Candidates for U.S. Senate Cornyn and Noriega will participate in a debate to be televised statewide on public television tomorrow evening (KLRU, 8pm). See Noriega and his mom cook Spanish rice in the video to the right. Record number of Austinites registered to vote in the crunch-time Oct. 6. Five people taken to Brackenridge Hospital after a multi-vehicle wreck on IH35 today. City of Austin sets up website to plug locally-owned small businesses. State Court of Criminal Appeals refuses to hear Pitonyak's case. Too bad if you wanted to get one of those fish pedicures in Texas. Death toll from Ike in Texas up to 37....

Dead body found in Lady Bird lake. Hays County Sheriff's Office deputy injured in accident dies. Dell looks to sell factories worldwide. Gov. Sarah Palin has Austin ties. Heart lash out at McCain campaign’s use of “Barracuda.” Obama enlists Clinton to help counter Palin. Pop star's murder sheds light on hidden world.......

Bush visited Austin yesterday, commended Texas for our state's emergency preparations. Mandatory evacuation orders lifted for Jefferson, Orange and Hardin counties in Southeast Texas. Evacuees taking shelter from Gustav in Austin eager to return home. Two Central Texas employers announced job cuts today....

Mediabistro's AgencySpy broke news this afternoon that an as-of-yet-unnamed creative director at Austin's own GSD&M was fired last Friday after pulling a not-so-bright stunt. It seems that this CD created a GMail address in the name of the Executive Creative Director, and then went on to send out emails to other creative department employees about salary and other information pertinent to their department -- all under the ECD's name, mind you....

The accident this morning in Smithville happened when a crane being used to dismantle an old bridge fell into the Colorado River. Red light cameras have caught 400 drivers going through red lights in the past 2 months. Traffic on Cesar Chavez may be a bigger mess than usual tomorrow. APD searching for man believed to be a serial groper....

A crane fell this morning in Smithville, and there are reports of one death and one injury. This is the latest in a run of crane accidents this year throughout the country (there was one in Houston earlier this month as well as the NYC crane collapse in March). Our state does not require crane operators to be licensed, and crane operation in Texas isn't under local or state oversight. [KXAN via Twitter]......

Obama, surrounded by a mob scene, spends only a brief few minutes at the Western Wall. $8.7 billion dollars gone--Ford faces worst quarter ever. Due to rising gas prices, STAR Flight to raise fees--a $2,000 increase for non-residents. Almost three inches expected today. Friends messing with you on Facebook? Sue 'em! American Olympic swimmer tests positive for banned substance. The levees held.......

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Round Rock-based Dell alleging that the company failed to pay appropriate overtime wages to their customer service employees. The lawsuit - originally filed in 2007 by two employees from Dell’s Roseburg, Oregon call center - states that the company failed to keep accurate overtime records which resulted in inaccurate overtime pay. ...

Oh, ExpressJet, we hardly knew ye. Oops: Federal officials in town to talk with CapMetro about commuter rail were on a train when it derailed today. 29-year-old driver walked away from a car accident in March, leaving his 19-year-old sister to die. Woman found the man suspected of stabbing her sister last night and brought him back to the Southeast Austin crime scene. Brazoria County investigator injured by the bullet used by another man to commit suicide....

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?...

In a move sure to piss a lot of people off (and conversely make others rejoice) Dell announced that they will make all of their U.S. campuses smoke-free by January 1, 2009. Citing decreased insurance costs and increased health benefits, a Dell representative stated that approximately 28,000 U.S. employees were notified of the policy change on Wednesday. In an effort to help employees kick the habit, Dell will provide employees with free smoking cessation programs and a discount in health insurance premiums for all non-smoking employees. ...

Local couple charged with running a prostitution ring in Northwest Austin. Cities in the Edwards Aquifer zone must cut down on their water usage because levels are low. Pure Casting in East Austin has been in operation since 1969, but there have been recent environmental concerns brought up by neighbors. Police are looking for an 18-year-old man who shot his infant daughter in the ankle. Ted Nugent held an estate sale in Waco over the weekend....

After the opposition party leader dropped out of the "run-off" in Zimbabwe, the party's headquarters were targeted and the leader is trying to seek refuge at the Dutch embassy. UN finally acknowledges rape as a war crime. EU imposing financial sanctions on Iran. Ferry from the Phillipines carrying 800 passengers overturns in a typhoon. Obama has campaign advisors with strong ties to the ethanol industry. The national economy may be headed downhill, but Houston's......

Residents near the proposed homeless RV park in East Austin are not happy about the idea. Austin's Director of Communications resigned yesterday. Local boxer charged with manslaughter for a May 2nd hit-and-run. Community groups petition Travis County not to get involved with ICE's Criminal Alien Program. Elgin residents might want to boil their water; 200,000 gallons of sewage found to be flowing into Little Sandy Creek....

A wall at Rice University campus collapsed this afternoon, trapping four people. Millions of pounds of toxins from Mexico may soon be headed for incineration in Port Arthur if the EPA approves an exemption. Gov. Perry agrees with his buddy in the White House on lifting the ban on offshore exploration. "This is likely not the finest moment for DPS," Texas Public Safety Commission chairman admits after an internal investigation into how an arsonist was able to bypass security and set fire to the Governor's Mansion. Worst exit in Texas at southbound IH35 and MLK, second worst at northbound IH35 and Riverside. Or so this study says, anyway....

A Belgian company has bid on Budweiser. A building housing a nuclear reactor in Kansas was hit by a tornado. The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Guantanamo detainees. Congressman v. Blogger Before you head to China for the Olympics, their government would like you to know a few things . . . And you thought Austin had a mansion problem? This 5-year old has become the youngest tattooer in the......

Central Texas truck dealers trying to come up with enticing deals to move the vehicles off the lot. State police guarding the home of state District Judge Barbara Walther after Arizona and Utah authorities warn of FLDS "enforcers". Judge says that Billy Carroll needs to provide his own attorney because he can't prove that he doesn't have access to funds. Four homebuilders to pay fines after EPA goes after them for failing to control runoff from construction sites; Texas will receive part of the settlement. Employee killed at Houston chemical plant explosion this morning. And Texas goes back to executing felons after a nine-month halt....

Barack Obama learned of Hillary Clinton's decision to drop out of the race this weekend from the media. President says his island nation has been more affected by global warming than any other place in the world. Iran threatens to sue Western nation for damage of reputation. Another reason to drink alcohol! Sweet Leaf Tea sues Arizona company for using a similar name. Virginia Governor to speak on behalf of Obama at Texas Convention......

Police have identified more victims of former CASA volunteer who sexually assaulted an 8-year-old girl. Far West Tropical Sno stand-owner protests against Kneaded Pleasures. Local reaction to McClellan's book, What Happened. "We should be appalled and enraged as Texans and as patriots at his behavior on the Senate floor," Democratic US Senate candidate Noriega said about current Senator Cornyn's vote against the GI Bill. Texas Observer poll shows that 2/3 of the Democrats who voted in the primary were new voters....

Students at Clayton Elementary win national math championship. Pedestrian dies after being hit by two cars (neither of which stopped) last night near Riverside and Montopolis. The shoe with human remains found this weekend near Lake Travis matches one found a mile away in 2007. Chief fires fireman who chose to pick up food from a restaurant before responding to a respiratory distress call. A New York state judge rules that Dell engaged in false advertising practices....

In a world where people, planet and profits must run paramount for any business to thrive today, this triple bottom line approach has been at the core of the Whole Foods culture for nearly 30 years. And now, CEO John Mackey is sharing his insights and his commitment to the business principles he calls "conscious capitalism" at a benefit for the organization FLOW....

Australian investment company wants to operate ABIA. Man found this morning hanging from Oak Hill cell phone tower. 18-year-old Austinite found guilty of killing a Tennessee state trooper. Invasive species: Crazy rasberry ants swarming in Houston. Good news for the Cowboys? Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo are dunzo, supposedly....

Thousands and thousands and thousands of people are dead in China. McCain comes out in favor of carbon caps. Teenagers who smoke pot are likely to be depressed later on, gov't says. Biggest immigration raid of the year, at a meat packing plant, means hundreds are arrested. If Congress is banning flavored cigarettes, why aren't menthols part of the package? Could this be true? Man claims Jet Blue made him sit on a toilet......

Fire Chief J.J. Adame resigned today. Some non-stop flights from ABIA to be discontinued. Man charged in yesterday afternoon's shooting off Decker Lane. Dr. Pepper shares debuted at the NYSE today to tepid reception. Prospective juror for Houston marijuana possession trial caught smoking a joint by the courthouse....

Owner of the Salt Lick going forward with his plans to develop the area surrounding the restaurant, 215 acres of which will remain green space. Shooting at a Decker Lane apartment complex this afternoon leaves one man in the ICU; the shooter is on the run (as of this writing). US District Court in Austin hearing case of a KBR worker found in possession of child porn while in Iraq. Twenty-something who didn't signal his turn was arrested while driving in Melissa over the weekend....

At Coachella this past weekend, Roger Waters released the giant Pink Floyd "Animals" tour pig into the air above the crowd during his set, the underside of which read "Obama." McCain is calling Obama names and stuff. Your brain has a need for social status, says a recent study. An increasing American life expectancy gap is revealing itself to researchers. Between 2005 and 2006, Travis County per capita income rose 3.8 percent to $39,781.......

Cabela's has to return $173,000 in local tax incentives after failing to meet job goals. After failing to update their billing system after annexations, Time Warner Cable owes the city over $1 million. Three armed robberies in three weeks on the UT campus; police think the robber may be targeting Asian students. Some of the kids removed from the FLDS sect will be placed in foster care in Austin....

Massive ice shelf in Antarctica about to break loose. This is how The Day After Tomorrow began. Another deadly crane accident, this time in Miami. Obama related to Brad Pitt, Clinton to Angelina Jolie. No joke, just genealogy. Nude photos of French president Sarkozy's wife turn up. Sheryl Crow said she was going to sing with Fleetwood Mac. The band was surprised to hear that. A child found part of a parachute that may......

Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico (and former presidential candidate), endorses Obama. A few people from the State Department peered into Obama's passport file. Soon there will be a horror movie about sting rays. Consumers are not getting the benefit of the recent Federal Reserve rate cuts. Bank of America customers look out! Judge Orders Starbucks to Pay More Than $100 Million in Back Tips. Man admits to having group sex with former......

The Wall Street Journal dogs the SXSW Conference. According to speculators on Wall Street, Tuesday is a "make-or-break" day for the U.S. economy... Yikes: Apparently there's a growing concern over hackers being able to hack into pacemakers and other implanted devices. Tibetan protests against the Chinese government have recently intensified. The Dalai Lama fears imminent bloodshed on a large scale...while the Chinese government has blocked YouTube viewing of the Tibetan protests. Many community gardens throughout Austin are at risk of being bulldozed for the sake of urban growth....