Free Republic

Prosecutor reveals third grand jury had refused DeLay indictment Newly impaneled grand jury returned money-laundering charge within hours By Laylan Copelin AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, October 04, 2005 A Travis County grand jury last week refused to indict former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay as prosecutors raced to salvage their felony case against the Sugar Land Republican. In a written statement Tuesday, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle acknowledged that prosecutors presented their case to three grand juries — not just the two they had discussed — and one grand jury refused to indict DeLay. When questions arose about whether...

Episcopal clergy urge unity amid homosexuality debate Homosexuality issue dominates sermons in Austin By Eileen E. Flynn AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Tuesday, August 12, 2003 Less than a week after Episcopal leaders ordained their first openly gay bishop, opinion is still divided about what the decision will mean for believers worldwide. Although opinions differ among Austin faithful, clergy here say they are placing more importance on church unity. "My approach to that is that I trust that the people are thoughtful, caring and reflective people, and that if they are able to study the issues and approach them prayerfully, that they will...

O.K. everyone, this will be fun -- find the missing words. Morales pleads guilty to mail fraud, tax evasion Former (D*******) attorney general could face four years in prison, $1.25 million in fines By Ken Herman and David Hafetz AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, July 17, 2003 Former (D*******) Texas Attorney General Dan Morales, once among the brightest young stars in (D*******) state politics, on Thursday pleaded guilty to federal charges of mail fraud and income tax evasion as part of a plea agreement that could send him to prison for four years. He also faces $1.25 million in fines. The two...

Cranes Be Expanding Their RangeEndangered whooping cranes may take up residence at Matagorda Bay, expert says Associated Press Friday, March 15, 2002 INDIANOLA -- As endangered whooping cranes prepare to migrate northward, a South Texas woman says the birds are found at a new site that may show an expansion of their range along the Gulf Coast. North America's tallest bird has been spotted at Powderhorn Lake. To prove it, nature photographer Glenda Postert has posted photos of the birds on her Web site. "I think the earliest one I saw was in December. It was just one at first,...

AG's office asks to monitor priests Issues raised of church-state relationships By Kevin Cullen, Globe Staff, 3/8/2002 Saying that the extent of child sexual abuse by priests is ''shocking and appalling,'' Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly has asked the Archdiocese of Boston for sweeping influence in the way the church recruits, trains, and monitors priests. In an interview yesterday with The Boston Globe's editorial board, Reilly said his office's ambitious plan to have a say in the way the archdiocese hires its employees, and the way those employees interact with children, is needed, given the size, scope, and history of ...

Execution of Retards to Be Reviewed By GINA HOLLAND Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP)--The Supreme Court is being urged to stop states from executing mentally retarded killers, a possibly landmark case that could affect death row inmates around the country. The case being argued Wednesday turns on whether the executions, already banned in a growing number of states, amount to cruel and unusual punishment. Justices were reviewing the death sentence of Daryl Renard Atkins, convicted of carjacking and killing an airman in Virginia to get money for beer. One test showed Atkins had an IQ of 59. People who test ...

Children's connection Austin American-Statesman Sunday, February 3, 2002 Teach kids to be vigilant if they're ever around guns What do I do if my son has a friend with guns in his house? Talk with the parents of your son's friend and express your concerns. Ask that the guns be kept unloaded, locked and completely inaccessible to kids. (Putting them high up or "hidden" is not adequate.) This is not just a safety issue, it's the law: Texas says you must take reasonable steps to prevent access to guns by those under age 17. Acceptable methods include key or ...