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Texas authorities now looking at the WestTown fertilizer plant explosion as CRIMINAL.

A senior Obama administration official said a series of briefings overnight have produced concern the Texas blast could have been at least criminal in nature. Authorities are trying to contain their speculation for fear of causing a panic, but the official told The Post the cause of the blast is "suspicious." Authorities suspect the blast was set off by a truck or rail car holding a large quantity of ammonia that somehow caught fire or blew up. Ammonia, under certain conditions, can become combustible or explosive. "It's 50-50," the source said. "Some sort of explosion caused the ammonia truck/rail car...

"The Sept. 11 attacks, the Iraq war and suicide bombings worldwide have changed not only the way we live but the way we look at those around us, especially Muslims. "Islamophobia" has entered the American vernacular, and the anti-Muslim attitudes and prejudice it describes remain common. Content Special Section: What Would You Do?But what if you witnessed "Islamophobia" in action and saw someone being victimized because of someone else's prejudices? What would you do? ABC's production crew outfitted The Czech Stop, a bustling roadside bakery north of Waco, Texas, with hidden cameras and two actors. One played a female customer...

Laney put off by today's Texas politics BY D. LANCE LUNSFORD AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Former Texas House Speaker Pete Laney, D-Hale Center, spent more than 30 years engaged in the daily wrangling and haggling over legislation, but his last years to serve have never been more contentious, he said Wednesday. Political campaigns waging war on the South Plains show the growing political partisanship in Austin throughout the last few years, said Laney. "It didn't used to be that way," he said. "We take pride in the fact that we handled our business in Texas differently than they did in other states." Noting...

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...

Farm Bureau political arm backs Neugebauer BY CORY CHANDLER AVALANCHE-JOURNAL The Texas Farm Bureau's political action arm endorsed U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock, on Thursday in a move that may be indicative of the tough situation facing local producers due to congressional redistricting. This is the first time the TFB's Friends of Agriculture Fund has not endorsed Neugebauer's opponent, U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, in a congressional race, said TFB and AGFUND President Kenneth Dierschke. Dierschke described the decision as "very difficult." "These are two friendly incumbents for us. We didn't want to be put in that situation, but we...

School bus driver faces charges of receiving child pornography By KELLIE TOLBERT AVALANCHE-JOURNAL A Durham School Services school bus driver was recently arrested on charges of receipt of child pornography. Jim Charles Teague, age and hometown unavailable, allegedly downloaded and saved images of a young girl involved in sexual intercourse with an adult man onto a floppy disk in August 2003, according to an affidavit. Teague used his daughter's computer and entered chat rooms disguising himself as a divorced bisexual female with two children, the affidavit states. The affidavit said he used several screen names. When chatting online, Teague and...

Cheney plans local stop for Neugebauer BY JOHN REYNOLDS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Vice President Dick Cheney will come to the Hub City next month to stump for U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer, Lubbock County's Republican Party chairman said Monday. Cheney's vis it has been tentatively set for June 11, Robert Pratt said. A venue for the fund-raiser has not yet been agreed upon. "I'm so humbled and flattered," Neugebauer said. "It shows the strong support we have from the White House." Cheney's appearance will mark the second time he has campaigned in the Lubbock Republican's district in six months. Cheney attended a Neugebauer...

Sunday, April 25, 2004 Thousands invade Turkey to celebrate Bob Wills' music BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL TURKEY — The fans came swingin' across Texas to honor Bob Wills and enjoy the legendary musician's unique style. "They had (country) music back in those days, and Bob Wills came along and put western swing to it," said Al Paschall of Lubbock. "A lot of people tried to copy it, but they just ain't got it." Paschall, who retired from a job with the Santa Fe Rail road, grew up not far from Turkey. He has attended the annual Bob Wills Day...

Leading the way Sen. Duncan tops list of influential people in city BY DOUG HENSLEY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL One thing is clear when it comes to identifying influential people in Lubbock: A majority view state Sen. Robert Duncan as a person who is effective at getting things done, regardless of the size and scope of the task. "Bob has delivered," said Texas Tech Chancellor David Smith. "Not only does he have the personality to do what he does in state and local forums, he has led by example and delivered. "He has a great understanding of human anatomy. We have two ears...

GOP gaining ground in rural West Texas BY JOHN REYNOLDS AVALANCHE-JOURNAL As a lifelong member of the Republican Party, Pat Cowan remembers well the times when GOP was practically a dirty word in West Texas. Cowan, currently the chairwoman of the Hockley County Republican Party, was raised on a farm just west of what then was Reese Air Force Base. Her father had been a Democrat until Eisenhower's run for the White House in 1952. As Cowan recalls it, her father came home one day and said, "You know, those farmers up north have been voting Republican for years. Maybe...

Stenholm gears up to duel Neugebauer in District 19 By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL U.S. Rep. Charles Stenholm, a West Texas congressman for 26 years, kicked off his first-ever campaign in Lubbock on Tuesday vowing never to bow to partisanship at the expense of his constituents. "I think one of the big issues in this campaign is going to be I'm an independent," the Abilene Democrat said. "I vote my district. I don't mind differing with my party. It appears that one of the differences is going to be a rubber stamp for (House Majority Leader) Tom DeLay's version of what...

Tourists may blow in along windy trail BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Coy Harris hopes travelers taking in the sights along the newly planned 600-mile Power of the Wind Trail will end up in Lubbock. Harris is executive director of the American Wind Power Center, 1701 Canyon Lakes Drive, one destination on the trail that stretches from Lubbock into Oklahoma. John Armour of the Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau took the suggestion of a colleague and ran with it. He has spearheaded the development of the trail along with representatives of at least seven cities across the region. "This is...

DeLay continues effort to end Texas redistricting squabble Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay was in the Texas Capitol for a second consecutive day Tuesday, attempting to broker an agreement between state lawmakers squabbling over a congressional redistricting map. With Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, House Speaker Tom Craddick and Gov. Rick Perry out of town, DeLay and other lawmakers indicated that negotiators were making progress on a map that would put more Republicans in the Texas congressional delegation. "We are very, very close," De Lay said, leaving a morning meeting in Dewhurst's office. "The lieutenant...

Energy plan gets local push By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL A pair of West Texas congressmen are hoping last month's catastrophic blackout in the Northeast will open the door for a comprehensive energy policy that will benefit West Texas and other domestic oil production. U.S. Rep. Randy Neuge bauer, R-Lubbock, said Monday that he believes controversial drilling in the Arctic National Wild life Refuge (ANWR) will be tied to an energy bill, which, he said, would lessen dependence on foreign oil. "The House is currently conferencing that bill on some of the more noncontroversial issues to get some agreement on that,...

Duncan: Senate still has shot to pass map By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL As the Legislature's special session on redistricting enters its final eight days, state Sen. Robert Duncan said Monday he believes there is still time for the Senate to pass a plan. Duncan, the Lubbock Republican who chairs the Senate Jurisprudence Committee, said that in his experience in the Texas Senate, "It is hard to declare anything legally dead until the session is over or time limits have run out. "There's still plenty of time to get a bill out of committee and onto the floor and out of...

Local leaders fire away at redistricting By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL City and chamber officials said Friday that Austin legislators should take heed: Don't mess with West Texas. Lubbock Chamber of Commerce President Eddie Mc Bride made the comment at a news conference where he also noted that U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm, D-Abilene, was elected from a district that voted 67 percent Republican in November. "They want to pit Republicans against Democrats in districts that are already Republican," McBride said. In a plan approved by the state House, Lubbock and Midland/Odessa would be in separate congressional districts, and Lubbock would be...

Letter will air area stand on redistricting By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Representatives from seven area cities are expected to send a letter to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today expressing their desire for West Texas congressional districts to remain unchanged. The action comes a day after a stormy redistricting session in the Senate, where one member abruptly walked out of a committee meeting where members were drafting a map of congressional districts. The letter to Dewhurst reiterates the position that mayors and chamber representatives expressed to him during a private meeting Monday in Austin. Lubbock Chamber of Commerce President Eddie McBride...

West Texans gain audience with Dewhurst Redistricting up for debate Click here to see the redistricting proposals By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst told a group of West Texans on Monday that he believes the governor will call a second special session on redistricting if legislators reach an impasse on drawing new congressional districts. He also said Lubbock and Midland — currently in the same U.S. District 19 — appear headed for a split at the behest of state House Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland. "The speaker's primary concern is that the ultimate bill contain a seat that can...

Local legislators aim to hold ground By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL State Rep. Delwin Jones has participated in redistricting three times in three decades, and he soon will join local legislators in a fight to keep West Texas representation. A special session called for June 30 by Gov. Rick Perry will address congressional redistricting. Jones and Rep. Carl Isett, both Lubbock Republicans, waited in Austin last month as Democrats brought the House to a standstill by holing up for four days in an Ardmore, Okla., hotel to fight redistricting. Redistricting was pushed by state and federal Republicans to increase the number...