Nursing Home Rates Lower In Houston

If you are looking for the cheapest nursing home for your loved one, then Houston may wind up being your first choice:

According to a survey released Tuesday by Genworth Financial Inc., Houston has been able to side-step the rising cost of nursing-home care over the past five years.

The Richmond, Va.-based financial security company's Cost of Care Survey found that the cost of nursing-home care in Houston today is down 1 percent compared with 2004. San Antonio, the most expensive city in Texas for this type of care, saw an increase of 34 percent, while in Austin costs have increased 20 percent and in Dallas they are up 14 percent.

Costs in the rest of Texas rose 24 percent over the five years, higher than the national average of 17 percent. When it comes to the cost of one year in a private nursing home, however, Texas is doing better than the nation as a whole.

Make sue you check out other things such as who owns the company; hint legals or illegals.

Student Stabbed By Assault Victim's Father

Father decides to take law into his own hands:

According to district spokesperson Regina Curry, around 8:30 this morning, a student of Wunsche High School was on campus with her parents. The parents wanted to speak to a school administrator about the alleged sexual assault of their daughter by another Wunsche student that happened over the weekend, at an off-campus location.

While the parents were waiting, they saw another student who they say was a witness to the attack. The father of the student who was assaulted stabbed the young man who was a witness. The student was stabbed three times, and taken to a hospital in The Woodlands.

Another case of vigilante justice in the state of Texas.

Hazing Misdemeanors, Uh

This activity seems a bit serious to be called misdemeanors:

Four former University of Texas fraternity leaders were charged with cultivating a dangerous culture of hazing that included shocking pledges with cattle prods, beating them and making them drink large amounts of alcohol.

Pledges were repeatedly shocked with the electric cattle prods, beaten with bamboo sticks and at least once kicked "field goal style" by the fraternity president. They also were made to drink large amounts of alcohol and perform manual labor.

What would have happened if one of those students died?

Beloved Doe Case Finally Solved

A heart wrenching case that has had police investigators baffled for the last five years has finally been solved.

The boy, dubbed " Beloved Doe," was believed to be between the ages of 3 and 6 and of Hispanic descent. Police say his mother, Ma Dana Martinez, 30, caused the boy's death.

She's now charged with felony murder—injury to a child by omission. Investigators say it was a call from the child’s father to police that led to Martinez’ arrest.

May his mother rot in hell.

Children from polygamy sect to reside in group homes

Some of the 437 children from a polygamist compound in arid West Texas soon may be bound for group homes in green, tree-shaded locations in Harris, Montgomery and Brazoria counties.

Buses carrying the first 114 children left San Angelo on Tuesday after state District Judge Barbara Walther issued a placement order telling officials to make every attempt to place sibling groups together.

The order listed facilities from the Panhandle to Southeast Texas, including Kidz Harbor in Brazoria County, Boys and Girls Country near Hockley, and Arrow Child and Family Ministries in Montgomery County.

Exec. with connections get light sentence for drug possession

A stripper dies in your home from a drug overdose--your ex-wife is married to the President's brother---wow, this sounds like the makings for a new reality show.

Robert Pace Andrews, 52, was placed on two years’ deferred adjudication on Monday. That means he will not have a conviction on his record if he successfully complies with the terms of his probation.

Andrews pleaded guilty to possession of less than a gram of cocaine. According to the terms of the plea agreement reached with prosecutors, he must pay a $2,000 fine, perform 80 hours of community service, submit to drug and alcohol counseling and undergo random urinalysis.

Gotta love it!!!

Texas and the "me speak no english" problem

Have you ever walked into a store, in Houston, and was greeted by an employee who did not speak English? Well, the following may shed some light:

"We have a disease in Texas — our students do not know how to write and speak English well," Garner said. "We need to treat the disease aggressively.

"The skills need to build upon each other as the student progresses from one grade level to the next. Learning the basics of the English language will provide students with a strong foundation upon which to write sophisticated papers and upon which to base clear communication," she said.

The integration of grammar with writing has been taught in Texas for the past 15 years without much success, Garner said, citing statistics showing half of Texas college freshmen are in need of remedial education, compared to only 28 percent nationally. Teachers, parents and employers are appalled by the lack of speaking and writing skills, she said.

Now this is really pathetic.

Polygamy Compound Call May Have Been Hoax

Could the call concerning abuse at the Eldorado polygamy compound been a hoax? Well, there is a strong possibility.

Rozita Swinton, a 33-year-old black woman, was charged with falsely reporting abuse to authorities in connection with a separate incident in Colorado Springs two months ago. Texas authorities say Swinton is a person of interest in their search for the girl whose call prompted them to raid the Yearning for Zion Ranch.

Even if the call was a hoax, the religious sect should still be investigated.

Houston Opens Books To Online Scrutiny

This is such a good idea.

This week, purchasing officials unveiled a new Web site that allows anyone to easily get detailed information about city contracts and one-time purchases.

The online catalog is among several searchable features on the city's homepage, including restaurant inspections and campaign-finance records.

The digital disclosure follows a trend of governments using technology to open their books to Web visitors. Transparency advocates say that can save agencies money by automating requests for information from the public.

This will help eliminate fraud and waste. More cities should follow Houston's example.

Harris County Gearing Up For Executions

Feeling they have the green light to proceed, Harris County prosecutors pledged Wednesday to move forward in seeking execution dates for six local killers.

Among Harris County killers likely headed to the death house are Charles Douglas Raby, 38, who in October 1992 repeatedly stabbed 72-year-old Edna Mae Franklin, then cut her throat, after his rape attempt failed. Also facing execution is Jose Ernesto Medillin, 33, who in June 1993 kidnapped, raped and strangled Elizabeth Pena, 16, and Jennifer Ertman, 15, when they stumbled into a gang initiation rite at T.C. Jester Park.

After hearing the news, Gov. Rick Perry gave a hallelujah shout out to Texas' brand of justice.

Houston's Illegal Immigrant Problem

Never a dull day in Houston when it comes to illegal immigrants. If they are not crowding apartment complexes with 50 people living in one bedroom units they are working in businesses that support illegals. This latest news story comes as no surprise:

Federal agents are at a large Shipley Do-Nuts facility on Houston's north side, where they have arrested almost 30 workers suspected of being illegal immigrants.

Agents from the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant about 5 a.m. at the Shipley manufacturing process center in the 5200 block of North Main.

Harris County sheriff's deputies are assisting in the raid, which took place after a caravan of about 50 federal and county vehicles drove to the center.

Houstonians should also be concerned about their personal documents since identity theft runs rampant among illegals. I hear it over and over again. Enough is enough.

State Rep. Borris Miles Makes Headlines Again

What Is Wrong With Borris Miles?

State Rep. Borris Miles was indicted Monday on two counts of deadly conduct stemming from complaints he brandished a pistol and made threats at a pair of parties last December.

Miles, D-Houston, is expected to turn himself in this week, prosecutor Paul Doyle said. Bail has been set at $2,000. If convicted, each count of the Class A misdemeanor carries a punishment range of up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Maybe he needs psychological help.

Sect Mothers Want Governor To Intervene

The mothers of children removed from a West Texas polygamist sect's ranch after an abuse allegation are appealing to Gov. Rick Perry for help.

In a letter sect members say was mailed to Perry on Saturday, the mothers from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints claim some of their children have become sick and even required hospitalization.

Kelly Siegler's Backers Weigh Other Options

Ethical employees have no reason to run:

The takeover of their office by an outsider at the end of the year has some Harris County prosecutors weighing their options and considering other jobs including taking appointments as defense attorneys.

Both candidates have said the District Attorney's office is in need of a major shake-up, but said Thursday that no one has been "targeted" for termination.

However, some prosecutors who actively worked on Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler's failed campaign worry that their jobs putting criminals behind bars are in jeopardy because they backed the wrong candidate.

Any new incumbent would want to keep the best. It is only those who possibly feel they can't measure up have a need to escape.

Old Farts Abusing Young Girls

Straight from the Chron:

Authorities suspect that adult men belonging to a West Texas polygamist sect used beds inside their temple to have sex with underage girls, court records released Wednesday indicate.

Investigators who conducted an initial raid last week of the desert compound known as the Yearning for Zion Ranch outside Eldorado found beds inside the temple. On one unmade bed, they discovered a long strand of hair they believe belonged to a female, the records stated.

The allegations were released in an affidavit that detailed the suspected sexual abuse of underage girls at the compound belonging to the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Kidnapper Of 7 Year Old Charged

They caught the scumbag:

Kenneth Stewart was charged with aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child in the abduction of a 7-year-old from a school bust stop in northeast Harris County.

One more sicko off the street.

Senator's Stalker Indicted

A Weatherford man has been indicted for allegedly stalking U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. A Dallas County grand jury indicted 57-year-old Michael Ralph Kleysteuber, who remained jailed Tuesday on $5 million bond.

A warrant says Kleysteuber was arrested March 21 outside the Dallas home of Hutchison and her husband, Ray. Kleysteuber was indicted Monday on a charge of felony stalking, a third-degree felony. If convicted, Kleysteuber faces up to 10 years in prison.

Charter Schools Owe Texas $26 Million

Will the state of Texas collect from these deadbeat schools?

The Texas Education Agency, which oversees public education in the state, is working to recover $17 million of the $26 million from nearly half of the charters now operating in Texas. TEA records show that 20 schools went out of business before the state could recover its money, leaving taxpayers holding a $9 million bag of debt.

These charters collected state funds either by inflating the number of students in their classrooms or by making accounting mistakes.

If they collected state funds by inflating student numbers, then they should face criminal charges. If it was the result of an accounting mistake, they should face civil charges. Either way, the state should not be left holding the bag.

Houston Touts Its Own Horn

Discovery Green, the 12-acre, $122 million park that opens April 13, represents Houston's changing self-image as its leaders embrace the green qualities that so often impress visitors arriving by air for the first time.

Visitors can sprawl in the grass for a concert, race model boats or splash in an interactive fountain. Runners can try out the jogging path while more sedate visitors can read a magazine in a small library or have a drink at The Grove restaurant.

The park is attracting development that's bringing energy to east downtown. And the city's $41 million investment in Discovery Green, coupled with twice that sum in private funding, has set a standard for parks that will influence public officials and donors for generations, park advocates say.

Toll Road Cameras Upgraded To Help Catch Criminals

Harris County Toll Road Authority cameras are now on the lookout for more than just those drivers who blow through EZ Tag lanes without paying. County authorities promise new, upgraded cameras can help catch murderers and other violent criminals.

The cameras have the capability to search their databases and issue alerts to county dispatchers when a wanted criminal crosses their lenses.

The system, which has been operating for about a month, has proved so promising that the Houston Police Department wants a piece of the action. Harris County leaders next week will consider an agreement that would include the HPD in the county system at no cost.

Yolanda Adams Surrenders Files To IRS

Houston gospel singer Yolanda Adams has turned her financial records over to Internal Revenue Service investigators, prompting the government to withdraw its request for a judge to intervene.

The IRS requested details about a pair of million-dollar mortgage loan applications and sought more information about the singer's endorsements and royalties as well as music companies and foundations with which she is affiliated.

The Meaning Of 'Honest Services'

What does 'honest services' really mean? That is the question convicted Enron CEO, Jeff Skilling would like answered.

Prosecutors used the honest services theory to convict Skilling of conspiracy to commit securities and wire fraud. While an instruction to the jury linked only 12 counts of securities fraud to that conspiracy count, Petrocelli argued that all 19 counts on which he was convicted — including a count of insider trading and five counts of lying to auditors — should be thrown out because the theory taints everything.

Do you think Jeff Skilling's conviction should be overturned?

Jeff Skilling Could Win His Appeal

Yes, it is true. Jeff Skilling of the Enron debacle, could wind up being a free man. His conviction could be thrown out based on the so called "honest services" theory:

An appeals panel rejected the "honest services" theory prosecutors used in gaining convictions against participants in Enron's sale of three barge-mounted power plants, which the government alleged was a disguised loan.

The 2-1 ruling said that the "honest services" issue didn't apply because the defendants didn't steal, embezzle or otherwise take money or property, and their actions were aligned with corporate goals.

It will be interesting to see how this all play out in court.

Supreme Court Rejects Killers' Appeals

President Bush tried to intervene but it got him nowhere. The following was the only just decision that could have been made:

The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the appeals of seven Mexican-born prisoners condemned to die in Texas, including two who had committed murders in Houston in the 1990s.

The action followed a high court ruling last week in which the justices rebuffed President Bush for directing the state of Texas to abide by a world court ruling and rehear the case of another Mexican on death row.

The prisoner, Jose Medellin, had been convicted of the 1993 rape-murders of two Houston teenagers — Jennifer Ertman, 14, and Elizabeth Pena, 16 — who had stumbled upon a gang initiation.

Mexico, which opposes the death penalty, sued the United States in the International Court of Justice in the Hague on behalf of some 50 Mexican citizens, including Medellin, on death rows in the United States.

The Mexicans said American officials violated the 1963 Vienna Convention when they failed to allow the citizens of another country access to its representatives after arrest. The world court agreed.

But in a 6-3 ruling on March 25, the Supreme Court said the president overstepped his bounds when he ordered states in a memo to abide by the world court's ruling. The U.S. court said a president must consult Congress before issuing an order based on a treaty.

May they rot in hell for what they did.