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State Budget
3:44 pm
Mon January 7, 2013

Combs Estimates $100 Billion In Revenue For 2014-2015 Budget

Credit State of Texas
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, Susan Combs

According to State Comptroller Susan Combs, Texas lawmakers will have will have $101.4 billion to work with during the next legislative session. Combs said the estimated $96 billion in revenue from taxes, fees and other sources is up nearly $20 billion from previous years.

"General revenue collections in 2008 and 2009 -- leading into the [legislative] session -- totaled $79.6 billion," Combs said.  "In 2010 - 2011, as we hit bottom and began to climb out the revenues were $4.5 billion less."

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Craft Brewers
1:13 pm
Mon January 7, 2013

Branchline Brewing Company Introduced To San Antonio Beer Scene

Credit Laura Ard
(From Left to Right) Jason Ard, head brewer Les Locke and employee JC Norris all pose inside the brewery where Branchline beer will be made.

Craft brewing companies have provided plenty of fun to beer fans, and according to a report by University of Texas at San Antonio economics professor Scott Metzger (who also happens to run his very own brewery, Freetail Brewing Company) have generated $608 million in the Lone Star State.

Metzger estimates that by 2020, the industry will generate $5.6 billion, a figure he calls conservative.

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8:30 am
Mon January 7, 2013

Lance Armstrong Considers Doping Admission To Limit Damage

Lead in text: 
A New York Times article reveals that the cyclist is facing mounting pressure from his support network -- which includes wealthy donors to his Livestrong foundation -- to clear his conscious and admit to using performance-enhancing drugs. The article also points out that Armstrong has been wanting to compete in triathlons and other events; events that usually adhere to World Anti-Doping Code regulations, from which he has received a lifetime ban.
Lance Armstrong, who this fall was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping and barred for life from competing in all Olympic sports, has told associates and antidoping officials that he is considering publicly admitting that he used banned performance-enhancing drugs and blood transfusions during his cycling career, according to several people with direct knowledge of the situation.
KPAC Blog: Itinerarios
3:43 pm
Sat January 5, 2013

Olivia Gorra: Still The Pride Of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz

It was 10 years ago that I met the remarkable Mexican soprano Olivia Gorra, at the 2003 Festival Internacional de Cervantino. She had just made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Turandot, with more performances to come.

The pride of Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, Olivia performed an outdoor program at Guanajuato's Alhondiga which was capped off by a rousing set with her fellow Veracruzanos, the folkloric ensemble Tlen Huicani. Despite her numerous opera house successes, I doubt she has ever had them dancing in the aisles at the Met.

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World Music
4:30 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

World Music Celebrations: Epiphany

Credit Wikipedia
Italian "Befane"

Each week on World Music (Saturday nights from 8-10 on KSTX 89.1 FM), I take a look at celebrations happening around the world. This weekend marks the official end of the Christmas season for many cultures.

The Epiphany is celebrated around the world in many different ways. This day marks the manifestation of the Son of God as a human being in Jesus Christ. It’s also the day marked by the visitation of the Three Kings to the infant Jesus.

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Lackland Courts-Martial
4:04 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

Staff Sgt. Christopher Jackson Latest Instructor Convicted On Sex Charges

Credit U.S. Air Force
Airman 1st Class Christopher Jackson is no longer permitted to wear his MTI hat after his conviction this week

Another former basic training instructor is in the brig after being court-martialed at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Christopher Jackson will spend 100 days in the brig and 30 days doing hard labor.  Jackson is the sixth instructor to be court-martialed in the still-growing sex scandal at Lackland.

Jackson was found guilty of having sexual relationships with two trainees, and of obstructing justice by asking one of them to lie to investigators.

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SAPD Officer Arrested
2:28 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

SAPD Officer Facing 20 Years In Prison On Federal Charges

Credit SAPD
SAPD Officer Curtis Lundy is 36 years old and has been on the force for 4 years.

San Antonio Police Department has arrested one of their own after an FBI investigation led to federal charges.

SAPD Chief William McManus said he’s disgusted at the alleged actions of SAPD officer Curtis Lundy.

"There are few things in public service that are worse than a bad cop," said McManus. "As the highest ranking official in the San Antonio Police Department, I do not, and will not ever, tolerate a crime committed by any public official; especially one of my officers."

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Texas Matters
1:51 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

Texas Legislature Opens & A Billonaire Gets Busted (Sort Of)

Credit Wikipedia Commons
Texas state capitol in Austin where the 83rd Texas Legislature will convene on Jan. 8.

Texas Matters: It's finally here! The 83rd Texas Legislature will be sworn in and start on Tuesday, Jan. 8. Political Action Committees, or Super PACs as they came to be so heroically known in last year's election, enjoyed fairly easy regulations on both organization and donations. However, there are rules and stiff penalties if you break them; one Texas billionaire was caught and fined a shocking $6,450!

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KPAC Blog: The Piano
10:14 am
Fri January 4, 2013

When John, Paul, George And Ringo Didn't Perform… In Search Of Chopin: Part Two

Credit Wikipedia
A casting of Chopin's hand

In pop music, pieces featuring the "original artists" are usually big sellers. These are the performances we heard first and are used to -- not the cover songs performed by other artists years later. Some pieces are so familiar that we mentally hear the scratches and pops on the 45's that we had at home back in the day.

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Healthy Living
11:05 pm
Thu January 3, 2013

Nutrition Labels Hope to Encourage Healthy Choices

HEB is the first grocery chain in Texas to roll out a new nutrition labeling system on items in its stores to assist people in making healthy food choices.

Following guidelines from the USDA, color coded icons appear next to the prices of many items on HEB shelves, to indicate the health factors of a particular food. HEB has piloted this program for about a year, and it’s now being rolled out company wide.

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