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LOCAL/STATE
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Denton Record-Chronicle
The ups and downs of Texas Legislature Cost of program By Will Weissert Associated Press
AUSTIN — Chris Kyle, the Navy SEAL marksman who inspired the Hollywood blockbuster American Sniper, got an official day in Texas. The House got a new chief budget writer in Republican Rep. John Otto of Dayton. And the Democratic Party got its second new executive director in less than two years, with 32year-old San Antonio native Crystal Perkins hoping her chops as a national fundraiser can help end the party’s twodecade losing streak in statewide elections. The promotions could be bittersweet since both Otto and Perkins likely have their work cut out for them. Meanwhile, jury selection has begun for the Iraq war veteran accused of gunning down Kyle at a Glen Rose shooting range in 2013. Here’s a look at who had a strong week — and who didn’t — in Texas politics.
Who’s up
Rick Perry The former governor an-
Charlie Neibergall/AP file photo
Former Gov. Rick Perry pumps his fist as he walks on stage during the Freedom Summit on Jan. 24 in Des Moines, Iowa. nounced that nearly four dozen top donors have signed on to support RickPAC, the group helping Perry gear up for an expected 2016 presidential run. The list could assuage other would-be financial backers’ fears that Perry can’t compete in a crowded field of Republican White House contenders given his past “oops” moment and possible future felony abuse-of-power trial. In addi-
tion to big dollars, Perry’s list packs a lot of sports punch. Peter Holt owns the San Antonio Spurs and Red McCombs helped bring the team to the Alamo City in the 1970s. Drayton McLane Jr. is former chairman of the Houston Astros and Jamie McCourt was a top Los Angeles Dodgers executive before her nasty divorce. Then there’s Cody Campbell, who was an offensive lineman at Texas Tech before signing with the Indianapolis Colts — though he never actually played a game for them.
Who’s down
19 reps who voted against House Speaker Joe Straus Republican Rep. Scott Turner and a vocal band of supporters tried to lead a tea party revolt against Straus on the opening day of the session, but were defeated 127-19 in a speaker’s race floor vote. Straus has now taken some revenge, sending many of those who opposed him to low-profile House committees. There was also seniority at work since Turner, a second-term law-
New plan calls for expanding Gulf of Mexico reef sanctuary By Cain Burdeau Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — A federal marine sanctuary protecting coral reefs in the Gulf of Mexico could grow five times in size under a plan being proposed to safeguard an even larger area of the Gulf from scavengers looking for historic shipwrecks, ships dropping anchor, commercial fishing and oil and gas drilling. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration wants to enlarge the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary from 56 square miles to cover 280 square miles. The sanctuary, first established in1992, includes the northernmost coral reefs in the continental United States. A series of reefs, sitting atop salt dome sea mounts, are found along the rim of the Continental Shelf between about 70 miles and 150 miles off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. “That’s essentially where the
activity is happening,” said G.P. Schmahl, the sanctuary superintendent. “They are hot spots for fish habitat, fish spawning.” The banks host many species, including brightly colored sponges, eels, urchins, shrimp, lobsters and shellfish, eagle and manta rays, sea turtles and whale sharks. The agency is holding public meetings on the proposal in March in New Orleans, Houston and Galveston. The agency will collect public comments until April 6. There are several more steps to complete — including an environmental review — before the expansion can happen. The new banks under consideration for protection include the Horseshoe Bank, the MacNeil Bank, the Rankin Bank, the 28 Fathom Bank, the Bright Bank, the Geyer Bank, the McGrail Bank, the Sonnier Bank and the Alderdice Bank. The sanctuary was established in 1992 and a neighboring area, the Stetson
Bank, was added to the sanctuary in 1996. Adding these banks to the sanctuary would help protect them from a number of harmful activities, Schmahl said. The reefs are under threat from human activities such as commercial fishing, oil and gas drilling, ships dropping anchors on them, oil spills and scavengers looking for shipwrecks. Besides that, hurricanes, invasive species and climate change have been cited as harmful to the reefs. Being placed inside the boundaries of the sanctuary would protect the banks from harmful human activities, Schmahl said. Expansion of the sanctuary’s boundaries was proposed by an advisory council in 2007. The council includes public official and stakeholder groups, including representatives for the oil and gas industry, fishermen and divers. The sanctuary is popular among divers and fishermen for their abundance of sea life.
INDICTMENTS The following were indicted by a Denton County grand jury Thursday at the Denton County Courts Building. Listed are those indicted, the charges and the agency that made the arrest. ■ Doroteo Alaniz, three counts of indecency with a child, Lewisville police ■ Henry Sparks III, unlawful possession of a firearm, Carrollton police ■ Dayvion Persley, possession of a controlled substance, Carrollton police ■ Heather Rouse, possession of a controlled substance, Carrollton police ■ Clifford Berry, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, Denton police ■ Chad Blaylock, possession of a controlled substance, Denton police ■ Tobias Dyer, possession of a controlled substance, Denton police ■ Robert Elston, harassment by persons in certain correctional facilities, Denton police ■ Alan Garcia, endangering a child, Denton police ■ Ryan Henderson, possession of marijuana, Denton police ■ Seth Jarvis, possession of a controlled substance, Denton police ■ Marco Torres, burglary of a vehicle, Denton police ■ Lashanna Witt, endangering a child, Denton police ■ James Hatcher, diversion of controlled substances, Denton County Sheriff’s Office ■ Phillip Feliciano, theft, Denton County Sheriff’s Office ■ Clayton McClelland, possession of a controlled substance, Denton County Sheriff’s Office ■ Robert Harrigan, possession of a controlled substance, Flower Mound police ■ Felicia Prescott, fraudulent use or possession of identifying information and possession of a controlled substance, Flower Mound police ■ Jermaine Tyler, possession of a controlled substance, Flower Mound police ■ Emily Verfurth, assault against public servant, Highland Village police ■ Robert Montgomery, possession of a controlled substance and evading arrest, Lake Dallas police ■ Jose Valarde, evading arrest, Lake Dallas police ■ Melissa Worton, possession of a controlled substance and delivery of a controlled substance, Lake Dallas police and Texas Department of
Public Safety ■ Patrick Adger, Jr., two counts of criminal mischief, The Colony police ■ Michael Camerlin, evading arrest, The Colony police ■ Jaderrien Lyles, delivery of simulated substances, The Colony police ■ Rodney Sherrin, possession of a controlled substance, The Colony police ■ Susan Vogler, possession of a controlled substance, The Colony police ■ Skyler Lewis-Pinnell, arson, Lewisville police ■ Tadreion Wallace, aggravated assault, Lewisville police ■ Zachary Honeycutt, aggravated assault, Lewisville police ■ Pedro Alfonso-Rodriguez, possession of a controlled substance, Lewisville police ■ Carlos Amador, possession of a controlled substance, Lewisville police
■ Stephen Deaderick, two counts of endangering a child, Lewisville police ■ Nancy Deaderick, two counts of endangering a child, Lewisville police ■ Linda Hartwell, theft, Lewisville police ■ Jonathan Mooney, aggravated assault, Lewisville police ■ Misty Simmons, three counts of theft, Lewisville police and Denton police ■ Christopher Wells, theft, Lewisville police ■ Shelley Boyd, driving while intoxicated, Frisco police ■ Pedro Gomez-Tovar, driving while intoxicated, Hickory Creek police ■ Brian Krogsdale, driving while intoxicated, Lewisville police ■ Andrea McCurdy, driving while intoxicated, Lewisville police ■ Paul Vaughan, two counts of credit card abuse, Lake Dallas police
maker, requested to serve on Government Transparency and Operation. But Turner and two allies make up nearly half of the International Trade and Affairs Intergovernmental Committee. Another popular destination for those who backed Turner is the Special Purpose Districts Committee, which hunts for governance inefficiencies in things like hospital and water districts.
Who’s in between
The rest of the Texas Legislature Both chambers met for only 2 1/2 days and didn’t stay longer than a few minutes each time. House committees were only just announced and their Senate counterparts are still in the early stages of meeting. This week’s agenda could be equally light since constitutional statute says it’s still too early to pass most bills. New Gov. Greg Abbott could fasttrack legislation by listing his emergency priorities — but he won’t deliver his State of the State address until the following week, on Feb. 17.
for vets could rise dramatically AUSTIN (AP) — A recent ruling by a federal judge could turn a state program that waives college tuition and fees for military veterans into one of the most expensive in Texas history. State lawmakers six years ago expanded the program to allow veterans at public universities to pass any unused tuition exemptions to their children, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Lawmakers gave little consideration to the cost since the schools were required to pick up the tab. But a U.S. District Court judge last month struck down a provision of the so-called Hazlewood Act that says veterans and their families may receive tuition benefits only if they enlisted while living in Texas. The ruling creates the possibility that more and more veterans who enlisted elsewhere could move to Texas to claim free tuition after taking a year to establish res-
idency. The Texas attorney general’s office has indicated that it intends to appeal the ruling. In the meantime, lawmakers are contending with an estimate from the Texas Veterans Commission that says the program could swell from $169 million to $750 million, and could eventually surge into the billions. “This has got to be fixed. We’ve created a monster,” said state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. While campaigning last year, Gov. Greg Abbott called for the state to pick up the entire tab for Hazlewood, describing it as an “unfunded mandate” for colleges and universities, according to the Statesman. University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven this week described the program as “phenomenal,” but said he hopes the state will fund it to lift the burden on universities.
DENTON POLICE MOST WANTED Warrants have been issued for these people, according to Denton police officials. If you see any of these people, call 911. You can also leave anonymous tips at the Denton Police Department Facebook page or by using Tip411. Denton County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for any tips leading to the arrest of Denton’s Most Wanted.
Joseph Currin Charge: criminal trespass of a habitation Age: 28 Height: 5 feet, 10 inches Weight: 205 pounds Hair: blond Eyes: brown
Steven Mills Charge: theft more than $500, less than $1,500 Age: 32 Height: 5 feet, 11 inches Weight: 185 pounds Hair: brown Eyes: brown
Kristen Smith Charge: theft more than $500, less than $1,500 Age: 26 Height: 5 feet, 4 inches Weight: 165 pounds Hair: brown Eyes: brown
Shaniqua Nolen Charge: assault Age: 34 Height: 5 feet, 5 inches Weight: 205 pounds Hair: brown Eyes: brown
Jay Ussery Charge: theft more than $50, less than $500 Age: 60 Height: 5 feet, 4 inches Weight: 115 pounds Hair: brown Eyes: blue
Justin Owens Charge: credit card abuse and theft more than $50, less than $500 Age: 18 Height: 5 feet, 5 inches Weight: 140 pounds Hair: black Eyes: brown
Eugene Walker Charge: driving while intoxicated and evading arrest Age: 50 Height: 5 feet, 11 inches Weight: 151 pounds Hair: black Eyes: brown
Ryan Reeves Charge: theft more than $50, less than $500 Age: 18 Height: 5 feet, 6 inches Weight: 145 pounds Hair: brown Eyes: green
Danny Williams Charge: assault Age: 50 Height: 5 feet, 11 inches Weight: 210 pounds Hair: black Eyes: brown
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