – they love and admire him, but realizing that no, this person did something that hurt someone," she said.
The Disciples of Christ, which has more than 1 million American members, leaves it to regional church entities to set policy on sexual misconduct, and individual congregations make all hiring decisions. But in 2002, the Disciples of Christ's general minister and president called on regional leaders to develop clear policies to prevent sexual misconduct.
"The financial costs of not having such a policy or ... not following it can devastate a church's budget in legal fees," wrote Sherri Wood Emmons, managing editor of DisciplesWorld magazine, in a June 2002 article. "The emotional costs to the congregation, the offender, and the children, however, are even more devastating."
As for the Rockdale boy, he didn't go to church for many years but eventually started attending a different Christian denomination with his wife.
Even before he learned of Mr. Crocker's arrest, he sometimes thought of confronting him.
He wanted to tower over him as a 6-foot-3 adult. "I just want to make him feel small," he said. Back then, "I felt vulnerable, I felt attacked.
"I lost my trust, my faith, not just in him, but the whole church," he said. "It's hard to rebuild that."
His 1-year-old son has been baptized and he wants to raise him to be a good, strong Christian.
But he said he does not know whether he could ever trust his pastor to spend time alone with his son.
"I don't know. I would hope that I can say yes, but I don't know," he said.
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TexasStooge
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Texas KFC manager douses protesters
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - A trio of protesters with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals didn't find the welcome mat out when they stopped at a KFC in Brownsville on Wednesday. The sprinkler system was on for them, though.
John Olivo, the manager of the fast-food chicken restaurant, turned the system on full blast to soak the curbside protesters. And a man who eats beef followed them around with his stepchildren and a microphone.
The PETA protesters, including one in a chicken suit, are participating in PETA's campaign to get KFC to pressure slaughter houses to use more humane methods to kill chickens.
"They already hit me in McAllen," Olivo said in a story in Thursday's editions of The Brownsville Herald. "I was already waiting for them here in Brownsville."
"You're not going to win. Not in Brownsville," David Ingersoll, of Los Fresnos, shouted through his microphone at the protesters at a busy intersection. His stepchildren passed out anti-PETA pamphlets to stopped drivers.
"I'm waiting for someone to throw a cabrito head at them so they know what part of the country they are in," Ingersoll said, referring to the goat meat that's used in some Mexican dishes.
The PETA members didn't give up on their message.
"It hasn't been quite like this in other parts of the state," said Chris Link, PETA's campaign coordinator, who is traveling to protest KFC in 12 Texas cities.
Link said the group didn't receive harsh treatment earlier in McAllen.
"It's a rarity that we get this," he said after the dousing.
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (The Dallas Morning News/AP) - A trio of protesters with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals didn't find the welcome mat out when they stopped at a KFC in Brownsville on Wednesday. The sprinkler system was on for them, though.
John Olivo, the manager of the fast-food chicken restaurant, turned the system on full blast to soak the curbside protesters. And a man who eats beef followed them around with his stepchildren and a microphone.
The PETA protesters, including one in a chicken suit, are participating in PETA's campaign to get KFC to pressure slaughter houses to use more humane methods to kill chickens.
"They already hit me in McAllen," Olivo said in a story in Thursday's editions of The Brownsville Herald. "I was already waiting for them here in Brownsville."
"You're not going to win. Not in Brownsville," David Ingersoll, of Los Fresnos, shouted through his microphone at the protesters at a busy intersection. His stepchildren passed out anti-PETA pamphlets to stopped drivers.
"I'm waiting for someone to throw a cabrito head at them so they know what part of the country they are in," Ingersoll said, referring to the goat meat that's used in some Mexican dishes.
The PETA members didn't give up on their message.
"It hasn't been quite like this in other parts of the state," said Chris Link, PETA's campaign coordinator, who is traveling to protest KFC in 12 Texas cities.
Link said the group didn't receive harsh treatment earlier in McAllen.
"It's a rarity that we get this," he said after the dousing.
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TexasStooge
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Former DPD assistant chief files suit
Saucedo-Falls affidavit alleges corruption, cover-up
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A scathing tell-all lawsuit is uncovering an untold version of the Dallas Police Department's fake-drug scandal.
The author is a demoted former assistant chief, and she's painting a portrait of corruption and ineptitude in the department's narcotics division.
On the heading, the lawsuit names DPD Chief David Kunkle, former acting chief Randy Hampton and the City of Dallas. But on the inside, it's a gloves-off attack on the male-dominated world inside police headquarters.
In 1996, Dora Saucedo-Falls became the first Hispanic female to achieve the rank of deputy chief, and in 1999 ascended to assistant chief. But last year after the release of the city's investigation into the fake-drug scandal, she was the only person to be demoted.
"Has anybody else been demoted? No, in fact some people have been promoted."
So, Saucedo-Falls is suing the city and Kunkle, who demoted her.
But included in the suit is a 40-page affidavit that reads more like a DPD confessional. In it, Saucedo-Falls blasts the narcotics division for what she called "lax procedures as well as a practice of ignoring or overlooking misconduct."
Her suit also stated, "supervisors turned a blind eye toward police corruption, and in many instances participated in the corruption."
Former chief Terrell Bolton, fired in August 2003, takes the brunt of Saucedo-Falls' fury. Her suit alleges he "had been made fully aware of the source of the developing fake-drug scandal."
Saucedo-Falls' attorney Doug Larson said his client, who was over the narcotics division at the time, was deliberately kept in the dark.
"The problem is she wasn't permitted to investigate narcotics, nor was she permitted to supervise it," Larson said. "Bolton kept her from doing that."
The city's investigative report into the fake-drug scandal was critical of Saucedo-Falls for not telling Bolton when she first learned of the scandal in late November 2001. However, she said when she ultimately "sought to remove five officers at the center of the scandal, Bolton repeatedly refused to remove them."
Despite the allegations, Bolton is not specifically named in the suit. Kunkle is, however, for demoting her without allowing her the same kind of hearing afforded Bolton when he was fired.
"She asked, 'Chief ... please hear my side of the story,'" Larson said. "He wouldn't - he said, 'No, you're gone.'"
The lawsuit is also specific with names, dates and details of alleged narcotics division failures. Aside from three indicted cops, Saucedo-Falls feels she's the only other person to pay a price.
Kunkle said he couldn't comment regarding the suit. News 8 was unable to reach Bolton.
Saucedo-Falls affidavit alleges corruption, cover-up
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - A scathing tell-all lawsuit is uncovering an untold version of the Dallas Police Department's fake-drug scandal.
The author is a demoted former assistant chief, and she's painting a portrait of corruption and ineptitude in the department's narcotics division.
On the heading, the lawsuit names DPD Chief David Kunkle, former acting chief Randy Hampton and the City of Dallas. But on the inside, it's a gloves-off attack on the male-dominated world inside police headquarters.
In 1996, Dora Saucedo-Falls became the first Hispanic female to achieve the rank of deputy chief, and in 1999 ascended to assistant chief. But last year after the release of the city's investigation into the fake-drug scandal, she was the only person to be demoted.
"Has anybody else been demoted? No, in fact some people have been promoted."
So, Saucedo-Falls is suing the city and Kunkle, who demoted her.
But included in the suit is a 40-page affidavit that reads more like a DPD confessional. In it, Saucedo-Falls blasts the narcotics division for what she called "lax procedures as well as a practice of ignoring or overlooking misconduct."
Her suit also stated, "supervisors turned a blind eye toward police corruption, and in many instances participated in the corruption."
Former chief Terrell Bolton, fired in August 2003, takes the brunt of Saucedo-Falls' fury. Her suit alleges he "had been made fully aware of the source of the developing fake-drug scandal."
Saucedo-Falls' attorney Doug Larson said his client, who was over the narcotics division at the time, was deliberately kept in the dark.
"The problem is she wasn't permitted to investigate narcotics, nor was she permitted to supervise it," Larson said. "Bolton kept her from doing that."
The city's investigative report into the fake-drug scandal was critical of Saucedo-Falls for not telling Bolton when she first learned of the scandal in late November 2001. However, she said when she ultimately "sought to remove five officers at the center of the scandal, Bolton repeatedly refused to remove them."
Despite the allegations, Bolton is not specifically named in the suit. Kunkle is, however, for demoting her without allowing her the same kind of hearing afforded Bolton when he was fired.
"She asked, 'Chief ... please hear my side of the story,'" Larson said. "He wouldn't - he said, 'No, you're gone.'"
The lawsuit is also specific with names, dates and details of alleged narcotics division failures. Aside from three indicted cops, Saucedo-Falls feels she's the only other person to pay a price.
Kunkle said he couldn't comment regarding the suit. News 8 was unable to reach Bolton.
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TexasStooge
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Southwest Fort Worth sees rash of car burglaries
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Police said thieves seems to be favoring one part of Fort Worth recently, and their favorite target is consistently cars parked in the area.
Most of the break ins are happening off Interstate 20 between Bryant Irvin and Old Granbury roads.
Authorities said the burglaries are happening between 10 at night and 5 in the morning. It's not until drivers wake the next morning that they realize they've been hit.
Taylor Midkiff's stereo was stolen out of his car over the weekend.
"They busted in this window - just a quick smash and grab job," Midkiff said. "It is kinda aggravating just to have it ... happen to you."
He is somewhat used to it by now, however. The latest incident marked the third time someone has broken into a car at this home.
"We've even joked that we should just leave the cars unlocked so they can take what they want," said Pamela Midkiff. "At least we don't have to repair the car."
High school senior Stephen Napurano can relate. He and his mother both had their cars broken into just this week.
"The center console was open," he said. "My debit card was taken; my cell phone was taken."
Napurano said it looked like the thief tried to grab an expensive set of golf clubs as well, but must have gotten spooked.
Despite the steps neighbors have taken to create a safe environment, the area seems to have become a hotspot for crime.
"We've had 17 break-ins since April 1, which we're very disappointed about," said Fort Worth Police Sgt. Mark Thorne.
Police said aside from the usual, the suspects are also after fancy electronic gadgets such as iPods, laptops and car TV monitors.
Investigators are using every tool they can to catch the suspects, but at the same time officers are trying to educate potential victims on how to store their stuff.
"If we can just get people to just slow down just a little bit and put that stuff up and get it out of sight, that will lower our crime tremendously," Thorne said.
By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8
FORT WORTH, Texas - Police said thieves seems to be favoring one part of Fort Worth recently, and their favorite target is consistently cars parked in the area.
Most of the break ins are happening off Interstate 20 between Bryant Irvin and Old Granbury roads.
Authorities said the burglaries are happening between 10 at night and 5 in the morning. It's not until drivers wake the next morning that they realize they've been hit.
Taylor Midkiff's stereo was stolen out of his car over the weekend.
"They busted in this window - just a quick smash and grab job," Midkiff said. "It is kinda aggravating just to have it ... happen to you."
He is somewhat used to it by now, however. The latest incident marked the third time someone has broken into a car at this home.
"We've even joked that we should just leave the cars unlocked so they can take what they want," said Pamela Midkiff. "At least we don't have to repair the car."
High school senior Stephen Napurano can relate. He and his mother both had their cars broken into just this week.
"The center console was open," he said. "My debit card was taken; my cell phone was taken."
Napurano said it looked like the thief tried to grab an expensive set of golf clubs as well, but must have gotten spooked.
Despite the steps neighbors have taken to create a safe environment, the area seems to have become a hotspot for crime.
"We've had 17 break-ins since April 1, which we're very disappointed about," said Fort Worth Police Sgt. Mark Thorne.
Police said aside from the usual, the suspects are also after fancy electronic gadgets such as iPods, laptops and car TV monitors.
Investigators are using every tool they can to catch the suspects, but at the same time officers are trying to educate potential victims on how to store their stuff.
"If we can just get people to just slow down just a little bit and put that stuff up and get it out of sight, that will lower our crime tremendously," Thorne said.
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TexasStooge
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Roundup nets over 10,000 fugitives
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
ARLINGTON, Texas - A nationwide roundup by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies brought in more than 10,000 fugitives in one week, 243 of those from right here in North Texas.
The attempted arrest of one suspect led to a six-hour standoff in Arlington on Thursday morning. He was wanted for six felony warrants, including one for assaulting a public servant.
The number of arrests during the weeklong effort was 10 times the average for such a period, according to U.S. Marshals Service officials. The agency led the nationwide dragnet timed to coincide with National Victims Rights Week.
At the same time, however, authorities said those arrests represent just 1 percent of the 1 million fugitives in the FBI's national database.
More than 150 of those nabbed nationwide were wanted for murder, 550 were sought on rape or sexual assault charges, and more than 600 had outstanding arrest warrants for armed robbery, federal officials said Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
By MARY ANN RAZZUK / WFAA ABC 8
ARLINGTON, Texas - A nationwide roundup by U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement agencies brought in more than 10,000 fugitives in one week, 243 of those from right here in North Texas.
The attempted arrest of one suspect led to a six-hour standoff in Arlington on Thursday morning. He was wanted for six felony warrants, including one for assaulting a public servant.
The number of arrests during the weeklong effort was 10 times the average for such a period, according to U.S. Marshals Service officials. The agency led the nationwide dragnet timed to coincide with National Victims Rights Week.
At the same time, however, authorities said those arrests represent just 1 percent of the 1 million fugitives in the FBI's national database.
More than 150 of those nabbed nationwide were wanted for murder, 550 were sought on rape or sexual assault charges, and more than 600 had outstanding arrest warrants for armed robbery, federal officials said Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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TexasStooge
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Family of injured toddler grateful
15-month-old is improving after being shot in gang crossfire
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
FORT WORTH, Texas - The mother of a wounded Fort Worth toddler is finally able to smile a little.
Donovan Nolden is improving after he was shot in the back Saturday by a stray bullet from a gang member's gun.
Cande Nolden calls her son a miracle baby. 15-month-old Donovan is healing; he'll walk and play again.
Nolden, who holds two jobs, is so relieved. So is the baby's aunt, who is among many family members that have camped out at the hospital.
"I've seen a lot of improvements," Madge Nolden said. "His mom was reading books to him; he was trying to smile. He reached for her."
Donovan was shot in his front yard. The bullet tore through his body from the lower back out through the chest, just missing his heart.
It happened suddenly, Saturday night at 6 in the Poly neighborhood. Gang members were shouting then shooting while the baby's grandmother held a garage sale.
Madge Nolden was in the yard too, babysitting Donovan while his mother worked. She saw the gangs and guns, and the potential suspect.
"He reached into a gold Blazer, grabbed a gun and started shooting," she said. "My baby's daddy was like, 'you all get on the ground!' I (said), 'no, I've got to go back for my nephew.' I put my baby in my left arm and grabbed my nephew, and he actually got shot in my arms. After the second or third gunshot, he fell to the ground."
The police investigation continues; they are still searching for the shooter.
But in this hospital room, the two sisters put the nightmare behind them to help heal this young child with hope and love.
15-month-old is improving after being shot in gang crossfire
By KARIN KELLY / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
FORT WORTH, Texas - The mother of a wounded Fort Worth toddler is finally able to smile a little.
Donovan Nolden is improving after he was shot in the back Saturday by a stray bullet from a gang member's gun.
Cande Nolden calls her son a miracle baby. 15-month-old Donovan is healing; he'll walk and play again.
Nolden, who holds two jobs, is so relieved. So is the baby's aunt, who is among many family members that have camped out at the hospital.
"I've seen a lot of improvements," Madge Nolden said. "His mom was reading books to him; he was trying to smile. He reached for her."
Donovan was shot in his front yard. The bullet tore through his body from the lower back out through the chest, just missing his heart.
It happened suddenly, Saturday night at 6 in the Poly neighborhood. Gang members were shouting then shooting while the baby's grandmother held a garage sale.
Madge Nolden was in the yard too, babysitting Donovan while his mother worked. She saw the gangs and guns, and the potential suspect.
"He reached into a gold Blazer, grabbed a gun and started shooting," she said. "My baby's daddy was like, 'you all get on the ground!' I (said), 'no, I've got to go back for my nephew.' I put my baby in my left arm and grabbed my nephew, and he actually got shot in my arms. After the second or third gunshot, he fell to the ground."
The police investigation continues; they are still searching for the shooter.
But in this hospital room, the two sisters put the nightmare behind them to help heal this young child with hope and love.
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TexasStooge
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Road debris causing more wrecks
Navarro official's fatal accident attributed to tire in road
By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
CORSICANA, Texas - An object in the road caused Wednesday's accident along I-45 that killed Navarro County commissioner Olin Nickelberry.
Such debris is a major concern for the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as local law enforcement, because of the potential for such accidents.
Melvin Kannady is among TxDOT's "Road Runner" crew members who patrol the highways of North Texas, picking up debris and trying to make the roads safer.
"They come off these 18 wheelers," Kannady said, pointing to one of many pieces of tire that litter the interstate. "Lots of them are recaps; some of them are new tires. They just get blown out."
It's a dangerous job, with cars whizzing by.
"You find tires all across the highway, lumber, sheet metal," Kannady said. "Anything people are hauling in the back of their truck, you're going to find it out here."
On Wednesday, Nickelberry died after losing control of his car, trying to avoid tires. Five minutes earlier, a courtesy patrol crew had been dispatched to pick up the debris, but didn't get there in time.
"These summer months are the worse months for these tires," Kannady said.
TxDOT spends $4 million a year in Dallas alone, cleaning dangerous road debris off the highways. According to the Department of Public Safety, road debris causes hundreds of accidents a year.
"It's very dangerous out here, you gotta stay on your toes."
Kannady said he's had several close calls himself, but knows he helps save lives.
"If we weren't out here, there'd be major problems," he said.
He's also clear about what makes a typical work shift a "good day".
"When we get to go home," he said. "When you're still breathing."
Navarro official's fatal accident attributed to tire in road
By DON WALL / WFAA ABC 8
CORSICANA, Texas - An object in the road caused Wednesday's accident along I-45 that killed Navarro County commissioner Olin Nickelberry.
Such debris is a major concern for the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as local law enforcement, because of the potential for such accidents.
Melvin Kannady is among TxDOT's "Road Runner" crew members who patrol the highways of North Texas, picking up debris and trying to make the roads safer.
"They come off these 18 wheelers," Kannady said, pointing to one of many pieces of tire that litter the interstate. "Lots of them are recaps; some of them are new tires. They just get blown out."
It's a dangerous job, with cars whizzing by.
"You find tires all across the highway, lumber, sheet metal," Kannady said. "Anything people are hauling in the back of their truck, you're going to find it out here."
On Wednesday, Nickelberry died after losing control of his car, trying to avoid tires. Five minutes earlier, a courtesy patrol crew had been dispatched to pick up the debris, but didn't get there in time.
"These summer months are the worse months for these tires," Kannady said.
TxDOT spends $4 million a year in Dallas alone, cleaning dangerous road debris off the highways. According to the Department of Public Safety, road debris causes hundreds of accidents a year.
"It's very dangerous out here, you gotta stay on your toes."
Kannady said he's had several close calls himself, but knows he helps save lives.
"If we weren't out here, there'd be major problems," he said.
He's also clear about what makes a typical work shift a "good day".
"When we get to go home," he said. "When you're still breathing."
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TexasStooge
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Woman: I found frog in Grandy's order
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A Fort Worth woman claims she found a frog in a to-go order from a Grandy's fast-food restaurant.
Veronica Pulido said she picked up food Monday from the chain's location in the 1000 block of Beach Street. When she opened her order, she saw what she thought was a stem mixed in with her green beans. On closer inspection, she realized it was a dead frog.
The Lewisville-based restaurant chain is cooperating with the investigation.
LEWISVILLE, Texas (WFAA ABC 8) - A Fort Worth woman claims she found a frog in a to-go order from a Grandy's fast-food restaurant.
Veronica Pulido said she picked up food Monday from the chain's location in the 1000 block of Beach Street. When she opened her order, she saw what she thought was a stem mixed in with her green beans. On closer inspection, she realized it was a dead frog.
The Lewisville-based restaurant chain is cooperating with the investigation.
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TexasStooge
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Districts stand pat on religious materials
So far, none has plans to follow Plano's change on handouts
By KIM BREEN / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas – Plano students now have more freedom to pass out religious messages to their classmates at school, but their peers in other districts likely will not anytime soon.
The Plano school board last week changed a policy that is at the center ofa federal lawsuit. Now students have several times and places during the school day to hand out materials.
Area districts with policies similar to the one Plano changed – as well as the state organization that distributes suggested school board policies throughout Texas – aren't planning to follow suit.
That could leave them vulnerable to relive Plano's legal challenge, said an attorney representing parents in the Plano case as well as a national expert on religious expression in public schools.
"Any district that waits for conflict to act is setting itself up for a lawsuit," said Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center in Arlington, Va.
But the Texas Association of School Boards has deemed changes unnecessary.
"We're not recommending all districts change their policies because of this unusual incident in Plano," said Catherine Clark, an associate executive director for TASB. She said the association continually reviews policies, and districts are encouraged to consult their own attorneys.
Plano is trying to settle a lawsuit filed in December by students and their parents who claim the district violated students' First Amendment rights. The suit stems from a school party in December 2003, when an elementary student was not allowed to hand out candy cane pens with Christian messages.
Plano's policy had required Jonathan Morgan to leave his pens on a table at his school rather than distribute them. With the new policy, students have opportunities each day to exchange materials face-to-face in school, such as during recess in elementary schools.
Districts throughout the area have policies nearly identical to the one Plano has relaxed. Districts contacted this week – including Dallas – are sticking with them.
"We do not believe that any of our policies violate the law in this area and likely won't move any policy changes forward unless we can be shown otherwise," said Dallas school district spokesman Donald Claxton.
Allen's policy
Ken Helvey, assistant superintendent for administrative services in the Allen school district, said the district has reviewed its policy in light of Plano's news and has also checked in with principals to see whether it should be tweaked.
"We still feel we represent the community's expectations," with the existing policy, he said. Dr. Clark said TASB won't likely make any changes to its suggested policy on the subject anytime soon, but it could come up for review in 12 to 14 months.
Mari McGowan, an attorney for the Plano school district, said her firm, Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd and Joplin, will send the policy it drafted to the more than a dozen Texas school districts it represents.
"Obviously we feel it's a good policy. It's a definitive policy."
Still, she said, she believes the policy still on the books in most districts is legal and districts will have to decide whether to change it.
Plano school board Vice President Duncan Webb agreed.
"I think without agreeing that our old policy was illegal, I think other school districts should at least consider it, and whether or not it's appropriate for their districts and what their parents and voters want."
Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Liberty Legal Institute, which is representing parents in the Plano suit, said he is not surprised TASB is not recommending districts change their policies. Doing so might compromise the case in court by admitting that Plano's old policy was flawed, he said.
Not far enough?
Mr. Shackelford said even Plano's newest policy doesn't go far enough to protect First Amendment rights and should, for instance, allow students to exchange items in classrooms. Plano's current policy for elementary students provides opportunities before and after school, during recess and a few parties each year.
He said districts that hold onto the old policies run the risk of violating students' rights and could be next on his law firm's list.
"We're going to have to go after that one, too."
Dr. Haynes said that while Plano's old policy may have been legal, it was impractical because students exchange items in school and class parties, and religious items wind up being singled out and disallowed.
"School districts should do what they can to create a welcoming climate to people of all faiths or no faith," he said.
So far, none has plans to follow Plano's change on handouts
By KIM BREEN / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO, Texas – Plano students now have more freedom to pass out religious messages to their classmates at school, but their peers in other districts likely will not anytime soon.
The Plano school board last week changed a policy that is at the center ofa federal lawsuit. Now students have several times and places during the school day to hand out materials.
Area districts with policies similar to the one Plano changed – as well as the state organization that distributes suggested school board policies throughout Texas – aren't planning to follow suit.
That could leave them vulnerable to relive Plano's legal challenge, said an attorney representing parents in the Plano case as well as a national expert on religious expression in public schools.
"Any district that waits for conflict to act is setting itself up for a lawsuit," said Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the First Amendment Center in Arlington, Va.
But the Texas Association of School Boards has deemed changes unnecessary.
"We're not recommending all districts change their policies because of this unusual incident in Plano," said Catherine Clark, an associate executive director for TASB. She said the association continually reviews policies, and districts are encouraged to consult their own attorneys.
Plano is trying to settle a lawsuit filed in December by students and their parents who claim the district violated students' First Amendment rights. The suit stems from a school party in December 2003, when an elementary student was not allowed to hand out candy cane pens with Christian messages.
Plano's policy had required Jonathan Morgan to leave his pens on a table at his school rather than distribute them. With the new policy, students have opportunities each day to exchange materials face-to-face in school, such as during recess in elementary schools.
Districts throughout the area have policies nearly identical to the one Plano has relaxed. Districts contacted this week – including Dallas – are sticking with them.
"We do not believe that any of our policies violate the law in this area and likely won't move any policy changes forward unless we can be shown otherwise," said Dallas school district spokesman Donald Claxton.
Allen's policy
Ken Helvey, assistant superintendent for administrative services in the Allen school district, said the district has reviewed its policy in light of Plano's news and has also checked in with principals to see whether it should be tweaked.
"We still feel we represent the community's expectations," with the existing policy, he said. Dr. Clark said TASB won't likely make any changes to its suggested policy on the subject anytime soon, but it could come up for review in 12 to 14 months.
Mari McGowan, an attorney for the Plano school district, said her firm, Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd and Joplin, will send the policy it drafted to the more than a dozen Texas school districts it represents.
"Obviously we feel it's a good policy. It's a definitive policy."
Still, she said, she believes the policy still on the books in most districts is legal and districts will have to decide whether to change it.
Plano school board Vice President Duncan Webb agreed.
"I think without agreeing that our old policy was illegal, I think other school districts should at least consider it, and whether or not it's appropriate for their districts and what their parents and voters want."
Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for Liberty Legal Institute, which is representing parents in the Plano suit, said he is not surprised TASB is not recommending districts change their policies. Doing so might compromise the case in court by admitting that Plano's old policy was flawed, he said.
Not far enough?
Mr. Shackelford said even Plano's newest policy doesn't go far enough to protect First Amendment rights and should, for instance, allow students to exchange items in classrooms. Plano's current policy for elementary students provides opportunities before and after school, during recess and a few parties each year.
He said districts that hold onto the old policies run the risk of violating students' rights and could be next on his law firm's list.
"We're going to have to go after that one, too."
Dr. Haynes said that while Plano's old policy may have been legal, it was impractical because students exchange items in school and class parties, and religious items wind up being singled out and disallowed.
"School districts should do what they can to create a welcoming climate to people of all faiths or no faith," he said.
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TexasStooge
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Grapevine-Colleyville ISD gauges drug testing support
School district's survey follows 9 students' admission of steroid use
By KATHRYN YEGGE / The Dallas Morning News
GRAPEVINE, Texas - More than 400 people have responded to a Grapevine-Colleyville school district online survey about testing students for drugs – less than 24 hours after the district posted it.
The eight-question survey, which was released Tuesday, is designed to gauge the opinions of parents, students and staff on randomly testing students involved in extracurricular activities. The issue has been debated for weeks after nine Colleyville Heritage students admitted earlier this year that they had used steroids.
Survey participants can rank their opinions on statements such as: "I believe that random drug testing of students in competitive extracurricular activities is the most effective deterrent to keep students away from illicit substances."
District officials said they could not release the results of the survey until all the data had been compiled. The district has not decided on a closing date for the survey.
Administrators say the decision to implement drug testing will have to be made by district residents.
"In all the research that we've done, the thing that's most clear cut is that it's really a unique decision for each community," said Deputy Superintendent John Allison. "Your pros and cons are exactly contradictory. That's why this decision is so tough."
The school board will discuss the matter further and possibly make a recommendation at its April 25 board meeting.
In a 2004 UIL survey, just over 200 Texas school district superintendents said they had implemented some form of drug testing in their schools.
With a streamlined budget and potential high costs of drug testing, some administrators are questioning whether the cost outweighs the benefits.
"As tight as we are on finances in this district, we have to be careful where we spend money," said school board member Charlie Warner. "If it's not terribly expensive, then it's something we need to take a look at."
Drug testing can range from $2 for nicotine and alcohol screening to $120 for a steroid screening. An individual general drug screening cost $14.
About 2,500 G-CISD students participate in extracurricular activities each year.
The district survey, along with information on student drug usage, is available at http://www.gcisd-k12.org.
School district's survey follows 9 students' admission of steroid use
By KATHRYN YEGGE / The Dallas Morning News
GRAPEVINE, Texas - More than 400 people have responded to a Grapevine-Colleyville school district online survey about testing students for drugs – less than 24 hours after the district posted it.
The eight-question survey, which was released Tuesday, is designed to gauge the opinions of parents, students and staff on randomly testing students involved in extracurricular activities. The issue has been debated for weeks after nine Colleyville Heritage students admitted earlier this year that they had used steroids.
Survey participants can rank their opinions on statements such as: "I believe that random drug testing of students in competitive extracurricular activities is the most effective deterrent to keep students away from illicit substances."
District officials said they could not release the results of the survey until all the data had been compiled. The district has not decided on a closing date for the survey.
Administrators say the decision to implement drug testing will have to be made by district residents.
"In all the research that we've done, the thing that's most clear cut is that it's really a unique decision for each community," said Deputy Superintendent John Allison. "Your pros and cons are exactly contradictory. That's why this decision is so tough."
The school board will discuss the matter further and possibly make a recommendation at its April 25 board meeting.
In a 2004 UIL survey, just over 200 Texas school district superintendents said they had implemented some form of drug testing in their schools.
With a streamlined budget and potential high costs of drug testing, some administrators are questioning whether the cost outweighs the benefits.
"As tight as we are on finances in this district, we have to be careful where we spend money," said school board member Charlie Warner. "If it's not terribly expensive, then it's something we need to take a look at."
Drug testing can range from $2 for nicotine and alcohol screening to $120 for a steroid screening. An individual general drug screening cost $14.
About 2,500 G-CISD students participate in extracurricular activities each year.
The district survey, along with information on student drug usage, is available at http://www.gcisd-k12.org.
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TexasStooge
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Vandals stun Pilot Point ISD
5 high school seniors are questioned about field, track damage
By DONNA FIELDER and ETHAN SZATMARY / Denton Record-Chronicle
PILOT POINT, Texas – Police questioned five Pilot Point High School seniors Thursday after a basketball goal was cemented in a hole dug in the football field at Massey Stadium.
Vandals also spray painted rude and obscene comments on the track and walls of the field houses and broke soap dispensers, causing about $12,000 in damage.
Many of the statements, such as "PP = Rednecks" and "Celina rules" made it appear that students from rival Celina were the vandals, but Pilot Point police said there was no indication of that.
The spray painting also ridiculed recent e-mails that some Pilot Point ISD coaches sent to one another at school that have caused turmoil surrounding the coaching staff. Other spray-painted graffiti insulted former football head coach G.A. Moore.
The students responsible could face felony vandalism charges if school officials decide to press charges, said Pilot Point police Officer Shaun Hopkins.
"They have not been arrested," Officer Hopkins said. "That will be up to the school district. At this point, they have not decided whether to press charges."
Major track damage
School officials discovered the damage at 7 a.m. and called police. Officer Hopkins said the major damage was to the track, which will need replacement in several sections.
The officer said her investigation led to one student, who implicated the others. One was 17 and the others were 18. All were involved in all aspects of the vandalism, the officer said.
Officer Hopkins said none of the students indicated a particular motive for the vandalism.
"This came from the inside. I'm sorry they made the choices that they did," the officer said. "They tore their own stuff up, and that's a shame."
Pilot Point school Superintendent Cloyce Purcell said maintenance workers and students hurried to clean up the mess because the school was hosting the District 6-3A track meet Thursday.
"I am just crushed," Mr. Purcell said. "We have enough issues to deal with without new ones."
Tom Swartz, power lifting and assistant football and track coach, took his leadership class out Thursday morning to help clean up.
'Total disbelief'
"I was shocked," Mr. Swartz said. "Total disbelief. [But] there's bigger things in life to worry about. We fixed it."
Basketball coach Bubba Stastny wouldn't comment on who might be involved.
"We were all pretty amazed when we saw it this morning," Mr. Stastny said. "I've never seen a basketball goal standing in the middle of a football field."
5 high school seniors are questioned about field, track damage
By DONNA FIELDER and ETHAN SZATMARY / Denton Record-Chronicle
PILOT POINT, Texas – Police questioned five Pilot Point High School seniors Thursday after a basketball goal was cemented in a hole dug in the football field at Massey Stadium.
Vandals also spray painted rude and obscene comments on the track and walls of the field houses and broke soap dispensers, causing about $12,000 in damage.
Many of the statements, such as "PP = Rednecks" and "Celina rules" made it appear that students from rival Celina were the vandals, but Pilot Point police said there was no indication of that.
The spray painting also ridiculed recent e-mails that some Pilot Point ISD coaches sent to one another at school that have caused turmoil surrounding the coaching staff. Other spray-painted graffiti insulted former football head coach G.A. Moore.
The students responsible could face felony vandalism charges if school officials decide to press charges, said Pilot Point police Officer Shaun Hopkins.
"They have not been arrested," Officer Hopkins said. "That will be up to the school district. At this point, they have not decided whether to press charges."
Major track damage
School officials discovered the damage at 7 a.m. and called police. Officer Hopkins said the major damage was to the track, which will need replacement in several sections.
The officer said her investigation led to one student, who implicated the others. One was 17 and the others were 18. All were involved in all aspects of the vandalism, the officer said.
Officer Hopkins said none of the students indicated a particular motive for the vandalism.
"This came from the inside. I'm sorry they made the choices that they did," the officer said. "They tore their own stuff up, and that's a shame."
Pilot Point school Superintendent Cloyce Purcell said maintenance workers and students hurried to clean up the mess because the school was hosting the District 6-3A track meet Thursday.
"I am just crushed," Mr. Purcell said. "We have enough issues to deal with without new ones."
Tom Swartz, power lifting and assistant football and track coach, took his leadership class out Thursday morning to help clean up.
'Total disbelief'
"I was shocked," Mr. Swartz said. "Total disbelief. [But] there's bigger things in life to worry about. We fixed it."
Basketball coach Bubba Stastny wouldn't comment on who might be involved.
"We were all pretty amazed when we saw it this morning," Mr. Stastny said. "I've never seen a basketball goal standing in the middle of a football field."
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TexasStooge
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- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
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Dallas PD boosting security for OKC anniversary
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS, Texas - Hundreds of thousands of people live and work in downtown Dallas. Like most major cities, some of the buildings here are potential terrorist targets.
Maurice Lantier works in the tallest building in downtown - the Bank of America Plaza - and sometimes worries about it.
"You are aware of it," Lantier said. "It is something that I've talked to my wife about."
Dallas Police deputy chief Brian Harvey is one of the commanders responsible for protecting citizens like Lantier. That's why this Tuesday, April 19 - the tenth anniversary of the deadly bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City - there will be a large police presence downtown.
Harvey would not give a specific number of officers, but did say members of the the SWAT team and extra patrols will be on hand. Additionally, a reas around some key downtown buildings will be blocked off.
"We feel we are well prepared for any type of incident, and we feel we have prepared as well as any other agency," Harvey said.
Dallas police have a plan if something goes wrong. They will immediately contact businesses and security firms through a communications network using the Internet, cell phones and pagers.
"If there is an incident nearby, they will immediately start calling security inside the building or the building owner to find out if it effects their businesses," Harvey said.
A similar system was used during the 2000 Fort Worth tornado. Business owners were immediately called to the scene to begin damage assessment, and make critical decisions.
Harvey insists there is no information about any specific threats in downtown. Yet, there was no warning in Oklahoma City either on that day in 1995, when at 9:02 a.m. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols used a truck bomb to blow up the Murrah federal building. 168 people lost their lives.
By REBECCA LOPEZ / WFAA ABC 8
NEWS 8 EXCLUSIVE
DALLAS, Texas - Hundreds of thousands of people live and work in downtown Dallas. Like most major cities, some of the buildings here are potential terrorist targets.
Maurice Lantier works in the tallest building in downtown - the Bank of America Plaza - and sometimes worries about it.
"You are aware of it," Lantier said. "It is something that I've talked to my wife about."
Dallas Police deputy chief Brian Harvey is one of the commanders responsible for protecting citizens like Lantier. That's why this Tuesday, April 19 - the tenth anniversary of the deadly bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City - there will be a large police presence downtown.
Harvey would not give a specific number of officers, but did say members of the the SWAT team and extra patrols will be on hand. Additionally, a reas around some key downtown buildings will be blocked off.
"We feel we are well prepared for any type of incident, and we feel we have prepared as well as any other agency," Harvey said.
Dallas police have a plan if something goes wrong. They will immediately contact businesses and security firms through a communications network using the Internet, cell phones and pagers.
"If there is an incident nearby, they will immediately start calling security inside the building or the building owner to find out if it effects their businesses," Harvey said.
A similar system was used during the 2000 Fort Worth tornado. Business owners were immediately called to the scene to begin damage assessment, and make critical decisions.
Harvey insists there is no information about any specific threats in downtown. Yet, there was no warning in Oklahoma City either on that day in 1995, when at 9:02 a.m. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols used a truck bomb to blow up the Murrah federal building. 168 people lost their lives.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Work crews continue to hit gas lines
Fiberoptic rollout keeps cutting Carrollton utilities, tying up fire crews and equipment
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
CARROLLTON, Texas - A rash of construction accidents involving ruptured gas lines is worrying some North Texas firefighters.
Last month, crews hired by Verizon to bury fiberoptic cable for new high-speed internet service hit natural gas lines 18 times in Carrollton.
Work crews hired by Verizon have already laid 125 miles of cable with 900 more to go. However, burying the fiberoptic lines without hitting utilities is a delicate and complicated task, because the locations on maps aren't always clear.
"We tried all day yesterday to read the gas, but we couldn't read it," one crew member said. "It's right here and goes both ways (but) she can't find it."
When crews hit gas lines 18 times, that meant 18 different times Carrollton firefighters had to respond. Fire administrators said that's taking a toll on manpower and equipment.
"It ties up our emergency units on the scene," said Carrollton assistant chief Gary Nesbitt. "They have to stand by the gas leak until it can be repaired."
Some neighbors are worried about safety.
"It makes you scared," said resident Matt Nielsen.
Resident Mike Doonan and others said getting better internet technology in the future is worth minor inconveniences now - but sometimes the danger might supplant the desire for that technology.
"You've got to break eggs to make omelettes; you're going to scratch some things - pipes are going to get nicked, they're going to get cracked - but as long as they fix it," Doonan said. "If I saw flames coming out, it would be a different story."
Verizon spokesman Bill Kula said the number of gas line hits is down to three this month. He said the company is working with the city and the gas company, Atmos Energy, to reduce the number of accidents.
"The long-term gain will help outweigh some of these temporary inconveniences that have taken place," said Kula. "We don't want to disrupt the city's services and have fire trucks sitting idle while they're just waiting for a gas line to be repaired."
Atmos Energy spokesman Ray Granado told News 8 that 13 of the 18 hit lines last month resulted from contractor error. The other five involved problems pinpointing the location of lines.
"We've hired extra people," Granado said. "We have 30 extra line locators that we've put on board."
Verizon is laying fiber optic cable across North Texas, from Keller in the west to Wylie in the east. Company officials said one of the problems with Carrollton is that the gas lines are buried at different depths.
Still, firefighters said 18 hits in one month is too many.
Fiberoptic rollout keeps cutting Carrollton utilities, tying up fire crews and equipment
By STEVE STOLER / WFAA ABC 8
CARROLLTON, Texas - A rash of construction accidents involving ruptured gas lines is worrying some North Texas firefighters.
Last month, crews hired by Verizon to bury fiberoptic cable for new high-speed internet service hit natural gas lines 18 times in Carrollton.
Work crews hired by Verizon have already laid 125 miles of cable with 900 more to go. However, burying the fiberoptic lines without hitting utilities is a delicate and complicated task, because the locations on maps aren't always clear.
"We tried all day yesterday to read the gas, but we couldn't read it," one crew member said. "It's right here and goes both ways (but) she can't find it."
When crews hit gas lines 18 times, that meant 18 different times Carrollton firefighters had to respond. Fire administrators said that's taking a toll on manpower and equipment.
"It ties up our emergency units on the scene," said Carrollton assistant chief Gary Nesbitt. "They have to stand by the gas leak until it can be repaired."
Some neighbors are worried about safety.
"It makes you scared," said resident Matt Nielsen.
Resident Mike Doonan and others said getting better internet technology in the future is worth minor inconveniences now - but sometimes the danger might supplant the desire for that technology.
"You've got to break eggs to make omelettes; you're going to scratch some things - pipes are going to get nicked, they're going to get cracked - but as long as they fix it," Doonan said. "If I saw flames coming out, it would be a different story."
Verizon spokesman Bill Kula said the number of gas line hits is down to three this month. He said the company is working with the city and the gas company, Atmos Energy, to reduce the number of accidents.
"The long-term gain will help outweigh some of these temporary inconveniences that have taken place," said Kula. "We don't want to disrupt the city's services and have fire trucks sitting idle while they're just waiting for a gas line to be repaired."
Atmos Energy spokesman Ray Granado told News 8 that 13 of the 18 hit lines last month resulted from contractor error. The other five involved problems pinpointing the location of lines.
"We've hired extra people," Granado said. "We have 30 extra line locators that we've put on board."
Verizon is laying fiber optic cable across North Texas, from Keller in the west to Wylie in the east. Company officials said one of the problems with Carrollton is that the gas lines are buried at different depths.
Still, firefighters said 18 hits in one month is too many.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Bedford gets $300,000 to reopen facilities
Donor's gift will reopen library, other facilities closed in budget crunch
By LAURIE FOX / The Dallas Morning News
BEDFORD, Texas – Salvation, at least temporarily, arrived Friday in the form of a $300,000 cashier's check from an anonymous benefactor.
The check was accompanied by a sparsely worded letter that stipulated that the money was to be used to reopen the city's library, Bedford Boys Ranch Activity Center and Splash water park until the new fiscal year begins in October.
The facilities have been closed for two weeks, casualties of a City Council vote to balance the budget after a contentious March 5 property tax rollback passed by 10 votes.
Those in the crowd that packed the council chambers Friday afternoon sucked in their breaths, then applauded loudly as the letter and check amount were read aloud. Council members held a special meeting to accept the donation.
Officials said they are not sure how long it will take to reopen the city facilities but said it would probably be before schoolchildren get out for summer vacation, if not sooner.
Mayor Rick Hurt, who appeared on the verge of tears several times Friday, said he was overwhelmed by the donor's generosity.
"Maybe we can take a lesson from this and at least learn to agree to disagree," Mr. Hurt said. "Hopefully this will resonate in a community where it is sorely needed."
He said the donor was specific about not wanting to be credited for the donation. Mr. Hurt said the donor also was not involved on either side of the rollback election that has divided the city.
After years of keeping the property tax rate stable, the council last fall approved a 27 percent tax-rate increase, from 38.9 cents to 49.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
Those who voted for the tax-rate increase said several important expenses – like hiring more police officers and buying new emergency vehicles – had been put off and were sorely needed.
Members of Bedford Citizens for Responsive Government balked and pushed for the tax rate to be moved back to about 40 cents. They say they're not convinced the city's budget is in as much jeopardy as city officials contend.
After the rollback, Bedford officials said they faced a $2.6 million shortfall to balance the remaining six months of this year's budget.
The donor specified that $125,000 was to be spent on the library, $125,000 on the Boys Ranch Activity Center and $50,000 on the water park.
David Franklin, treasurer of the Friends of the Bedford Public Library, said the money would allow the library to open about 20 hours a week.
"That's a tremendous start, especially for the kids this summer who go there for tutoring and for the summer reading club," he said.
Mr. Hurt, meanwhile, said he'd heard rumblings of the donation for several days, but called the council meeting to formally accept the check. When the donation was accepted unanimously, he smiled.
"If nothing else, I hope this helps the healing process," Mr. Hurt said.
Donor's gift will reopen library, other facilities closed in budget crunch
By LAURIE FOX / The Dallas Morning News
BEDFORD, Texas – Salvation, at least temporarily, arrived Friday in the form of a $300,000 cashier's check from an anonymous benefactor.
The check was accompanied by a sparsely worded letter that stipulated that the money was to be used to reopen the city's library, Bedford Boys Ranch Activity Center and Splash water park until the new fiscal year begins in October.
The facilities have been closed for two weeks, casualties of a City Council vote to balance the budget after a contentious March 5 property tax rollback passed by 10 votes.
Those in the crowd that packed the council chambers Friday afternoon sucked in their breaths, then applauded loudly as the letter and check amount were read aloud. Council members held a special meeting to accept the donation.
Officials said they are not sure how long it will take to reopen the city facilities but said it would probably be before schoolchildren get out for summer vacation, if not sooner.
Mayor Rick Hurt, who appeared on the verge of tears several times Friday, said he was overwhelmed by the donor's generosity.
"Maybe we can take a lesson from this and at least learn to agree to disagree," Mr. Hurt said. "Hopefully this will resonate in a community where it is sorely needed."
He said the donor was specific about not wanting to be credited for the donation. Mr. Hurt said the donor also was not involved on either side of the rollback election that has divided the city.
After years of keeping the property tax rate stable, the council last fall approved a 27 percent tax-rate increase, from 38.9 cents to 49.5 cents per $100 of assessed property value.
Those who voted for the tax-rate increase said several important expenses – like hiring more police officers and buying new emergency vehicles – had been put off and were sorely needed.
Members of Bedford Citizens for Responsive Government balked and pushed for the tax rate to be moved back to about 40 cents. They say they're not convinced the city's budget is in as much jeopardy as city officials contend.
After the rollback, Bedford officials said they faced a $2.6 million shortfall to balance the remaining six months of this year's budget.
The donor specified that $125,000 was to be spent on the library, $125,000 on the Boys Ranch Activity Center and $50,000 on the water park.
David Franklin, treasurer of the Friends of the Bedford Public Library, said the money would allow the library to open about 20 hours a week.
"That's a tremendous start, especially for the kids this summer who go there for tutoring and for the summer reading club," he said.
Mr. Hurt, meanwhile, said he'd heard rumblings of the donation for several days, but called the council meeting to formally accept the check. When the donation was accepted unanimously, he smiled.
"If nothing else, I hope this helps the healing process," Mr. Hurt said.
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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:
Tax-refund loans a ripoff, groups say
Low-income residents often face hefty interest, other fees
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Thousands descended on post offices in North Texas Friday to get their taxes in on time.
However, thousands of low-income residents who are due refunds often don't get back all that money.
Last year, Rosa Lewis of Wilmer needed her tax refund of almost $3,300 fast, because her electric bill was overdue.
When she filed her return at a Liberty Tax office, she thought she was asking for a rapid return of a couple of days - but what she got was a shock.
"That's frustrating," Lewis said. "Why should you be charging people so much money? Why do they charge that? i don't understand that."
What she actually agreed to was a refund anticipation loan - money she borrowed until the government sends the refund. Liberty charged her $215 in fees, including an interest charge of 79 percent.
Tax preparation companies offer the high-interest loans to all taxpayers, but those who qualify for the low-income tax credit use them the most. In Dallas and Tarrant counties in 2002, the IRS said more than 246,000 taxpayers took out the loans.
Low-income advocacy groups call the rapid anticipation loans a ripoff.
"They prey on them for the need," said Cledell Kemp of ACORN, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. "People need to have that cash in hand."
ACORN and the IRS said there's a better choice; they offer free tax help and electronic filing.
"You can get your refund in as little as ten days, so a little bit of patience ... can save yourself a lot of money," said the IRS' Phil Beasley.
This year, Lewis will let ACORN do her taxes.
"I can file it today and it's not going to cost me anything," she said.
Low-income residents often face hefty interest, other fees
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA ABC 8
DALLAS, Texas - Thousands descended on post offices in North Texas Friday to get their taxes in on time.
However, thousands of low-income residents who are due refunds often don't get back all that money.
Last year, Rosa Lewis of Wilmer needed her tax refund of almost $3,300 fast, because her electric bill was overdue.
When she filed her return at a Liberty Tax office, she thought she was asking for a rapid return of a couple of days - but what she got was a shock.
"That's frustrating," Lewis said. "Why should you be charging people so much money? Why do they charge that? i don't understand that."
What she actually agreed to was a refund anticipation loan - money she borrowed until the government sends the refund. Liberty charged her $215 in fees, including an interest charge of 79 percent.
Tax preparation companies offer the high-interest loans to all taxpayers, but those who qualify for the low-income tax credit use them the most. In Dallas and Tarrant counties in 2002, the IRS said more than 246,000 taxpayers took out the loans.
Low-income advocacy groups call the rapid anticipation loans a ripoff.
"They prey on them for the need," said Cledell Kemp of ACORN, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now. "People need to have that cash in hand."
ACORN and the IRS said there's a better choice; they offer free tax help and electronic filing.
"You can get your refund in as little as ten days, so a little bit of patience ... can save yourself a lot of money," said the IRS' Phil Beasley.
This year, Lewis will let ACORN do her taxes.
"I can file it today and it's not going to cost me anything," she said.
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TexasStooge
- Category 5
- Posts: 38127
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 1:22 pm
- Location: Irving (Dallas County), TX
- Contact:
Jail still awaits changes
County studying how to improve health care for inmates
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two-and-a-half months after Dallas County received a scathing report outlining life-threatening problems with health care at the jail, county officials have hired no extra medical or jail staff, made no policy changes, purchased no new medical equipment and made no physical jail improvements.
"Despite the report, all the publicity, and our lawsuit, they haven't changed a thing," said Laurence Priddy, a lawyer who brought suit against the county in the case of a mentally ill man who died in jail.
Such criticism clearly was on the minds of county commissioners Friday, as they gathered with an array of medical and jail officials for the first meeting of a new committee to fix jail health care.
Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, the committee chairman, kept pushing to identify changes that could be made quickly.
"We've had a lot of talks. I want to get started on some action," he said.
And Commissioner John Wiley Price argued that there is clear evidence the jail's medical team is seriously understaffed, so the county should quickly beef up the team.
But Mr. Mayfield was frustrated to learn it will take two to three months for subcommittees to plan solutions and estimate costs.
Under the direction of Dr. Michael Puisis, a national expert on correctional health, separate groups will look at mental health, physical health, tuberculosis screening, and nursing requirements.
"I would like to have been done yesterday," Mr. Mayfield said after the meeting.
He said the county has been slowed by its own lawyers, who caution about what the commissioners can say in public because of several lawsuits, including Mr. Priddy's.
That concern also was voiced Friday. Commissioners Court Administrator Allen Clemson reminded the committee that, given the lawsuits, "we need to talk about the future and not past history."
Mr. Mayfield, a lawyer himself, said, "Right, not specifics, but we have to look at the past to address the future."
Advocates for the mentally ill said they were distressed that it will take three more months to craft a plan.
"We're very concerned in the delay of needed reforms, because obviously people have died in the jail," said David Kellogg of the Mental Health Association.
The University of Texas Medical Branch, which the county hired in 2002 to run jail health care, has said it needs 53 more positions to improve care. Dr. Puisis, in his own report, also noted serious staffing shortages. Given that, Mr. Price said, the county should move quickly to increase staffing.
"You're probably right," Dr. Puisis said. "I'm not sure how to address that. But you're right, they do have a need that's not being met. To say the county needs an emergency allotment of medical staff would be prudent."
One issue that remains a dangerous problem is the long delay in providing medication to mentally ill inmates.
That was clear Thursday in the county's mental health divert court, designed to direct mentally ill people into a constructive program to help keep them on their medication rather than sticking them in jail for minor offenses.
The program requires people to stay on their prescribed medications and refrain from non-prescribed medication, such as marijuana, which disrupts the benefits of the prescribed medications. To ensure this, the court conducts random drug tests.
Two people in the program who tested positive for nonprescriptive drugs spent a week in jail as punishment. When they were released Thursday, District Judge Susan Hawk asked if they had been given their prescriptive medication for mental illness while in the jail. Both said they had received nothing.
And a third mentally ill inmate, entering the program for the first time, told the judge she had not received her medication at all during 42 days in jail.
"The issue continues to fester," Mr. Kellogg said after Friday's meeting. "Hopefully, nothing tragic will happen before the county decides to do something. There's been no substantive improvement."
Mr. Mayfield said getting medications to mentally ill inmates "should be a no-brainer. That's been a problem for a long time, and it is a big liability issue."
"It makes me tear my hair out," he said after the meeting. "I am very frustrated by that. We need some action. To me, three months before we get a plan is two months too long. We have not made any progress."
County studying how to improve health care for inmates
By JAMES M. O'NEILL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS, Texas - Two-and-a-half months after Dallas County received a scathing report outlining life-threatening problems with health care at the jail, county officials have hired no extra medical or jail staff, made no policy changes, purchased no new medical equipment and made no physical jail improvements.
"Despite the report, all the publicity, and our lawsuit, they haven't changed a thing," said Laurence Priddy, a lawyer who brought suit against the county in the case of a mentally ill man who died in jail.
Such criticism clearly was on the minds of county commissioners Friday, as they gathered with an array of medical and jail officials for the first meeting of a new committee to fix jail health care.
Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, the committee chairman, kept pushing to identify changes that could be made quickly.
"We've had a lot of talks. I want to get started on some action," he said.
And Commissioner John Wiley Price argued that there is clear evidence the jail's medical team is seriously understaffed, so the county should quickly beef up the team.
But Mr. Mayfield was frustrated to learn it will take two to three months for subcommittees to plan solutions and estimate costs.
Under the direction of Dr. Michael Puisis, a national expert on correctional health, separate groups will look at mental health, physical health, tuberculosis screening, and nursing requirements.
"I would like to have been done yesterday," Mr. Mayfield said after the meeting.
He said the county has been slowed by its own lawyers, who caution about what the commissioners can say in public because of several lawsuits, including Mr. Priddy's.
That concern also was voiced Friday. Commissioners Court Administrator Allen Clemson reminded the committee that, given the lawsuits, "we need to talk about the future and not past history."
Mr. Mayfield, a lawyer himself, said, "Right, not specifics, but we have to look at the past to address the future."
Advocates for the mentally ill said they were distressed that it will take three more months to craft a plan.
"We're very concerned in the delay of needed reforms, because obviously people have died in the jail," said David Kellogg of the Mental Health Association.
The University of Texas Medical Branch, which the county hired in 2002 to run jail health care, has said it needs 53 more positions to improve care. Dr. Puisis, in his own report, also noted serious staffing shortages. Given that, Mr. Price said, the county should move quickly to increase staffing.
"You're probably right," Dr. Puisis said. "I'm not sure how to address that. But you're right, they do have a need that's not being met. To say the county needs an emergency allotment of medical staff would be prudent."
One issue that remains a dangerous problem is the long delay in providing medication to mentally ill inmates.
That was clear Thursday in the county's mental health divert court, designed to direct mentally ill people into a constructive program to help keep them on their medication rather than sticking them in jail for minor offenses.
The program requires people to stay on their prescribed medications and refrain from non-prescribed medication, such as marijuana, which disrupts the benefits of the prescribed medications. To ensure this, the court conducts random drug tests.
Two people in the program who tested positive for nonprescriptive drugs spent a week in jail as punishment. When they were released Thursday, District Judge Susan Hawk asked if they had been given their prescriptive medication for mental illness while in the jail. Both said they had received nothing.
And a third mentally ill inmate, entering the program for the first time, told the judge she had not received her medication at all during 42 days in jail.
"The issue continues to fester," Mr. Kellogg said after Friday's meeting. "Hopefully, nothing tragic will happen before the county decides to do something. There's been no substantive improvement."
Mr. Mayfield said getting medications to mentally ill inmates "should be a no-brainer. That's been a problem for a long time, and it is a big liability issue."
"It makes me tear my hair out," he said after the meeting. "I am very frustrated by that. We need some action. To me, three months before we get a plan is two months too long. We have not made any progress."
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