Free Republic

Tech reclaims identity with renamed student newspaper, 'Daily Toreador' BY ELLIOTT BLACKBURN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL They realized it last fall during the tense announcement of a prestigious journalism award, editor Joey Brink said. "They started out, 'University Daily'," Brink said. "And then they said, 'Kansas'." Texas Tech University's student newspaper returned to its roots Wednesday, officially changing its masthead to The Daily Toreador on its first summer issue. A group of students and faculty members began pushing for the change last fall, hoping to find a name that could be immediately identified with Texas Tech, Brink said. "The name the University Daily...

Should minors be allowed to get abortions without parental consent? Yes. No. No opinion.

Hooked on Mac Five fans go extra mile to meet up for concert BY WILLIAM KERNS A-J ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Mac Davis made the musical plea "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me" in 1972. Thirty-three years later, fans still refuse to take his lyrics to heart. Davis is no stranger to stardom, but he plays a lot more golf than songs these days. That makes today's 8 p.m. Lubbock Memorial Civic Center Theatre concert by the Lubbock-born entertainer a rare opportunity for fans. Five women from four different states traveled to Lubbock this weekend to meet one another and attend a...

Cycling partner recalls horrifying moment of friend's hit-and-run fatality BY d. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Kedric C. Hobbs, 20, spoke several times about the agony of possibly getting struck by a car while cycling. He and cycling partner Luke Thornton, 20, had been riding together for about a week until Monday night when a red pickup - allegedly driven by 32-year-old Jason D. McInroe - struck Hobbs, killing him. On the side of the road, in the 7800 block of Fourth Street's dusty shoulder, Thornton held Hobbs in his arms, having unsuccessfully felt for a pulse in the moments after the...

Lubbock Lake to do stand-in honors for Prairie Dog Town BY RAY WESTBROOK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL When Texas sends a Travel/Tex photographer to the Lubbock Lake Landmark on Tuesday, the massive mammoth statue on a hill by the Nash Interpretive Center will be bypassed. Instead, the lens will zoom in to ground level for a close-up shot of a twitchy prairie dog whose bark is worse than its bite. Brian Thomas, director of communications for the Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau, would have volunteered Prairie Dog Town for the pictures, which are designed to fill a 30-second clip on a Web site...

Preserving the buffalos Fate of Texas herd rests with donated bulls By BETSY BLANEY Associated Press CAPROCK CANYONS STATE PARK, Texas The rumble from stampeding bison used to shake the earth as thousands of the majestic animals thundered across these parts centuries ago. That sound has faded almost entirely now, and the fate of one of the last pure herds in North America begun by famed cattleman Charles Goodnight rests with a trio of bulls donated by media tycoon Ted Turner. The herd, once 250 strong, has dwindled to 53, and more than a century of inbreeding threatens it survival....

County Demos select Jones as new chairman BY d. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Local Democrats picked a new leader Tuesday night to fill the void left behind by the January death of Lubbock County Democratic Party Chairman Irma Guerrero. Johnnie Jones won the position over Charlie Dunn as both laid out their plans to invigorate the local party's effort. " I'm proud to be a Democrat when we're on top of the world, and I'm on top of the world when we have bad day in the White House," Jones told Lubbock County Democrats. Dunn, a local attorney, offered a three-point...

Bonilla says he'll seek Hutchison's job, if she leaves Associated Press LUBBOCK (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla said Tuesday he would seek Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's job if she decides to leave office. Bonilla, R-San Antonio, made the announcement from Washington during telephone interviews with Lubbock radio stations. Bonilla, 50, has represented the 23rd District, which includes most of West Texas, for more than a decade. Hutchison is widely believed to be considering a challenge to Gov. Rick Perry in 2006. Both are Republicans. A Hutchison spokesman had no immediate comment. "If she makes a decision on her own...

First GOP black to win election in Lubbock dies BY JOHN REYNOLDS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL McKinley Shephard, who made local electoral history as the first black Republican to win office in Lubbock County, has died. He passed away Tuesday at Covenant Medical Center. He was 58. In 1982, Shephard was elected Precinct 6 Justice of the Peace. Two years earlier and at the relatively tender age of 33, he had run unsuccessfully for the state House. The political pioneer served 12 years as judge before springing another surprise by leaving the public sphere completely to become a priest in the African Orthodox...

One day at a time Relying on others part of paraplegic's daily struggle By JOHN DAVIS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL His world has shrunken from the oil fields of West Texas and Eastern New Mexico, to the size of the two-bedroom house in which he lives. Nearly a year after a car accident rendered 25-year-old Robert Armstrong paralyzed, he said his perspective and goals have changed greatly. Once content to do dangerous work as a roughneck in the oil business, now his main goal is to get out of his electric wheelchair — maybe even walk — one day. Even if the bills...

Beloved Son, Husband ... Hero Final farewell shines light on soldier's life of helping BY JASON WOMACK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL When Roy Velez spoke graveside Monday to friends, family members and soldiers about his child Freddy, the sun shone bright and warm on an otherwise gray and cold November afternoon. Three cracks of gunfire echoed through Resthaven Memorial Park followed by the faint smell of gunpowder. Then, in the military tradition, a bugler played taps in honor of Jose "Freddy" Velez. "When Fred comes home, the sun will shine," Roy Velez told the group of more than 100 people, bundled in coats...

Story last updated at 1:04 a.m. Friday, October 15, 2004 District 19 foes seek edge Social Security issue dominates debate in Abilene BY CORY CHANDLER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL ABILENE — Congressional District 19 candidates held a debate in the home of Dyess Air Force Base on Thursday night, but Social Security stole the show. The candidates, who met at McMurry University for the second of two debates this week, gave a nod to the base but returned to Social Security repeatedly throughout the night. Democratic contender Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, called it the No. 1 problem facing the United States. He said...

District 19 foes come out swinging BY CORY CHANDLER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The claws came out over redistricting during Tuesday's District 19 congressional debate. While the first face-to-face meeting between three District 19 candidates provided an arena for sparring over several issues, Tuesday's debate got heated after Democrat Charlie Stenholm was asked for his thoughts on the state's new congressional district map. Republican Randy Neugebauer, Stenholm, and Libertarian Chip Peterson met in Texas Tech's Allen Theatre for the first of two debates. The candidates fielded nine questions spanning Social Security, defense, agriculture and other issues. Stenholm scored the night's first outburst of...

Families seek to hold Tech fraternities liable for students' deaths BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Two Texas Tech fraternities are facing similar allegations in separate lawsuits after the deaths of two pledges following pledge retreats in 2001 and 2002. Delta Sigma Phi (DSP), Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) and a number of their members are facing suits filed by parents of the former pledges. The suits' allegations include hazing and sleep deprivation. The fraternities say no wrongdoing occurred. While DSP and 49 members are accused of several violations of Tech policy and Texas law regarding hazing, TKE faces the same accusations...

Stenholm’s ad with Bush fans flames of District 19 race D. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL One of the hottest congressional races in Texas became even hotter Thursday as lawyers from the Republican National Committee unleashed a furious letter to Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, for placing President Bush in one of his campaign advertisements. Stenholm, a 25-year congressman, faces incumbent Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, and Lubbock Libertarian Richard ‘‘Chip’’ Peterson for the 19th Congressional District seat. Stenholm, who currently represents District 17, and Neugebauer were pitted against each other under Texas’ new congressional map. ‘‘This campaign stands by our ad,’’ said Jodi...

<p>Alexander Baquera, an 18-year-old Roosevelt High School student, was charged over the weekend in the murder of his classmate, 16-year-old Chris Barnes, a Lubbock County Jail officer said.</p> <p>Baquera remained at Lubbock County Jail Sunday evening in lieu of $500,000 bail.</p>

North offers faith-filled vision in time of war BY KATIE HEPBURN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Facing a full house at the Lubbock Municipal Auditorium, Oliver North delivered a message Sunday night designed to inspire faith in U.S. troops, faith in their Iraq mission and faith in God. North, a former Marine colonel who also served in the National Security Council during Ronald Reagan's administration, was the featured speaker at "Faith & Freedom: Celebrating America's freedom with a message of hope." The event raised funds for My Father's House Living and Learning Center. Currently, North hosts Fox News Channel's "War Stories." North began his...

Cowboy Way of Life Symposium portrays scenes of 1800s By RAY WESTBROOK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The 16th annual National Cowboy Symposium, scheduled Thursday through Sunday at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center, will re-create scenes reminiscent of the 19th century Southwest. Ranch cooks wearing hats and boots and an occasional handlebar mustache will park their chuck wagons in an expanded circle around the grassy area north of the Civic Center this year in preparation for a championship cook-off at noon Saturday. And nearby, the beat of drums will guide the dances of a culture represented by the West Texas Native American Association. Apaches,...

Which Presidential candidate are you planning to vote for? George W. Bush John Kerry None of the above

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED • 5700 block of Spur 327 The driver of a Coors Light truck was arrested Thursday on a charge of driving while intoxicated after police say he passed out at a traffic light. After police awoke the driver, they asked him how much he had to drink. The driver replied, "too much," police reports said. The driver refused field sobriety tests, but police said he was disoriented and did not know where he was. Upon exiting the vehicle, the driver fell against the side of the truck. Police said he was "highly unsteady on his feet." Police...