Crystal Chavez, KUT News

Willingham Probe Continues

The Texas Forensic Science Commission will once again take up the Cameron Todd Willingham arson case today.  The panel will consider testimony it heard earlier this month from fire experts who differed on whether the original investigation was sound.  Some experts say investigators relied on flawed science and that the fire should not have been ruled arson. 

Hundreds gathered around the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue on the UT campus this morning for a ceremony before the community march to Huston-Tillotson University. Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, some state lawmakers and Austin school officials were there.

Funeral Services Pending for Emma Long

Watch the 2011 Legislative Session from Home

DeLay's Sentencing Hearing Starts Today

Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay will be back in an Austin courtroom.  His sentencing hearing starts this morning.  DeLay was convicted in November on money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering charges.  Those charges were in connection to the 2002 Texas elections.  DeLay faces up to life in prison but his attorneys are asking for probation.

Texas Comptroller Announcing Revenue Estimate

Willingham Case Back in the Spotlight

A state panel in Austin today will hear from fire experts on the high-profile Cameron Todd Willingham arson case.  Willingham was convicted and put to death for an arson-ruled fire that killed his three daughters in 1991.  Some experts say the conviction was based on bad science.  The Texas Forensic Science Commission is examining the fire science used in the case, and how scientific practices have changed since the 90s. 

Here's your chance.  Texas is about to face one of its toughest legislative sessions ever.  What issues, concerns, opinions, or questions do you have? 

Send an email to news@kut.org and let us know.  Or leave us a voicemail at (512) 475-8079.  Be sure to leave us your name and phone number in case we need to contact you.

The 2011 Texas legislative session kicks off on January 11th.  We will air your "Letters to the Lege" later this month during Morning Edition on KUT 90.5.

This is your bullhorn!

Radioactive Waste Expansion Plan OK'd

A Texas commission has voted to allow up to 36 more states to dump their low-level radioactive waste in West Texas.  The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Commission approved the plan 5-2 Tuesday.  Initially, Texas and Vermont were the only states that were going to be allowed to dump at the site still under construction in Andrews County.  Some environmentalists are opposed to the expansion and may challenge it.  Here's what Lone Star Chapter Sierra Club Conservation Director Cyrus Reed said in a press release:

Judge Allows Radioactive Waste Vote Today

A Commission is scheduled to vote today on whether to allow up to 36 more states to dump their low-level radioactive waste in Andrews County in West Texas.  A federal judge yesterday lifted a restraining order that would have stopped today’s vote. 

Austin city leaders have been talking about banning plastic bags at stores for a while, but signs for such an ordinance look strong this year. 

“We have a report that we’ve been working on, on the cost impact of plastic bags. That study has been presented to City Hall, we hope to have that in the hands of city council within a couple of weeks,” said Bob Gedert, the City of Austin’s Solid Waste Services director.

That report has not been released to the public yet.

APD Searching for Missing Woman

Update at 3:30 pm: 81 year-old Leona Wagoner Owen has been found dead in South Austin.