Tales from the West Texas Dust

Here's some more of the news that I couldn't get in last week from some of the most prominent newspapers in Texas:

[Austin American-Statesman:] (1.) Gov. Bush is expected to sign a bill that will lower the legal intoxication threshold from the current .10 to .08 blood alcohol level as a way to improve the state's drunk driving record. Sen. Bill 114, sponsored by Sen. Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston) and shepherded in the House by Rep. Scott Hochberg (D-Houston), was passed in the House last week clearing the way for Gov. Bush to sign the bill. Supporters of the bill argue that the bill will save the lives of hundreds of Texans while the alcoholic beverage industry and other opponents contend that the new limit will only net social drinkers and that current studies on the subject are still inconclusive. SB 114 comes as a result of a mandate by the U.S. Congress for the state to adopt the lower limit as a requirement for obtaining $12 billion in federal highway funds...

(2.) Fort Hood, the U.S. military's largest installation, was the recent site of a very controversial gathering of Wiccan congregants in their observance of the vernal equinox. More than 40 witches (both male and female) celebrate the Rite of Spring on March 20, which to Wiccans is an observance of the day of equal light and darkness that symbolizes the witches' goal of perfect balance. The ceremony was possible because of the recognition of Wicca as a legitimate faith by base officials three years ago. The Wiccans, whose religion is a reconstituted form of nature worship from tribal Europe and other parts of the world, had to meet similar criteria as other religions to conduct services on the base, including sponsorship by a legally incorporated church in San Antonio...

[D-FW Heritage Online:] The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has narrowly rejected a request by the Santa Fe (TX) Independent School District to reconsider as a whole court a panel of its judges by a recently rendered 2-1 decision to disallow pregame prayers over the loudspeaker at high school football games in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Seven of the 16 judges voted to review the case, but nine votes were needed for the review to actually take place...

[Princeton Herald:] Princeton has a new face in local politics; and her name is also that of the new mayor--Kathy Davis. Davis edged out Mayor Pro-Tem Pat Talley by nine votes to assume the office. The Princeton City Council will also see a new City Councilman in Harold Grounds, while current incumbents Mrs. Talley, Dana Watson, and Bruce Beauchamp continue in their current posts. Grounds and Watson finished first and second, respectively, in the five-man at-large race for the two seats on the Council...

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