The White House released a long-form version of President Obama's birth certificate this morning, ripping a large hole in Donald Trump's presidential campaign in the process. But that's not enough for Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler), who asked why the certificate looks "brand new" (answer: it's a certified copy) and why there's no "plaque on the door" at the hospital where the president was born. Berman is the author of a House bill that would require all presidential and vice presidential candidates to show an original birth certificate in order to get on the Texas ballot. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer just vetoed a similar bill, calling it "a bridge too far."[Texas Tribune] more ›

• Gaddafi retakes Brega, Libyan rebels flee
• Japan reactors may take three decades to decommission
• Poll: President Obama's approval hits new low

• Mubarak resigns!!!
• Earlier: Protesters enraged after the Eqyptian army confirmed its support for Mubarak.
• Meanwhile in Iran, "Death to Mubarak!" and: "Death to America!"

• Mohamed ElBaradei: 'We Could Experience an Arab Spring'
• Obama to propose break for states on jobless aid
• Phasing out Freddie and Fannie?

• Indonesia tsunami death toll reaches 272
• Bin Laden blames Niger kidnappings on French policy toward Muslims
• Federal court strikes down key portion of Arizona immigrant voter law

• Barney Frank says abolish Freddie and Fannie
• NY Governor Paterson to discuss relocating Muslim center
• U.S. may sue Arizona's Sheriff Arpaio for not cooperating in investigation

• WikiLeaks scrutinized by U.S. Forces for risks to Afghans
• BP rival Shell sees profits rise by a third. Coincidence?
• Arizona's immigration law goes into effect, sort of.

• Federal Judge blocks key parts of Arizona immigration law
• An uncertain challenge for police
• Before SB1070, AZ deported thousands using controversial fed-local partnership program

• BP says their costs to clean up the Gulf of Mexico oil spill have hit $2 billion
• Hundreds forced to evacuate because of a wildfire in Flagstaff, Arizona area
• Thousands flock to Stonehenge to celebrate the Summer Solstice

On Monday an Austin election-law expert called the move illegal. On Wednesday the Secretary of State gave it a thumbs-up. Today, the Democrats have decided to sue. Is it any surprise that in the biggest shakeup in the governor's race to date, the road leads back to Arizona? more ›

• Federal authorities say that dead birds with oil on them have been found in Texas.
• So far 120 linear miles of coastline affected by the oil spill, Coast Guard says.
• Arizona leaders trying to deal with state's current image issues.

• Pakistani Taliban leader alive, threatens US attacks
• In the Gulf Coast, an “underground volcano of oil”
• White House criticized for response to oil spill

• Some Hispanic Americans hope law deters illegal immigration.
• Oil spill reaches Mississippi river.
• Lawsuits target AZ law amid calls for boycotts.

• New immigration law polarizes Arizonans
• Latino groups urge Obama admin to reform immigration next
• The politics of Immigration Reform: "Nobody wins"

A season ticket for the Longhorns' seven home football games this year will cost you $385, according to the Statesman's Bevo Beat blog. more ›

15% of items put out for recycling in Austin end up in a landfill anyway. Dewhurst doubts TxDOT's claims of being really low on funds. Speaking of TxDOT, you can vote on their site for the next state license plate design. Voting ends next Monday. Illegal immigrants moving to Texas in large numbers from . . . Oklahoma and Arizona? more ›

In the wake of an all-conference season where he gained more than 1,600 yards, Texas running back Jamaal Charles announced today that he is skipping his senior season and entering the 2008 NFL draft. more ›

A teenage gunman wishing to "go down in style" killed 8 people, then himself, at an Omaha Shopping Mall. Hearings began yesterday in landmark case about whether Guantanamo detainees have a constitutional right to challenge their imprisonment. A portion of the US-Mexico border fence may be put on a wildlife refuge. If you drive by any Austin area high school right after school lets out, you will not be surprised by this. What's worse... more ›

Venezuelan voters didn't want Chavez as a ruler for life after all. Putin's party wins the Russian election, warns against Westerners who may say the election was unfair. Best feminist candidate: Obama? Later this week, Romney will publicly address his Mormon faith and how it may affect his possible presidency. Looks like it will be Texas v. Arizona State at the Holiday Bowl. Conan O'Brien will pay his "Late Night" crew from his own... more ›

As far as science fiction experiences go, the closest we have ever come to an extra terrestrial is when our cat got tapeworms (if your cat has ever had them, you know what we are talking about) or that time that we visited the meteor crater in Arizona (Hey! Look! It’s a big hole in the ground! That’ll be $15.00.) Truthfully, that’s the closest we need to come to any real life UFOishness as we... more ›

Soundcheck has grabbed our attention constantly over the last year with colorful covers presenting regional talent like Voxtrot and Midlake. However, the glossy magazine features national acts as well, while keeping a close eye on major festivals -- both home and away. Soundcheck also incorporates additional flair into its usual, stellar content every month. An “Artist Perspective” feature (from the likes of Ramesh Srivastava) and columns such as Hometown Heroes keep this local ‘zine hip... more ›

Today, Governor Rick Perry officially recognized that when it comes to filmmaking, cash does indeed rule everything around us. After months of determined effort from the Texas Motion Picture Alliance, the Texas Film Commission, Rep. Dawnna Dukes and Sen. Bob Duell, Perry signed the dotted line on House Bill 1634, freeing up some $20 million in incentives to lure production crews--and the myriad jobs they generate--to the Lone Star State. The gaming industry also scores... more ›

*The views expressed in Truesday are those of the author and do not represent Austinist as a whole. Thank heavens.* -The Editors Well alright then. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been doing something of a shout-out/call-back sort of thing here. First flags, then summer games. I guess people have much stronger ideas and opinions about Austin’s Summer happenings than they do about its flag. I’m not entirely sure that this doesn’t depress... more ›

With all that went down this week, we thought we thought we'd cheer everyone up by giving everyone a double dose of dogs. It was a rollercoaster ride of emotions this week at DCist. Like the rest of country, we were floored by the news of so many dead coming out of Virginia Tech, and with so many of the victims and their relatives from the D.C. area, we felt it important to pay... more ›

Catellus Development Group has disclosed the identities of the six home-builders that will be included in the Mueller redevelopment project: David Weekley Homes, Meritage Homes, Standard Pacific Homes, The Muskin Co., Saldaña Homes and Streetman Homes. Of these, Streetman, Saldana, and Muskin are from Austin. David Weekly is based in Houston, Meritage is based in Arizona, and Standard Pacific is based in California. They primarily build single family houses on the periphery of Austin near newly constructed highways and water treatment plants, but Muskin has done some central work. Hard to tell what Saldaña has been doing - they appear to have built their website based on the Mueller project. That said, Saldaña is the most centrally located of any of the builders ('02 TID!). more ›

Are you ready for football, world? more ›

THURSDAY [16] wine • Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrivé! at Various music • Peter and the Wolf, The Interest Kills at The Mohawk music • The Elected (Members of Rilo Kiley), Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos, Whispertown 2000 at Emo's Lounge music • Jack Ingram & Reckless Kelly at Stubb's music • The Pretenders, Operation:Awesome at Austin Music Hall music • White Ghost Shivers, Dewayn Bros at Beerland music • St. Lawrence... more ›

TUESDAY [13] film • Fast Food Nation Premiere at Paramount (7pm) film • AFS Essential: The Ghost and Mrs. Muir at Alamo Drafthouse (7pm) film • Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers at MonkeyWrench Books (8pm) film • City of Men Episode 4 at Spider House (8pm, Free) film • Tommy at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • SXSW Presents Witches in Exile at KLRU (9pm) film • Raising Arizona at Alamo Village (9:45pm)... more ›

MONDAY [13] film • Army of Darkness at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film • Blue Velvet with Free Pabst Blue Ribbon at Alamo Drafthouse (7pm, $9) film • Down in New Orleans at Spider House (8pm, Free) film • True Stories at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • The Notorious Bettie Page at Café Mundi (8pm, Free) film • Let Them Eat Rock with director Rodman Flender live at Alamo Drafthouse (9:45pm, $2) film... more ›

MONDAY [25] music • Art Brut, We Are Scientists, Spinto Band at Emo's ® music • The Audrey Hepburn Heroine at Hole in the Wall (10pm) music • Tony Joe White at Waterloo Records music • Open Stage Hosted by Abi Tapia & Graham Weber at Cactus Café (7:30pm Signup) music • The Doug Moreland Show at Continental Club art • Show & Tell Part III, A Digital Slide Jam at Women & Their... more ›