A toy rocket was close to nailing a Continental flight over Houston. Just In Time For The 4th of July! Watermelon and Viagra contain similar makeup! Chemical used in production of plasma screen TVs is said to be extremely harmful and contributes to increased global warming. Police are turning towards text messages to help fight crime. Yes, it's gotten that bad: Prayer vigils at gas stations. $144 a barrel--exactly what Bin Laden wanted. 12th......

evso/Flickr Fired Police Commander claims that APD punishes whistle-blowers. Someone took photos of steamy activities taking place at the Expo Center during the ROT rally and turned the pics in to the Travis County Commissioners. Criminal Appeals Court will hear the case of Adam Reposa, the Austin attorney who made a "lewd gesture" in court and could face up to 90 days in jail for it. Bo Pilgrim (of Pilgrim's Pride) donates $100,000 to the......

evso/Flickr The City of Austin has set up a site online to serve as a local carbon reduction resource. Austin Public Library Foundation hires new Executive Director. Dripping Springs Rep. Patrick Rose testified about the Pedernales CoOp before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform in D.C. today. Swimsuits, sleeping masks and more were found at the home of Billy Dan Carroll and said to be used in his crimes against children. Alleged gang leader......

The U.S. Drought Monitor's map for the past week shows Travis County split between severe and extreme drought. Only about 18 counties in the northeastern part of the state seem unaffected by any form of drought. And the summer's just getting started! [U.S. Drought Monitor]......

Conspiracy buffs, bookmark this one: McCain advisor admits that big terrorist attack on the US would help his guy... Meanwhile, McCain's Vietnamese captor (who's a big fan) says that he was never tortured in the Hanoi Hilton. James Hansen, who talked about global warming before practically anyone, wants to put CEOs on trial for lying about climate change. Gas prices are hard on everyone, even the po-lice. Don't worry, everyone - the economy may......

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....

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....

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....

Honda Motors announced the roll out of its second foray into fully electric cars, the FCX Clarity, a car that is fully powered by the hydrogen fuel cell. Other competitors include recent start-ups like Tesla Motors and several from the big guys. ZENN Motor Company, a Canadian operation, features Austin/Cedar Park's own secretive company, EEEstor, and claims to have a "super-capacitor" in the works that they say has a range of 400+ miles per 4 hour charge....

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....

Oak Hill developer accidentally destroys ancient oaks. Salmonella case in Travis County linked to those tainted tomatoes. APD is on the lookout for aggressive drivers. Chief Acevedo fires officer for lying about a 2007 arrest he made. Billy Dan Carroll, accused of molesting six kids (at least), requests a court-appointed lawyer. City staff prefer the Trammel Crow plan for the Green Water Treatment Plant site. Texas Democratic officials in no hurry to change the primary/caucus process, but may set up a committee to collect opinion about it....

Last night, Clinton and Obama had a quiet meeting at Sen. Feinstein's home. Mother to Son: 'Obama Proved Me Wrong' Increase in unemployment rate is the highest since 1986. Senate Republicans filibuster a global warming bill that McCain says he would support. The news from Zimbabwe is not improving: now police have stopped the opposition candidate from campaigning. Coco Wang's comic strips on the earthquake's damage to China. The rain in Spain stays mainly......

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......

TxDOT is using eco-friendly asphalt to repave SH71. Sunset Advisory Commission finds that TxDOT "could not be an effective state transportation agency if trust and confidence were not restored." Obama aide tries to keep the current vice-chair of the Texas Dems from running for chair of the state party at convention this weekend? FLDS says they will no longer marry off underage girls to older men in the sect. Killeen's trash may be on its way to Hutto. ...

Austin places #6 on Kiplinger's 10 Best Cities (Houston is #1). Suspect on the run after shooting someone in Southeast Austin yesterday afternoon. Early voting for the city council runoff starts today. Round Rock Roller Rink going out of business. FLDS kids on their way back to their families....

Red light cameras start working at midnight. Of the more than 7,000 AISD employees whose background was checked, 652 have criminal records. The City Council voted today to ban plastic water bottle purchases by City Hall. CPS workers barred from entering FLDS property near Eldorado. And the Third Court of Appeals ruled today that the state had no right to remove the kids from the FLDS sect....

The Texas House is looking at ways to curb "ghost voting". Hutto residents speak out against the proposal to set up high-voltage transmission lines through the town. At least ten of the "girls" removed from the FLDS sect are really adult women; officials have been told that there may still be some children at the YFZ compound. Preliminary autopsy results are inconclusive for Raymond Moxley (the 81-year-old with 50 bee stings); officials think the toxicology results will provide them with answers. Nuclear waste will soon be on its way to West Texas, and some New Mexico residents aren't happy about it....

Earthquake in China is thought to have killed thousands of people in a county of the Sichuan province. Scientists say that atmospheric CO2 levels are at record highs. After a weekend of tornadoes through the midwest, this year could have the highest number of twisters since the '50s. ...

First the traffic cams, now this: Chief Acevedo wants surveillance cameras on high-crime zones. Rep. Krusee from Round Rock, who fought for harsher DWI laws, was arrested last night on DWI charges. Blame a water main break on why you were stuck in traffic this morning near Lavaca and Fifth. American Lung Association gives our city a D for ozone pollution....

Ethics Reform Commission hosting City Council candidate forum Thursday evening. UT student in trouble with campus police after bringing his gun on campus. Copperas Cove High School student suspended after answering a call from his dad (who is stationed in Iraq) between classes; the school doesn't allow cell phones. Richardson man arrested for traffic violation, mistakenly chosen from a lineup by victim of another crime and jailed for 23 years has been cleared by DNA evidence....

Now more than 400 children in care of Texas CPS after being removed from Eldorado compound. Slight earthquake hits South Texas early this morning. Interactive feature on the fate of Brownsville's Sabal Palm Audubon Center as the border fence threatens to split it from the US. UT named in federal suit for their admission policies....

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......

ACL Fest lineup to be announced April 15. Rodney Reed's lawyers argued before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals today. New federal study will figure the environmental impact of coal plants north of Austin. Texas Monthly publisher upset over new City Manager's appointment to head EMS. Wildfire in the Valley covers 25,000 acres and causes hundreds of people to evacuate their homes....

Remember that January overnight oil spill on Sixth Street and into Waller Creek? Turns out the Littlefield Building owners are responsible. Little did they know it. . . Austin pilot who went missing over the weekend found dead in the wreckage of his plane east of Giddings. Rep. Dawnna Dukes wants Villa Muse near Austin. Republican capitol staffer resigns after being accused of impersonating a Democratic lawmaker and a newspaper reporter....

Poet and Austin fixture Raúl Salinas died yesterday morning."Ponytail bandit" caught in Thailand! Her bank-robber husband is still on the loose. Uno, whose handler used to live in Austin, is first beagle to win Westminster Dog Show. A tale of dog rustling: in which the mayor of Alice lied to her neighbors about the health and whereabouts of their Shih Tzu. Over the protestations of most El Pasoans, TCEQ renews smelter's air quality permit....

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?...

"Unfortunately, no one watches it": NBC's head entertainment honcho seems pessimistic about the chances of a third season of Austin-filmed Friday Night Lights. KLRU's Tom Spencer to head up Austin Area Interreligious Ministries. All of the City's diesel fleet will soon run on bio-diesel. 17-year-old charged with two counts of sexual assault on the Texas State campus....

Cat's nosiness leads to child porn stash discovery in south Austin apartment complex. Only about 7 local churches serve as backup shelters for the homeless on freeze nights. Bill for oil spill cleanup at Waller Creek: $200,000....

Photo by gunnyrat on flickr The oil that spilled onto Sixth Street and into Waller Creek last week came from a 100-year-old underground tank. Jennifer Kim on the Northcross WalMart: "It's going to be a freaking disaster." Celebration Church in Georgetown has its own Starbucks and 5,000 attendees. Sayeth the pastor: "You can't do church without money." Wachovia Bank on Mesa Drive robbed this morning. Statewide public meetings on the Trans-Texas Corridor to begin tomorrow.......