News Synergy: State News

Galveston judge suspended by state after arrest

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:44:46 -0500

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — A state judicial ethics commission has suspended a Galveston judge without pay following his arrest on eight charges related to his actions from the bench.

Galveston County Court-at-Law Judge Christopher Dupuy showed up for work Thursday to hear a divorce case, a day after his arrest, and said he intended to remain on the job unless he was convicted or removed. He also said he was confident about an outcome.

Later in the day, he was suspended by the Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct.

A lawsuit filed through the Texas attorney general's office also is seeking his removal until the case is resolved.

The charges —two felonies and six misdemeanors — stem from actions against three lawyers. He's accused of obstruction or retaliation, abuse of official capacity and official oppression.

Woman condemned for boy's starvation loses appeal

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:56:21 -0500

HOUSTON (AP) — An Arlington woman on Texas death row for the starvation death of a 9-year-old boy has lost a federal court appeal, moving her a step closer to execution.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Thursday refused arguments from 37-year-old Lisa Ann Coleman, condemned for the 2004 death of her partner's son, Davontae Williams. Coleman contended unsuccessfully her attorneys at her 2006 trial in Tarrant County were deficient in their investigations and she actually was innocent of the child's death.

Jurors heard testimony Coleman beat, bound, neglected and starved the boy who was found with more than 250 wounds on his body.

His mother, Marcella, pleaded guilty to avoid a death sentence and is serving a life prison term.

Coleman is one of 10 condemned women in Texas.

Mother killed, kids hurt, after shoplifters crash

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:52:40 -0500

HOUSTON (AP) — A woman has been killed and her three children injured after their car was struck at a Houston intersection by another car carrying shoplifting suspects being pursued by police.

The chase began outside a shopping mall in suburban Humble and ended miles later in northeast Houston when the fleeing vehicle carrying three women ran a red light and crashed.

The 43-year-old mother in the struck car was dead at the scene Thursday afternoon. Her children are hospitalized in serious condition.

Police say the suspected shoplifters tried to run away on foot but were caught.

Names of everyone involved have not been immediately released. Police say the driver of the fleeing car faces felony murder charges.

Bush hosts bike ride for military combat veterans

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:29:34 -0500

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) — Former President George W. Bush is hosting a 100-kilometer mountain bike ride at his Central Texas ranch for military members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The second day of the ride begins Friday. This is the third year for Bush to host the Warrior 100K. Last year, the ride was held at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, with the previous year's ride in the Big Bend region of West Texas.

Fifteen wounded veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are participating in the ride, which is part of the George W. Bush Institute's Military Service Initiative. The institute is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

NOAA predicts another busy hurricane season

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:36:18 -0500

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Federal forecasters are predicting yet another busy hurricane season.

Thursday's outlook calls for 13 to 20 named storms, 7 to 11 that strengthen into hurricanes and 3 to 6 that become major hurricanes.

The prediction by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is more than what's considered an average Atlantic season.

Last year was the third-busiest on record with 19 named storms. Ten became hurricanes and were two major storms, with winds over 111 mph.

That included Sandy, which caused $50 billion in damage even though it lost hurricane status when it made landfall in New Jersey.

The last time a major hurricane made landfall in the United States was Wilma in 2005. The seven year U.S. landfall drought is the longest on record.

The six-month season starts June 1.

Texas cities among fastest-growing in US

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:18:32 -0500

HOUSTON (AP) — Population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau are showing that Houston is the second-fastest growing big city in the nation while medium-sized enclaves in Texas also saw spikes.

Estimates released Thursday show only New York added more people than Houston during the year that ended July 1. More than 34,500 people flocked to Houston, bringing its population to nearly 2.2 million.

Of the 10 big U.S. cities with the largest gains, half are in Texas: Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth.

The Central Texas town of San Marcos saw the highest rate of growth among all U.S. municipalities with at least 50,000 people. Its population rose nearly 5 percent.

Midland; Conroe, just north of Houston; and the Austin suburbs of Cedar Park and Georgetown also were among the fastest-growing in the country.

1 killed, 3 students hurt in school bus accident

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:31:46 -0500

WILLS POINT, Texas (AP) — One driver has been killed and three students injured when a car drifted into oncoming traffic and struck a school bus in East Texas.

Trooper Jean Dark says the Wills Point Independent School District bus came to rest atop a portion of a Toyota Camry following the collision about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in Van Zandt County, about 45 miles east of Dallas.

She says the bus was traveling south when the northbound Camry crossed into its lane. Both drivers attempted to avoid the accident but ended up colliding in the northbound lane. A third vehicle also was involved in the wreck.

Dark says a man driving the Camry died at the scene. The bus driver and three students on the bus were taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening.

Texas pastor pleads guilty to online soliciting

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:28:40 -0500

MARSHALL, Texas (AP) — An East Texas pastor faces up to 10 years in prison for an online chat from church with an alleged 14-year-old girl who turned out to be a Louisiana trooper.

The penalty phase continues Wednesday in Marshall for Raymond Earl Cooper. The now-ex-minister of First Church of the Nazarene in Marshall on Tuesday pleaded guilty to online solicitation of a minor.

Prosecutors say Cooper used a church computer to solicit a person he thought was a girl from Lafayette, La.

The Marshall News Messenger (http://bit.ly/11aWJe3 ) reports the indictment says Cooper in April 2012 sexted a person believed to be a minor and sexually exposed himself via webcam.

The married father of four portrayed himself as a 42-year-old man from Shreveport, La., and asked about the girl's sexual history.

Ban on soda in elementary, middle schools advances

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:51:33 -0500

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A proposed ban on sales of sugary sodas in public elementary and junior high schools is on its way to the governor.

In a 24-6 vote on Tuesday, the Senate approved a bill intended to help the state's youngest students develop nutritious drinking habits. It would allow schools to sell only water, low-fat milk and pure juice.

Democratic Sen. Carlos Uresti of San Antonio said the change will save the state untold millions in health care costs.

The proposal has already passed the House, with changes requested by the beverage industry. While the original bill applied to all public schools, the current version exempts high schools. It cleared the Senate two weeks after Coca-Cola Co. announced a major anti-obesity initiative including juice drinks. Aides described the timing as beneficial.

Man arrested after $1.6M in cocaine discovered

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:03:54 -0500

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) — Authorities say an Ohio man has been arrested in West Texas after a state trooper found about 50 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $1.6 million hidden in a false compartment of a vehicle.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that 45-year-old Lamont Ellis of Cleveland was arrested on a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He was booked into jail on a $40,000 bond but is no longer being held.

Authorities say a trooper was fueling his patrol vehicle Sunday at a truck stop in Conway, east of Amarillo, when he saw a motorist nearby acting suspiciously. Ellis was towing a Grand Cherokee Jeep and the trooper allegedly found 17 bundles of cocaine hidden in the vehicle.

Online jail records did not indicate an attorney for Ellis.