Texas Headlines

JENNA BUSH WEDDING

President's daughter to marry today in Texas

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) - The president's 1,600-acre ranch in

Crawford is all gussied up for Jenna Bush's wedding tonight to

long-time boyfriend Henry Hager.

President Bush will walk his daughter down the aisle before

about 200 friends and family members in a very private outdoor

ceremony.

The festivities got under way last night with a rehearsal dinner

hosted by the groom's parents in the tourist town of Salado, about 54 miles from Crawford. There'll be a

barbecue lunch today back at the ranch.

The father of the bride uses his weekend radio chat today to pay

tribute to her and her mother, the first lady. Bush calls it "a

joyous occasion" for the family and especially for Laura Bush. He

notes that she'll spend Mother's Day weekend watching her daughter

walk down the aisle.

The tiny town of Crawford is celebrating at a distance. A town

statue has been decorated with a veil and bouquet. Souvenirs on

sale include keychains and coffee mugs adorned with pictures of the

bride and groom.

TEXAS SINKHOLE (TOPS)

Company near sinkhole cited for permit violations

DAISETTA, Texas (AP) - A company that sits near the edge of a

massive sinkhole in Southeast Texas is accused of violating state

permits for saltwater disposal.

Some geologists suggest saltwater may have caused the crater.

But the Texas Railroad Commission, which regulates such permits,

stresses that the cause of the sinkhole hasn't been determined ...

and that includes whether operations of Deloach Vacuum Services

could have been a factor.

The sinkhole in the small town of Daisetta began

as a 20-foot hole in the ground on Wednesday, but by Thursday had

grown to 900 feet across at its widest point and 260 feet deep.

It's swallowed oil tanks and barrels, tires, telephone poles and

several vehicles in the town of around 1,000 residents 60 miles

northeast of Houston.

By Friday, officials said the sinkhole didn't appear to have

grown significantly more.

The saltwater is a byproduct of oil production and has to be

stored underground so it won't contaminate water supplies and the

environment.

Daisetta Mayor Lynn Wells has asked the state for a disaster

declaration for financial assistance.

---

Information from:

Beaumont Enterprise, http://www.beaumontenterprise.com

Houston Chronicle, http://www.chron.com

DAM SAFETY-AUDIT

Audit finds problems with Texas' dam safety program

HOUSTON (AP) - A state audit has found that the system for

keeping Texas dams inspected and maintained is unable to keep up

with the 7,600-dam inventory.

A 60-page report by the State Auditor's Office identified

weaknesses in nearly all key areas of the dam safety program. those

include inspections, enforcement, information management and

emergency response procedures.

The audit did say the safety program run by the Texas Commission

on Environmental Quality has gotten better over the last four

years. But it cited the state's high number of dams as a major

contributing factor for shortcomings in the program.

TCEQ spokesman Terry L. Clawson said that despite the report,

the agency knows of no dams in the state of Texas that are in

imminent danger of failure.

But the commission generally agrees with the audit's findings

and is working to make the recommended fixes. But he says as the

Legislature must approve funding for more employees and fixes to

the safety program as the state auditor proposes.

INFANT BODY-DRYER

Infant's body found in San Antonio rehab center dryer

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Detectives continued to question women at a

San Antonio rehabilitation center today after the body of a newborn

girl was found in a center dryer.

The girl's body was found last night wrapped in bloody towels

and clothes in the laundry room of the Victory Home in southwestern

San Antonio. Police Sergeant Rudy Cran says paramedics believed the

infant was born at full term. But he says it's unclear how long the

body had been in the dryer, which was not turned on.

Cran says the paramedics believed the child was born alive. An

autopsy has been ordered to determine whether she died of criminal

circumstances.

Center policy prohibits pregnant women from living at the

Victory Home, which treats adult drug and alcohol addictions.

OIL FIELD DEATH

1 of 6 hurt in oil field gas explosion dies

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - A man has died after he and five other

workers were injured in a drilling rig blowout in a southwest Texas

oil field.

Officials say Jesse Beltran died early yesterday, a day after

the blast three miles southwest of Carrizo Springs. All five of the

others injured have been treated for their injuries and released.

Carrizo Springs Fire Marshal Joe Rodriguez says the Premium Oil

drilling crew was working the rig when the drill bit hit a gas

pocket. The bit caused a spark that ignited the gas.

Carrizo Springs is about 100 miles southwest of San Antonio.

---

Information from: San Antonio Express-News,

http://www.mysanantonio.com

MISSING EVIDENCE

Missing cash, drugs from Galveston police prompts probe

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - The disappearance of cash and drugs from

the Galveston police property room has prompted the dismissal of 16

cases and a Texas Rangers audit of 2,100 other cases.

Local officers began a criminal investigation after about

$18,000 in cash and an undisclosed amount of cocaine, hydrocodone

and Ecstasy disappeared from the room last month.

A civilian employee was fired, but no one's been charged with

any crime. City officials have declined to identify the fired

employee. City Manager Steve LeBlanc says charges likely won't be

filed until the state's investigation is complete.

Starting later this month, 10 Rangers will spend about four

weeks going through the evidence. They will work out of

recreational vehicles parked outside police headquarters.

LeBlanc says more local cases could be dismissed because of

compromised evidence.

---

Information from: The Galveston County Daily News,

http://www.galvnews.com

FLYING TIGERS REUNION

Flying Tigers alumni gather for reunion

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - The end of a military epoch may be nearing.

Alumni of the famed Flying Tigers volunteer force of U.S. pilots

who fought in China at the start of World War II had what could be

one of their last reunions in San Antonio this week.

The 300 Flying Tigers who made up U.S. Army Gen. Claire

Chennault's famed group of pilots are down to 19. Just eight of

those made it to a reunion in San Antonio yesterday.

The Flying Tigers' official name was the American Volunteer

Group. The unit was formed with the financial backing of the

Chinese government to help defend Chinese cities from Japanese

attack before the United States entered World War II.

The unit was credited with destroying 296 Japanese aircraft

during seven months between 1941 and 1942.

The pilots flew Curtiss P-40 fighters, racking up a 15-to-1 kill

ratio and likely stopping the Japanese from conquering China and

threatening British-held India.

Time has claimed almost all the Tigers, including their most

famous member. Retired Texas Air National Guard Brigadier General

David Lee "Tex" Hill died last year at 92 in San Antonio. He shot

down more than 18 planes.

---

Information from: San Antonio Express-News,

http://www.mysanantonio.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)