Five stories that have North Texas talking: Big Tex, dead voters, and more.
Breaking Update: Big Tex Goes Up In Flames ; Fiery Legacy: Three Things You Might Not Know About Big Tex.
Crews began dressing Big Tex in his Dickies and Western shirt this morning.
Once Tex was decent and almost assembled, a huge crane set the State Fair icon into his pre-positioned boots. If he isn’t already magical enough, the Tyler Morning Telegraph outs Tex’s beginnings in the tiny town of Kerens, Texas - as a 50-foot Santa.
The postcard staple turns 60 this year. The State Fair runs from Sept. 28 to October 21. The schedule and more information is here.
'Dead' Voter Roll Fight Headed for October Hearing
Six weeks from the November election, state prosecutors in Texas are challenging a judge’s order that stopped Texas counties from striking people thought to be dead from voter rolls.
The AP reports a hearing in October will likely determine whether registrars will continue checking 81,000 people that the Social Security Administration believes may have died.
This matters when said administration believes you are dead, and you’re not, and you want to vote. More from NPR, under a headline that may rival our Big Tex double-pun: Many Texans Bereaved Over Dead Voter Purge.
Perry Seeks to Lock Tuition Rates At State Schools
One highlight from the public policy conference thrown by our friends at the Texas Tribune: Governor Rick Perry wants a four-year tuition freeze at state schools.
The Austin American Statesman reports that locking rates for incoming freshmen be a real priority for Perry when the next legislative session starts in January.
Fort Hood Shooter Hospitalized
Officials at Fort Hood are reporting that Major Nidal Hasan was admitted to the army base hospital Saturday. They haven't given a reason why he was hospitalized, but they say he should be released in the next few days.
Hasan is charged with murder in the shooting deaths of 13 when he opened fire at Fort Hood in November 2009. Lest those lives be merely numbers distanced with years, Minnesota Public Radio's piece on the victims after the tragedy still streams online.
Former State Republican Party Chairman Fred Meyer Dies
The Dallas Morning News reports Fred Meyer died this morning of cancer. The 84-year-old Dallas businessman served as the county's Republican chairman before being tapped to lead the state party.
He also served as host committee chairman for the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas.
One addition this evening, beyond the five bits promised:
West Nile Virus Death Toll in Dallas County Climbs to 16
Dallas County health officials say the latest West Nile victim lived in the 75228 zip code in Dallas, east of Garland Road, north of I-30.
There are 371 reported human cases of West Nile virus in Dallas County. Tarrant County reports 261 cases and seven deaths.
Follow us on Twitter @KERANews for updates.