A spokesman for police in Allen, Texas, says a record has been found of a telephone call to police that attorney’s for Patrick Crusius’ family say came from his mother. Sgt. Jon Felty says the call was taken on June 27 from a woman who did not identify herself or her son. He says that at no time did she express any concern about him being violent.
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The Texas Democratic Party is suing state House Speaker Dennis Bonnen and conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan, seeking release of a recording made secretly of a meeting between the two. The lawsuit filed in a state district court in Austin Thursday alleges the meeting violated state campaign finance laws. Sullivan has said he recorded his June meeting with Bonnen.
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The transformation of the old University Medical Center Brackenridge will continue this month as work begins on the construction of a 17-story office tower. A portion of the Brackenridge campus will be torn down to make way for the new tower. The University of Texas says it will provide more space for medical research.
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The Texas economy has defied expectations that it would be in for a slowdown in the first half of this year. Dallas Federal Reserve Economist Laila Assanie says the economy continues to soar.
“Texas job growth in the first half of the year outpaced the nation in its own long-term trend rate,” Assanie says.
The trend has continued despite some weakened growth within the oil and gas sector, she adds. Austin has seen the second-strongest job growth rate for the year, behind only Dallas.
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Zebra mussels continue to have a negative impact on the area, and scientists say the invasive species may be partly to blame for the toxic algae bloom in Lady Bird Lake that has killed three dogs. John Higley with the Austin-based group EQO tells CBS Austin the mussels eat all kinds of algae, but not the toxic blue-green algae, which allows it to flourish.
“So, it creates a perfect breeding ground for them to have these big blooms,” Higley says. “When they bloom like this, that’s when the toxins become problematic.”
A preliminary report on the algae bloom will be released today. More than 40-percent of the water’s surface is currently covered.
