Gov. Perry Wants Diplomas & Licenses Linked & Nightly Roundup

By KERA News & Wire Services

Dallas, TX –

Gov. Rick Perry proposes that Texas high school-aged students must hit the books if they want to legally hit the road.

At a news conference in Houston on Wednesday, Perry said students should have to prove that they're enrolled in school and working toward a diploma or GED if they want to get and keep a
driver's license.

Perry says he'll ask the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Department of Public Safety to determine what's needed to implement such a program. If legislation is needed, Perry says he'll work with lawmakers to get it passed.

Perry announced his plan during a campaign stop. He is vying for the GOP gubernatorial nomination in the March 2 primary against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Republican activist Debra Medina.

Countrywide scrapped Texas pact in December

Bank of America is explaining its cancellation of a jobs contract that a recent acquisition had with the state. It says it killed Countrywide Home Loans' deal because a severe mortgage business decline prevented Countrywide from adding 7,500 jobs promised to Texas.

The Charlotte, N.C.-based company said Wednesday the complexities of its merger with Countrywide also factored in the contract cancellation as of Dec. 31. Countrywide had a $20 million deal to create 7,500 new jobs by the end of 2010 and maintain them for a year.

Bank of America spokesman Rick Simon says the bank's keeping a large presence in Texas, with almost 23,000 employees.

Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday the Texas Enterprise Fund has been highly successful in bringing jobs to the state and has adequate safeguards and oversight.

National anti-gang sweep leads to 43 Texas arrests

Immigration officials have announced the arrests of 43 gang members and associates in Texas, part of more than 400 arrests in a national anti-gang operation.

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement said Wednesday that "Project Big Freeze" targeted transnational gangs with links to international drug cartels. There were 476 total arrests around the country.

Agents made arrests last week in San Antonio, Harlingen and Laredo and 80 other cities around the country. More than 360 of those arrested were foreign nationals.

ICE worked with the Drug Enforcement Agency and local law enforcement in making the arrests.

Waterway opens to limited traffic after oil spill

The Sabine-Neches Waterway in southeast Texas has opened to limited traffic following a weekend
oil spill when two vessels collided. The U.S. Coast Guard said the waterway next to Port Arthur
reopened Wednesday.

On Saturday, 462,000 gallons of light crude oil spilled into the water from the Eagle Otome. The 800-foot tanker collided with a towboat pushing two barges. The damaged Otome was moved to the
Sunoco oil terminal in Beaumont on Tuesday evening.

The Coast Guard says about 534,000 gallons of an oil and water mixture have been recovered. Work continues to recover oil.

The Coast Guard says six birds were found covered with oil. Two were found dead and the remaining four are being cleaned and treated.