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......

More troops are now dying in Afghanistan than in Iraq. Think we suck a lot of energy now? Just wait 'til 2030. "Foreign policy expert" McCain mixes up African countries - easy ones, too. Amsterdam cafes can only roll pure Js from now on. All right, all right. Gas prices taking a bite out of live music (praise the Lord we live in Austin). Will actors accept this deal? According to a French mag,......

Man who escaped Fayette County jail over the weekend found in Houston. APD chief fired a detective today for insubordination (keeping up financial investigations when he had been told to stop). This sort of thing seems to work better on TV. Three men from Central Texas are sentenced to two years in prison for identity theft after cashing fake checks. Grand jury rules that the Pasadena man who shot the two men robbing his neighbor's house shouldn't be charged. District Judge rules that Democrat Bill Dingus can run against current State Speaker of the House Craddick for his seat....

A fire this morning at the San Marcos Municipal Airport leaves one person with minor burns. June 2008: the hottest June on record for Austin. Shady Hollow Homeowner's Association might allow T-Mobile to build a 12-story tower in their neighborhood. Pastor from Houston's Windsor Village United Methodist Church - the same one who officiated Jenna's wedding and who introduced Dubya at the 2000 Republican convention - launches the James Dobson Does Not Speak For Me site in response to anti-Obama statements by Mr. Dobson. Kay Bailey Hutchison comes in first as Texas' favorite politician in a recent poll, beating out Gov. Perry....

U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of the 2nd Amendment. San Francisco in the process of naming it's sewage treatment plant after George W. Bush. Hundreds of people arrested, and over twenty children rescued, in 5-day bust of child prostitution rings in 16 American cities. 'Bad economy' to blame for no 4th of July celebration in Florida city. 24-year old woman caught speeding 22 times in 45 days. Obama adviser calls McCain too fat.......

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......

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......

Mississippi river levees burst north of St. Louis. The NASA Phoenix Mars Lander may have discovered ice crumbs. Google launches new space race to the Moon. Bush totally thinks he has done a kickass job. McClellan doubts Bush knew about CIA leak. Condo company unwraps plan for clothing-optional pool. Bikini-clad Cambridge student arrested for attacking spectator at jelly-wrestling match.......

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....

Republican Market, a Florida-based website devoted to all things GOP, was recently spotted at the Republican State Convention in Houston with a booth offering the latest round of politically shallow and morally irresponsible pins declaring "If Obama is President...will we still call it the White House?" ...

Al Gore called Barack Obama "elegant" yesterday. Oh yeah, and he gave him his endorsement as well. Meanwhile, makers of a decidedly inelegant Obama sock monkey toy are going to keep on producing. Lately, the Supreme Court has seemed downright heroic! Taliban to Afghanistan: "Not dead yet." Airplanes of the future may be auto-medicating. New dinos found in Utah. K-Fed is father of the year. Somewhere.......

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....

During the State Republican convention, Sen. Cornyn's folks put together a little something-something to show the convention attendees: this laugh-out-loud introduction/refresher on "Big John" Cornyn. Only in about 15 seconds of the video is Cornyn shown without a cowboy hat, while a man with a deep bass voice tells us that John "is doing the Lord's work for Texas" (oh, God was against the updated GI Bill?) and a choir keeps singing in the background, "Big Johhhhhn."...

Lesbian couple of 55 years to be the first in line today in San Francisco to get married. Honda starts commercial production of hydrogen-powered cars. Obama spoke about fatherhood at a church yesterday. The Odd Couple: British PM Gordon Brown and Dubya say they understand each other. After the untimely death of Tim Russert, what's next for "Meet the Press"? Keith Olbermann thinks he is a serious newsman, others disagree. "In the Heights" wins......

Two town hall meeting-style forum opportunities have been offered to presidential candidates John McCain (GOP) and Barack Obama (Dem). The Johnson family has asked the candidates to hold a forum at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, and Nancy Reagan has asked them to hold a forum at the Reagan National Library in California. Both forums would be scheduled for July. ...

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....

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......

Candidate for City Council Cid Galindo failed to list over $60,000 worth of expenses on his campaign finance forms. 21-yr-old man accused of propositioning 12-yr-old boy at Ruiz Library. After this second alcohol-related arrest in a month, former Longhorn Cedric Benson is cut from the Chicago Bears. San Antonio man driving the wrong way on IH35 in Georgetown dies early this morning after hitting a truck head-on. Not really a surprise: burn ban set for Travis County....

Patrick Dentler/flickrDemocratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's local campaign headquarters in downtown Austin are moving over to East 12th and I-35, and they could use a hand. From Burnt Orange Report: Hey Austin folks Obama HQ has to vacate the lovely and cavernous 816 Congress, immediately, as in Tuesday, starting at noon! Much of the office is being transferred to a new location in the new TCDP coordinated campaign office at 12th and I-35, which is......

Just one more reason to wait for your locally-grown tomatoes. Seen the YouTube clip where McCain lets it be known that he thinks Vladimir Putin is doing a great job as president of...Germany? The Kooch is at it again. Gennifer Flowers and Paula Jones redefine "classy." Teachers in Japan are facing down an attack of "monster parents." (Nobody wanted to make a joke about "Godzilla parents"?) Got an iPhone last year? Apple is making......

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......

Texans For Obama are hosting a "Turn Texas Blue Party" at Club Deville tonight, in advance of this weekend's massive Texas Democratic Convention, whereupon some 15,000 liberals are expected to descend upon our fair city....

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......

State Education Commissioner announces that Johnston High will be closed down. Texas Court of Criminal Appeals announces the creation of an integrity unit that will deal with issues in the criminal justice system. Yesterday, that same Court of Criminal Appeals blocked the execution of Derrick Sonnier. It's been a year since the death of Kevin Brown....

Just when you thought Travis County couldn't get any darker blue, The Texas Democratic Convention will bring an estimated 15 thousand people to the capital city beginning tomorrow. Keeping with the record-breaking trends the Democrats have been setting during the primary season, this year's expected convention turnout will be a 50% increase from recent conventions hosted by the Party of Jackson. ...

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. ...

Obama thinks tonight's the night. Tampa gives nation the massive creeps. Teddy's surgery goes well; nonetheless, his prospects are not stellar. The end of an era: Kinko's is no more. Money and happiness may be mutually exclusive. Entertainment Tonight's journalism is called into question. Amy Winehouse looks like something out of a dermatology textbook.......

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....

Police have filed new charges against Billy Dan Caroll, who kept videotapes of his sexual assault of women and girls. The ex-boyfriend of Deysi Gonzalez Hernandez has been charged in connection with her murder. He allegedly told a friend, "I was drunk and I killed her because she made me mad." Test scores were up this year, but that may not save Johnston High. Some of the FLDS kids can go back to their parents starting on Monday, judge in San Angelo says. "He's a very disappointed person in that he knew what could have been and what can be," Carole Keeton-Strayhorn says of her son, Scott McClellan. ...