Gov. Rick Perry says he is leaving the "quirky" state of Iowa to continue his presidential race among "real" Republicans in South Carolina.
Perry spoke to reporters in Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday following his disappointing fifth-place showing in the Iowa caucus.
He had said late Tuesday that he would reassess whether to continue the campaign. On Wednesday, he said he decided to continue press forward while on a cold morning run. Then he announced the decision on Twitter, and posted a photo of himself on the running trail.
Perry clearly wants to put his Iowa experience behind him. He called Iowa a "quirky place" with "a quirky process." He said voters in South Carolina share his values and that he feels confident he will do well there.
AP
Police: Student killed by officers had pellet gun
Police say the weapon a Texas eighth-grader pointed at officers in a school hallway before they killed him was a pellet gun that looked like a real handgun.
Interim Brownsville Police Chief Orlando Rodriguez says 15-year-old Jaime Gonzalez had "plenty of opportunities" to lower the weapon but "didn't want to."
Rodriguez says two officers fired three shots and struck Gonzalez at least twice.
Police are awaiting the results of an autopsy.
Rodriguez says that before the confrontation with police, Gonzalez walked into a Cummings Middle School classroom and punched another boy in the nose. He says he doesn't know why Gonzalez brandished the weapon but that the initial call to police said a student had a gun.
Brownsville is on Texas' southern tip.
AP
Jindal stands by Rick Perry for GOP nomination
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal says he's not giving up on Rick Perry as a contender for the Republican presidential nomination, despite Perry's poor showing in the Iowa caucuses.
Jindal said Wednesday that he still believes in the Texas governor's viability and stands by his endorsement.
Jindal campaigned with Perry in the final days leading to the Iowa caucus voting. Perry came in fifth, with 10 percent of the vote, but he's said he's not ending his campaign.
Jindal praises Perry's economic development and job creation record in Texas, his support of a smaller federal government and his help for Louisiana during several natural disasters.
AP
Soldier accused in explosives case set for hearing
A hearing has been set to determine whether a soldier accused of trying to carry powerful military-grade explosives on an airplane in Texas will remain in custody.
U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Daryl Fields says Friday's hearing in federal court in Midland could also determine whether investigators have ample evidence against 30-year-old Trey Scott Atwater. Fields says testimony could be heard.
Atwater, a Fort Bragg soldier who lives in Hope Mills, North Carolina was arrested Saturday while trying to go through security at Midland International Airport, where he was planning to fly back home.
Authorities say Atwater had a carry-on bag containing C4, a powerful explosive used in Iraq and Afghanistan to blow the hinges off doors or destroy unexploded ordinance. Atwater grew up in Midland, Texas.
AP
Difficult Decisions For Dallas And Next Bond Package
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings says some hard choices will have to be made as Council members craft a bond package to put before the voters in November.
The City Manager is recommending about 500 million dollars for public improvement projects.
Mayor Rawlings says that’s a small amount, but it’s what the city can afford.
Rawlings: I don’t want any new taxes. I want to be in a position in this city to consider rolling taxes back at some point. And I want to be terrifically conservative in that regard.
The City Manager wants to see 40% of the bond package go to flood control in the Deep Ellum/Baylor Hospital area, near East Dallas, and the State-Thomas neighborhood.
The council will hold town hall meetings to get input from citizens before making final decisions.
BJ Austin, KERA News
Dallas Federal Grand Jury Indicts Ex-Cowboy
A federal grand jury in Dallas has indicted former NFL player Sam Hurd on cocaine distribution conspiracy charges.
The 26 year old Hurd is a former Dallas Cowboy and Chicago Bear. He was arrested December 14th at a Chicago restaurant following a lengthy undercover investigation in North Texas.
Investigators say Hurd told undercover officers he was interested in buying five to 10 kilograms of cocaine, at $25,000 per kilogram, and 1,000 pounds of marijuana PER WEEK for distribution in the Chicago area.
Hurd’s lawyer told ESPN the former wide receiver plans to fight the charges.
Hurd will be arraigned in Dallas at a later date.
BJ Austin, KERA News