Hutchison Says She's 'Ready to Go' in Governor's Race
from The Fort Worth Star-Tribune
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, declaring herself "ready to go" in her Republican primary run against Gov. Rick Perry, announced Monday that she has raised $6.7 million in the past six months and has $12.5 million in cash on hand in what is expected to be one of the hardest-fought Texas gubernatorial campaigns in years. More

Cruz Rounds Up Conservative Endorsements
from The Fort Worth Star-Tribune PoliTex Blog
Republican attorney general candidate Ted Cruz announced endorsements from more than two dozen state and national conservative stalwarts on Monday in an attempt to solidify his hold on voters in next year's Republican primary. More

Cyclists Take Note of Perry Veto
from The Austin American-Statesman
Some bicyclists say they will go out of their way to vote against Gov. Rick Perry next year because he vetoed legislation targeting motorists who get too close to them. The GOP governor vetoed Senate Bill 488, which would have created a misdemeanor crime for drivers who come closer than three feet to cyclists and pedestrians they pass on roads. Perry, who broke his collarbone riding a bike in his neighborhood last month, said the bill would contradict current law. More

DFW Raises States in Bid to Buy Oklahoma Water
from The Associated Press via The Dallas Morning News
Communities in North Texas hope that a federal lawsuit and a slick promotional campaign will persuade Oklahoma officials to agree to sell excess water in the southern parts of the state to meet the future needs of the rapidly growing Dallas-Fort Worth area. More

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Planned Subdivision Raises Ire
from The El Paso Times
Construction on the Franklin Mountains is controversial but not illegal. So those trying to stop the development of a 34-home subdivision on the slopes of Crazy Cat Mountain will have an uphill battle. Members of the Kern Place and Mission Hills neighborhood associations believe the proposed Kern View Estates No. 2 subdivision will disrupt the natural beauty of Crazy Cat and create environmental hazards for the people who have lived in the area for decades. More

Hutchison's Accusations Kick Off a War of Words with Perry Rep
from The Dallas Morning News via The Denton Record Chronicle
"It has been said, 'Well, the governor raised $4 million in 10 days.' That is not the case," Hutchison said in front of supporters at the Dallas County GOP headquarters. "We both had six months. We were both asking for commitments. We were both asking for money." Perry spokesman Mark Miner furiously rejected Hutchison's contention that Perry sought commitments while the Legislature was in session. State officeholders are barred from accepting donations while legislative work is ongoing. More

TxDOT Securing Properties to Expand Interstate 35E; Eminent Domain Cases Possible?
from The Dallas Morning News via The Denton Record Chronicle
Two years ago, Justin and Kalyane Petri heard about a plan to widen Interstate 35E that would bring the busy traffic corridor closer to their Lewisville home. They didn’t know how close until last month when they learned that the expanded roadway would run right by the edge of their property. More

Building Recovery Stalls as States Wait for Obama
from Bloomberg
Building-equipment and housing data signal the worst may not be over for the U.S. construction industry, even with President Barack Obama’s stimulus spending, according to Bank of America Corp. Lower-than-expected construction spending "was mostly driven by the residential market with some additional downside from public construction spending," Bank of America analysts including Andrew Obin said in a report this month. More

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