Free Republic

from the Southeast Texas Record A state representative who was named the Democrats' "Freshman of the Year" spent some time in jail Tuesday night. State Rep. Ron Reynolds (District 27), a managing partner at Brown, Brown and Reynolds Law Firm, is accused of illegally soliciting legal cases. Reynolds, 38, whose district includes Fort Bend County, was arrested Tuesday. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released after midnight Wednesday. He will make his first court appearance Thursday. According to Fox 26 in Houston, another Houston attorney, Marcela Halmagean, filed a complaint against Reynolds that led to his arrest. The...

Waco, Texas (CNN) -- The volunteers file into the steamy campaign headquarters wearing bright red Chet Edwards T-shirts. A group of old men pull their "Vets for Chet" hats down tight, waiting for the congressman to fire up the troops. "I think they might have predicted our demise a little too soon," an energetic Chet Edwards tells the crowd to a round of cheers. A young volunteer turns to a friend and says he's eager to help the long-term Democratic congressman because, "he needs all the help he can get." The dozens of supporters standing in the room know Rep....

REFUGIO - A Refugio County grand jury Thursday indicted Precinct 4 Commissioner Raymond Villarreal on three charges of tampering with a government document, a state jail felony, and four counts of illegal voting, a third-degree felony, stemming from the March Democratic Primary, said District Attorney Mike Sheppard. Villarreal received 293 votes in the election to unseat the incumbent, John Reyna, who received 272 votes. The charges allege illegal preparation and voting by mail-in ballots, the district attorney said