Texas

For the first time since 2005, the Texas Senate has confirmed someone to serve a full term as head of the State Board of Education. Barbara Cargill, a Republican from The Woodlands, was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011.

Cargill has supported a measure that requires students to question evolution. State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, says Cargill reassured him that she would not allow her religious conservatism to interfere with her leadership of the board.

A Texas Department of Transportation conference wouldn’t normally attract much attention. But invite a robot car to your meeting, and everything changes.

Google and its self-driving car were on hand at the Texas Transportation Forum today. The car – which relies on technology like radar and cameras to pilot itself – was the star of a panel on transportation and technology this morning.

http://kut.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/QA-Bernier-Cahill-Hasan-NAWAL.mp3

The daughter of a man killed in the Fort Hood shooting rampage is now friends with the cousin of the accused shooter.

Kerry Cahill lost her father Michael Cahill at Fort Hood in 2009. Now, she's working with Nader Hasan, cousin of alleged shooter Nidal Hasan the alleged shooter, on Nader's effort to speak out against extremism through his organization, the Nawal Foundation.

Listen to our conversation with them by clicking the player above. 

Update: Omar Martinez, 27, was the overall winner at this year's Austin Marathon. He finished the 26.2 miles in just over 2 hours and 35 minutes. Kyle Smith, 26, was the fastest finisher from Austin. He came in 4th place overall.

Thirty-one year old Mariko Neveu of Austin took first place among the women. She finished in just over 2 hours and 55 minutes.

You can check your own, your friend's, or any other competitor's time at the Austin Marathon results page.