Texas House Taking up Airport Pat Down Bill
Today the Texas House is scheduled to debate and vote on a bill that would ban intrusive pat down searchesduring security screenings at airports. The Senate has not voted on the bill yet. The pat down bill died during the regular legislative session but Governor Rick Perry added it to the call for this special session. A federal official has said if the bill passes it could cause some flights to be grounded.
Pickens, Water Authority Sign Major Water Deal
People in northwest Texas are celebrating the signing of a major water deal between billionaire T. Boone Pickens and a West Texas water supplier. The Canadian River Municipal Water Authoritysells water to cities in the Texas Panhandle area.
Under the $100 million deal, Pickens is selling the rights to the water he owned underneath about 200,000 acres of land in the Panhandle to the Water Authority. The deal comes at a time when a major water source for some northwest Texas cities, Lake Meredith, is at a historic low.
Amber Alert Canceled for 12 year-old Boy
An Amber Alert has been canceled for 12 year-old James Anthony Sanders. Authorities in North Texas say he was found safe yesterday. Sanders had been missing since Friday from Lake Kiowa, north of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Bowie Band Director Passes Away
Bowie High School band director Bruce Dinkins passed away on Wednesday at the age of 60. TheAustin American-Statesman reports he died in his sleep while attending a band conference in Oregon. Since 2001 he helped the band get national attention and win several competitions.
Parents and former students describe a teacher with a bullhorn voice who inculcated the discipline of a drill sergeant, made band members feel like family and kept up with students after they left school. When he said, "I'll be at your wedding," it wasn't an empty promise. "I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today if it weren't for Mr. Dinkins," said Travis Tesluk, 17, a 2011 Bowie graduate who played tenor sax under Dinkins.