Texas NewsLocal, regional, and statewide news continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.Births fueling Hispanic growth- June 30, 2008 Births, not immigration, now account for most of the growth in the nation's Hispanic population, a distinct reversal of trends of the past 30 years. The Hispanic baby boom is transforming the demographics of small-town America in a dramatic way. Some rural counties where the population had been shrinking and aging are growing because of Hispanic immigration and births and now must provide services for the young. This natural increase - more births than deaths - is accelerating among Hispanics...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/births-fueling-hispanic-growth?fromrss=1 Immigration raids often spare employers- June 30, 2008 Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are staging dramatic raids across the country that routinely seize hundreds of undocumented workers at their jobs - and leave their employers free to work another day. The appearance of separate justice that arose during federal authorities' surprise morning raid at Action Rags USA on Houston's east side fits a nationwide pattern. Many of the 166 workers taken into custody on suspected immigration charges in Houston last week were paraded toward vans...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/immigration-raids-often-spare-employers?fromrss=1 Brooke Daniels crowned Miss Texas USA- June 30, 2008 Brooke Daniels, Miss Harris County, was crowned Miss Texas USA at the pageant in Laredo on Sunday night. Daniels was one of three contestants from the Houston area to make it into the final five. Miss Houston, Elise Horner, was first runner-up. Also a finalist was was Miss Montgomery County, Taylor Britton. Winning the People's Choice Award, chosen by vote of TV viewers, was Miss Bayou City, Lauren Sapaugh. Daniels has big shoes to fill. Last year's winner, Crystle Stewart of Missouri City,...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/brooke-daniels-crowned-miss-texas-usa?fromrss=1 Crackdown on Houston sex ring freed 120 women from virtual prison- June 29, 2008 The farewell party was in full swing at midnight when police came for Maximino "El Chimino" Mondragon, his accomplices and his victims - scantily dressed women and girls he forced to sell beers and sexual favors under the flashing lights of a revolving crystalline disco ball inside his strip mall bar off Hempstead Highway. Mondragon was celebrating his retirement at El Potrero de Chimino bar, also known as the Wagon Wheel. He had a one-way ticket back to his native El Salvador and blueprints in.http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/crackdown-on-houston-sex-ring-freed-120-women-from-v... Mexican food imports sickening US consumers- June 29, 2008 Day after day, Mexican trucks line up as far as the eye can see for entry to the U.S. at the World Trade Bridge, carrying everything from raw tomatoes, broccoli and fresh basil to frozen seafood. They also bring in salmonella, listeria, restricted pesticides and other food poisons. Customs and Border Protection officers take less than a minute per truck to determine which products enter the U.S. and find their way into grocery stores and restaurants across North Texas. Most trucks are waved...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/mexican-food-imports-sickening-us-consumers?fromrss=... Border fence would cut through Texas university- June 29, 2008 The steel fence that the U.S. government wants to build along the Mexican border would do more than slice through the University of Texas' Brownsville campus and cut off the golf course from the rest of the ...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/border-fence-would-cut-through-texas-university?from... Principal reassigned after Islam flap- June 28, 2008 The Friendswood Junior High principal who recently set off a controversy when she allowed an outside group to give students a lesson on Islam has been hired to run a Houston school. Robin Lowe is the new principal of Pershing Middle School, a diverse campus in south central Houston, officials with the Houston Independent School District confirmed Friday. Earlier this month, Lowe asked to be reassigned from her job at Friendswood Junior High after some in the community blasted her decision to...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/principal-reassigned-after-islam-flap?fromrss=1 Court: Church can't be sued in exorcism- June 28, 2008 A divided Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of a former Colleyville church Friday, saying church members who were involved in a traumatic exorcism that ultimately injured a young woman are protected by the First Amendment. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that the Pleasant Glade Assembly of God staff's efforts to cast out demons from Laura Schubert presents an ecclesiastical dispute over religious conduct that would unconstitutionally entangle the court in church doctrine. Schubert described.http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/court-church-cant-be-sued-in-exorcism?fromrss=1 Texas lawmaker's role in Mexico ransom case questioned- June 28, 2008 A government watchdog group on Friday called for an investigation into whether Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, used his influence to persuade U.S. authorities to intervene to rescue a distant Mexican relative who was kidnapped for ransom in Mexico. Mr. Reyes and Immigration and Customs Enforcement both say there was no special treatment. Mr. Reyes said he has never even met the woman, Erika Possert, whom he described as the aunt of his sister-in-law's son's wife. He said his sister-in-law...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/texas-lawmakers-role-in-mexico-ransom-case-questione... Texas doctors withdraw Cornyn endorsement- June 28, 2008 The main political arm of Texas physicians today withdrew its endorsement of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn for re-election. Texas Medical Association spokesman Steve Levine said its 43,000 doctors and medical students are furious because Mr. Cornyn voted Thursday night to block Senate consideration of a House-passed bill to stave off 10.6 percent cuts in doctors' Medicare fees. "The Texas Medical Association Political Action Committee (TEXPAC) is outraged that you made the decision to follow the...http://www.topix.net/state/tx/2008/06/texas-doctors-withdraw-cornyn-endorsement?fromrss=1 |