National News
Understanding the state constitutional election questions
Deputy Secretary of State Joe Esparza last week drew the ballot order for 10 proposed amendments to the Texas Constitution that will appear on the November 5 ballot. In order to appear on the ballot, the proposed amendments must be approved by at least two-thirds of the members of both the Texas Senate and the…
Read MoreThornberry weighs in on House attempt to condemn tweets
President Donald Trump called on fellow Republicans Tuesday to stick with him, “not show weakness” and oppose a House resolution condemning his tweets urging four Democratic congresswomen of color to return to their countries. His comments, he insisted, “were NOT Racist.” Congressman Mac Thornberry weighed in on the issue to the Vernon Record on Tuesday…
Read MoreAs Defense Bill heads to the floor, Thornberry comments on NDAA
Ahead of anticipated floor consideration this week, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following remarks on HR 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020: “Normally the NDAA is a product of bipartisan consensus that allows Congress to execute our most important Constitutional duty. Unfortunately,…
Read MoreHealth officials alarmed by paralyzing illness in kids
NEW YORK (AP) — One morning last fall, 4-year-old Joey Wilcox woke up with the left side of his face drooping. It was the first sign of an unfolding nightmare. Three days later, Joey was in a hospital intensive care unit, unable to move his arms or legs or sit up. Spinal taps and other…
Read MoreThornberry reacts to recent missile testing
On Monday, the Missile Defense Agency conducted the most complex test of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System ever attempted. Preliminary results indicate that the test met all primary objectives successfully. The test involved two ground-based interceptors, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, and one ICBM-class target. Rep. Mac Thornberry said the action was vital. “Every…
Read MoreSupreme Court agrees to hear deadly DC sniper shootings case
By JESSICA GRESKO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider Virginia’s plea to reinstate the life-without-parole sentence of a man who as a teenager participated in sniper shootings that terrorized the Washington, D.C., region in 2002. The justices said they will take up the state’s appeal in the case…
Read MoreNew Zealand’s darkest day: 36 minutes of terror
By NICK PERRY, KRISTEN GELINEAU and JULIET WILLIAMS Associated Press CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — On March 15, New Zealand changed. Some are calling it a loss of innocence, a reminder that distance doesn’t bring protection against violence. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed to change gun laws and investigate what went wrong. This is…
Read MoreGunman kills 3 on Dutch tram, mayor says terror likely
By ALEKSANDAR FURTULA and MIKE CORDER Associated Press UTRECHT, Netherlands (AP) — A gunman killed three people and wounded nine others on a tram in the central Dutch city of Utrecht, sparking a manhunt that saw heavily armed officers with sniffer dogs zero in on an apartment building close to the shooting. Authorities immediately raised…
Read MoreReport released on Vernon bound plane crash
A preliminary report regarding the crash of a single-engine aircraft into the Red River was released last week by the National Transportation Safety Board. Killed in the crash were pilot Richard Lennard and passenger Michael Hollis. The report offers new details but no determination of the cause for the aircraft to plummet into the Red…
Read MoreTexas senator defends bill empowering husband’s office
AUSTIN (AP) — The wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Tuesday that a bill she filed that would change state securities law “has literally nothing to do” with her husband facing criminal charges of defrauding investors, even as experts said the proposal appears to strike near the heart of his indictment. Republican state…
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