Free Republic

The northbound lanes of a main section of the West Sam Houston Tollway/Beltway 8, which were flooded by Tropical Storm Harvey, were reopened Sept. 7 after pumping out standing water, but the southbound lanes likely won’t open until the middle of this week, according to the Harris County Toll Road Authority in Houston. The authority reported Sept. 7 that the tollway section from Westheimer to Interstate 10 was a lake, with 14 feet of water, when pumps arrived. By then, the water had finally receded enough for the authority and the Texas Department of Transportation to start pumping out the...

All road-toll collections in Florida remain suspended following Hurricane Irma, as evacuees make their way home.Gov. Rick Scott directed the Florida Department of Transportation to suspend the tolls ahead of the storm so residents could access hurricane supplies and evacuate faster. Now, the same measure is being implemented to allow for safe return. The governor reported that all interstates and turnpikes were opened as of Monday afternoon.However, the governor is also cautioning residents to check with local authorities before returning, to make sure their communities and homes are safe to re-enter.The FDOT reports heavy traffic on eastbound Interstate 10 and...

Two easy ways to keep the pressure on, and encourage, the Blue Dogs. 1. Use the AMA's own dime and a constituent zip code to directly call a Blue Dog office. Simply call (800) 833-6354. This is the AMA's own automated grass roots hot line system. It will ask for a zip code, and then via a menu it will automatically directly dial that representative's or senator's office so you can protest the health care bill and encourage that Blue Dog. Also, the caller area code is likely an 800 number to the recipient. 2. Use a constituent zip code...

In scanning for a toll free way to call my congress critter, I accidentally found a sweet way to do it: use the AMA's own dime and your zip code to directly call your congress critter. Simply call (800) 833-6354. This is the AMA's own automated grass roots hot line system. It will ask for your zip code, and then via a menu it will automatically directly dial your representative's or senator's office so you can protest the health care bill. Happy dialing --early and often-- on the AMA's own dime!!!