Remember that time you broke up with someone and they were like, "Listen, I still really want to stay friends. At age 17 I am mature enough to understand that the relationships I make now are some of the most influential of my lifetime, and though we are not a couple any longer, spending lazy Saturday afternoons at Barton Creek Mall trying on sunglasses, I wish to continue spending time with you in a non-sexual way. At some point we will both begin dating again, and as we ease ourselves into the muddy waters of our romantic future lives, I want to know I can count on your unbiased friendship and governance. Please give your mom a hug for me, and I'll come by later to drop of all the dirty boxer shorts you left in my car."? more ›

Hays County firefighters responded to four grass fires in Dripping Springs Sunday. This after a fire on Friday afternoon kicked off the weekend. Officials are saying that the frequency of the fires is causing some suspicion, though arson hasn't been confirmed yet. There was no property damage or any injury reports made. more ›

Late yesterday, Austin's Office of Homeland Security reported that a suspect had been charged with starting the fire in Oak Hill that has affected between 164 homes, leaving hundreds displaced. Apparently, the arsonist is a homeless man who approached fire and police officials to confess yesterday. Though the fire is mostly contained at this point, the fire department is concerned about wind blowing embers around and starting the blaze again in new areas. Update: the homeless man charged with starting the fire left hot coals unattended at a campground Sunday, the fire was set unintentionally as a result. more ›

PBS' article last year looked deeply into the way the arson investigation was carried out (using faulty, outdated techniques). [Frontline] more ›

An Austin-based freelance journalist who contributed to such local publications as the Austin American Statesman and the Austin Chronicle has been accused of setting fire to his rented Shoal Creek home. more ›

• Former congressman Charlie Wilson (the guy whom the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” is based on) has died. He was known as the “Liberal from Lufkin.”
• Listen to this sad story about churches being torched in Texas.
• First the Saints win the Super Bowl, now Brennan’s of Houston is reopening! (New Orleans culture is totally back!)

• Two men were executed under false arson convictions in Texas, a new report shows.
• Not even the Federal Reserve Chairman is safe from identity theft.
• AIG's new CEO spends his first month on the job on vacation.

Bush makes surprise Baghdad trip. Iraqi journalist throws shoes at Bush during said trip. Senator Arlen Specter thinks Polish jokes funny, appropriate. Tells them. Wasilla Bible Church burned, arson suspected. SXSW now a player in the Oscar game. This isn't really news, but it still sounds delicious. Migas, si! Bummer. Amy Poehler bid goodbye to SNL. more ›

Anyone with information about the possible identity of the man depicted in the video above is urged to call investigators at 512-506-2849, 512-506-2861, 512-506-2862, or Crime at 800-252-8477. more ›

Mom and kids find a loaded gun at Slaughter Creek park; a cop had apparently lost it while training a police dog there earlier in the morning. 11 Central Texans receive various sentences for fraudulent house-flipping. Office of Attorney General says that the mansion surveillance videos don't have to be released to the media. Southwest Airlines may soon have flights to Canada if their deal with WestJet works out. American Airlines will be cutting over two hundred jobs at airports in Texas. FDA blocking shipments of salsa ingredients (except for tomatoes) to the States from Mexico. Could cilantro be the salmonella carrier? more ›

Fire department lieutenant fired after he told a co-worker in September on the 9/11 anniversary that "he would have wanted to rape a female passenger had he been on a plane used in the attack." Southwest flight from Austin lands in Phoenix with flames coming out of one of the wheel areas. Investigators say that the Governor's mansion fire was likely politically motivated. (Insert sarcastic comment here.) Two state troopers should have been working the night of the fire, but only one was on duty. Rep. Lloyd Doggett proposing a global warming bill. more ›

ATF thinks that someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the Governor's Mansion and the fire started that way. Former Perry chief-of-staff to resign from Secretary of State position; the next one will be the 6th SoS under Perry. The ACLU is suing the Texas youth prison system over strip search, solitary confinement and other practices at a girls' lockup in Brownwood. Pflugerville man arrested for pistol whipping an auto shop worker before robbing the shop. more ›

State fire investigators wondering if the arsonist who set ablaze the Governor's Mansion acted alone. Cedar Park paramedic among those dead after a medical chopper crashes near Huntsville. Three boys may have been exposed to a rabid bat at the Northcross bus stop. CapMetro holding public meetings this week to take comment on proposed fare increases. FBI says crime nationwide has decreased, but in Austin it has increased. more ›

Whether Feinstein's motivation for setting a fire that caused over $300,000 in damages truly stemmed from an absurd disagreement over playlists remains to be determined. He now faces up to twenty years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. more ›

Careful stringing up those fake spiderwebs this year. If you haven't been following the bizarre case of the Russian "chessboard serial killer", you should before it becomes a full length feature film. Protestor with painted blood on her hands gets within inches of Condoleeza Rice. Craddick blames trial lawyers for trying to get him out of the House Speaker's office. One of the largest fires in California was sparked by arson. 5 gold championship... more ›

LaGrange, Texas says 'good riddance' to Houston reporter whom they believe responsible for the closing of the infamous Chicken Ranch (aka Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) Austin ranks 13th among office building sales in the US, with transactions totaling $1.44 billion in the first half of 2007 alone Fire Department officials believe the fire at a Dollar General in North Austin was arson The Feds discover another massive marijuana field near Dallas Elsewhere in... more ›

Our favorite posts for the week: James at Coyote Mercury wonders about the arson ban. AustinAction Sanity Island has posted pictures of sediment in a creekbed near the future AMD site. It looks pretty grody, and not very promising. Clay at The Texas Whip ponders Perry’s current ad campaign. Tim has found common words in SxSW band names. We see the New Pornographers in there. Diane at TV Blog reacts to American Idol and Simon’s... more ›