Clear Lake woman poses as Texas Workforce Commission contractor.

By FLORIAN MARTIN

A Clear Lake woman is being sued by the state of Texas for allegedly posing as a Texas Workforce Commission contractor.

The state accuses Rebecca Lynn Dauler of approaching several Clear Lake area businesses pretending to work with the TWC and selling them safety posters that they could have obtained for free from the TWC.

According to the petition, the TWC was contacted by several businesses that stated that Dauler claimed that the TWC hired her company, 4 Compliance Today, to conduct inspections of the businesses to determine their compliance with Texas workplace laws and regulations.
She would then point out safety posters that she said were not in compliance with the law and sell them posters that she claimed were for $49.99 each, according to the lawsuit.

She also allegedly told one business that it could be shut down if it didn’t comply and to another, which refused entry to her, that she would “make a note” that the company would not let her into the facility, according to the document.

In a sworn affidavit, the director of TWC’s office of investigations, Bradford Ward, said he called Dauler on Aug. 12 and told her to stop pretending to be a TWC representative or the agency would sue her. He also said Dauler denied that she told businesses that she worked with the state.

However, Ward said, he received another complaint regarding Dauler pretending to work with the TWC from a business after the conversation with her.
The state is asking the court to impose penalties over $20,000 on Dauler for each of the six alleged violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Consumer Protection Act, to order Dauler to pay back the money that she received from the businesses as well as to pay the court costs

Poster in Katy draws complaints ...

KHOU: Imagine a poster that shows a man being hanged and a couple dozen armed cowboys posing under him, with a caption that reads "Lets Play Cowboy's And IRANIANS!"

Then imagine that poster hanging in your local restaurant. Do you find this offensive? or funny?

Nonmacher's Barbecue in Katy, Texas, is fighting with that very scenario.

One customer told KTRK in Houston, "You know it's 2011, looking at it now, I see nothing really more than a display of racism and bigotry." He continues to say, "I don't think something like this should really be accepted by any community."

The owner of the restaurant, John Nonmacher, tells Desmond that the poster has been there on the wall for 30 years and he has never had a complaint. Now that the word is being spread, his phone has been ringing off the hook.

He says the poster was made by some Houstonians in 1979 as a reenactment of the Iran Hostage crisis. Iranians held more than 50 Americans for 444 days.

Nonmacher says "I laughed and I'm still laughing. I mean, they don't understand what it is. They don't care to understand, and somebody's taking it upon themselves to campaign and crusade."

If you're ever in Katy, Texas, and stop by Nonmacher's Barbeque, take a minute to find the poster. Despite requests to remove the poster, Nonmacher says, "It's my choice to have it up. It's your choice to go where you want to go. But I'm not going to take it down."

League City man faces child pornography charges.

SANTA FE, Texas — A 34-year-old League City man faces child pornography charges after investigators claimed the man downloaded illegal images to his computer, Santa Fe police said.

Santa Fe police Detective Heather Burd, who is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, tracked a series of child pornography downloads to a League City Internet address.

James Karl Dunivan was arrested at his home in the 1200 block of Halls Bridge in League City on Monday morning.

Quake shakes South Texas ...

Click to enlarge:



A shallow, moderate earthquake struck southern Texas (TX) on Thursday morning, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). It was the strongest earthquakes to hit the U.S. state in 45 years.

The 4.8 magnitude quake, upgraded from 4.6mb, occured at 07:25 AM local time (13:25 PM GMT) and was recorded at an extremely shallow depth of 3km (1.9 miles). It struck below Fashing, but was felt as far as Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Austin.

The epicentre of the quake was located 22 km (14 miles) NW (321°) from Pawnee, TX; 23 km (14 miles) SSW (213°) from Falls City, TX; 26 km (16 miles) WSW (249°) from Karnes City, TX; 60 km (37 miles) NW of Beeville, TX; 76 km (47 miles) SSE (154°) from San Antonio, TX; 92 km (57 miles) E of Pearsall, TX; 166 km (103 miles) SSW of AUSTIN, TX; and 463 km (288 miles) SSW (197°) from Dallas, TX.

The last time Texas experienced a tremor similar in intensity to Thursday’s quake was on July 20, 1966. The magnitude 4.8 earthquake was centred in the Panhandle, near Borger and Amarillo.

The most recent earthquake to strike the region hit on 25 April, 2010. The 4.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded 56 km west of Corpus Christi.

Houston fights NYC to get space shuttle back

Folks in Texas who are close to the space program were not happy from the get-go. Here they were, home to the Johnson Space Center, Mission Control, the Astronaut Corp., and they didn’t get one of NASA’s retired space shuttles.

They were angry. “No city in the world deserves an orbiter more than Houston, Texas,” said U.S. Representative Pete Olson from Texas.

Now, they are even angrier. “It’s a bait and switch,” U.S. Representative Ted Poe told CNN. Why does Poe say that?

At a cost of nearly $30 million dollars a piece, dozens of museums bid for one of the retired space shuttles. New York’s Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum on the Hudson River was one of the winners. It gets Enterprise, a test shuttle that never flew into space, currently at the Smithsonian.

That’s what got Texans angry to begin with. Poe says, “New York - God Bless them - they’re a wonderful city, but they have no connection to the space program and no connection to NASA, so why would the shuttle go to New York? It’s like putting the Statue of Liberty in Omaha.”

What set Texans off again and sparked the “bait and switch” remark is the Intrepid Museum’s plan for housing the shuttle Enterprise.

Back in May of 2010, before the shuttles were awarded, here’s what the museum’s director Susan Marenoff-Zausner told CNN: “On the west end of the pier we currently have the Concorde. And we would look to shift the placement of the Concorde and place the shuttle in that spot.”

Well, all that has apparently changed. The new plan is to construct a building for the Enterprise not on the pier but across a busy highway on land the museum doesn’t yet own. The land is now a parking lot next to a car wash, warehouses and a bagel shop. A walk bridge over the highway would connect the main museum to the Enterprise Building.

Back when the museum was still lobbying for a shuttle, officials there were more than anxious to talk with us. Now, they turned down our request for an interview. Instead, they issued a statement, “We look forward to Enterprise’s arrival at the Intrepid, which will quickly become New York City’s newest landmark and seen by millions of visitors to our great city. While we continue to be in the planning stages, we remain on track with both our logistics and our fundraising.”

But, it’s not what they promised. Says Representative Poe: “Time to re-open the bidding process again because the person that got the bid really isn’t fulfilling the obligation that they agreed to. So, re-evaluate it.”

You often hear the expression, “location, location, location.” Location is one of the primary reasons NASA selected New York. The space agency wants its retired shuttles to be seen by as many eyeballs as possible. New York has a huge advantage there.

NASA’s Administrator Charles Bolden seems fine with New York’s new plan and location saying, “I don’t tell them how to suck eggs. You know, they gave us a plan. They told us they would have the money. They gave us a schedule and everything and as far as I know, they’re on schedule and so I trust them that they’re gonna deliver what they said.”

It will be at least a year before any of the retired shuttles are delivered to museums. Atlantis will stay in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center. Endeavour goes to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The Smithsonian gets Discovery. To make room for Discovery, Enterprise has to move to New York.

If its new building isn’t ready, Enterprise would likely be housed in a climate controlled tent at the city’s JFK Airport.

Police need help finding robbery suspect

PASADENA, Texas - Police are asking for help from the public to find a suspect in three robberies reported within a two-week period in Pasadena.
The robberies took place between Sept. 12, Sept. 20, and Sept. 25.

The first robbery was reported at 12:45 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12 at a Shell fuel station in the intersection of Fairmont Parkway and Preston Road.

The second robbery was reported after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at a Chevron fuel station also in the intersection of Fairmont Parkway and Preston Road.
The third robbery was reported before 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25 at a Mobil fuel station on Strawberry Road near Everglade Drive.

The suspect entered each store before sunset, threatened clerks on duty with a knife and demanded money, according to a statement released Tuesday by the Pasadena PD. He is described as a Hispanic man who stands at a height of between 5 feet 5-inches and 5-feet 7-inches tall, weighs between 130 and 150 pounds with short black hair, a goatee. Surveillance video captured images of the suspect wearing sunglasses, a long-sleeved blue-gray sweatshirt, possibly matching pants, and white gloves.

Police describe the vehicle a tan or gray newer model sport utility vehicle, possibly a Ford Expedition. During at least one of the robberies, the SUV was driven by a female.

Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect and/or driver in these cases is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department by phone at 713-477-1221 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477 (TIPS).


Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/110927-pasadena-store-robberies#ixzz1ZqEt6RZn

NASA allocating 1.6B to private sector for space taxi.

NASA on Monday unveiled a plan that will allocate $1.61 billion to private companies that will transport U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and low Earth orbit.
The program, which will run from July 2012 to April 2014, will provide funds to multiple companies, which must design and maintain spacecraft, launch vehicles, launch services, ground and mission operations, and recovery.

"This is a significant step forward in America's amazing story of space exploration," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement. "It's further evidence we are committed to fully implementing our plan—as laid out in the Authorization Act—to outsource our space station transportation so NASA can focus its energy and resources on deep space exploration."

NASA retired its space shuttle fleet over the summer and has since relied on Russian spacecraft to get its astronauts to the ISS (at a price of $50 million per person). During the most recent Soyuz landing, however, communications between the landing craft and Russia's Roscosmos space agency broke down for several minutes after the Soyuz capsule had de-orbited. Contact was re-established before landing and no one was injured, but the "space taxis" announced by NASA this week gives the agency another option for getting its astronauts to the ISS.

The effort, known as Integrated Design Contract (IDC) "will bring us through the critical design phase to fully incorporate our human spaceflight safety requirements and NASA's International Space Station mission needs," said NASA Commercial Crew Program Manager Ed Mango. "We look forward to strong U.S. industry response."

To push development, NASA also said it will fund some optional programs negotiated as add-ons to existing Commercial Crew Development (CCDev2) Space Act Agreements (SAA) initially awarded in April. Specifically, Sierra Nevada Corp. will get $25.6 million for a total of $105.6 million, while Boeing will take home another $20.6 million for a total of $112.9 million. Space Exploration Technologies/SpaceX and Blue Origin have also been awarded contracts.

"All four CCDev2 partners are performing very well and meeting their milestones," said Phil McAlister, director of NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development. "These additional milestones were selected because they sufficiently accelerated the development of commercial crew transportation systems to justify additional NASA investment."

NASA wants to build most powerful rocket ever - but if wishes were horses -beggars would be riders...

WASHINGTON (AP) — To soar far away from Earth and even on to Mars, NASA has dreamed up the world's most powerful rocket, a behemoth that borrows from the workhorse liquid-fuel rockets that sent Apollo missions into space four decades ago.

But with a price tag that some estimate at $35 billion, it may not fly with Congress.
NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and several members of Congress on Wednesday unveiled the Obama administration's much-delayed general plans for its rocket design, called the Space Launch System. The multibillion-dollar program would carry astronauts in a capsule on top, and the first mission would be 10 years off if all goes as planned. Unmanned test launches are expected from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in six years.

Calling it the "largest, most powerful rocket built," NASA's exploration and operations chief, William Gerstenmaier, said the rocket will be tough to construct. But when NASA does it, "we'll have a capability to go beyond low-Earth orbit like no other nation does here on Earth," he said in a telephone briefing Wednesday.

The rocket resembles those NASA relied on before the space shuttle, but even its smallest early prototype will have 10 percent more thrust than the Saturn V that propelled Apollo astronauts to the moon. When it is built to its fuller size, it will be 20 percent more powerful, Gerstenmaier said. That bigger version will have the horsepower of 208,000 Corvette engines.

NASA is trying to remain flexible on where it wants to go and when. The space agency is aiming for a nearby asteroid around 2025 and then on to Mars in the 2030s. There could even be a short hop to the moon, but not as a main goal. All those targets require lots of brute force to escape Earth's orbit, something astronauts have not done since 1972.

The far-from-finalized price tag may be too steep given federal budget constraints.
"Will it be tough times going forward? Of course it is," Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a separate news conference. "We are in an era in which we have to do more with less — all across the board — and the competition for the available dollars will be fierce. But what we have here now are the realistic costs" verified by independent experts.

Although five senators of both parties who are leaders in science issues praised the plan in a joint press release, outside experts are skeptical that Congress will agree to such a big spending project.

"In the current political environment, new spending is probably the most taboo thing in politics," said Stan Collender, a former Democratic congressional budget analyst. He put the odds of this getting congressional approval at "no better than 50-50 this year. There are going to be a lot of questions asking what kind of commitment we're going to be making here. You can find yourself with a rocket that no one wants to fire."

Nelson puts the cost of the program at about $18 billion over the next five years. But that estimate is mostly for development and design through the first test flight in 2017, and doesn't include production of later rockets, Gerstenmaier said. Gerstenmaier wouldn't give a total estimate, but it is almost double that, according to senior administration officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to make the announcement.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY ON YAHOO NEWS

Bastrop is burning ...

BASTROP

- The most destructive wildfire on record in Texas showed no signs of slowing down Monday, destroying 25,000 acres in Bastrop County and 476 homes, more houses than any single wildfire before and more than all other fires this year combined, according to the Texas Forest Service.

With more than 60 new wildfires raging across the state, Gov. Rick Perry left the campaign trail Monday in South Carolina to address the public and organize requests for more federal aid.

Closer to Houston, a fire in Magnolia burned 20 homes and more than 1,600 acres, and was threatening subdivisions in Montgomery and Grimes counties late Monday. It had moved southwest into Waller County last Monday.

It was one of several fires to hit the area, straining state and local resources as officials focused on the most dangerous blazes. One firefighter was injured and one fire engine burned in blazes in the Magnolia area, said Lt. Dan Norris, spokesman for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities did not yet know how much of the most dangerous fire had been contained Monday, but planned to continue fighting it "as long as necessary," Norris said.

Strong winds and dry conditions fanned the flames and aided the blaze's rapid growth, forcing the evacuation of more than 150 homes. Montgomery County officials were encouraging evacuations from the intersection of FM 1774 and FM 1488, about 42 miles northwest of Houston, up to the Grimes County line, an official said.

Magnolia fire

The Magnolia fire, located off FM 1774 and FM 1488, jumped FM 1488 late Monday and forced further evacuations, although some families were being allowed back to their homes. The Magnolia Independent School District canceled classes today because of the fires. Evacuation shelters were being set up throughout the area, including at Magnolia High School.

Another fire in the area had burned 100 acres and was 80 percent contained, Norris said. It had destroyed one structure and caused no injuries after 50 homes were evacuated.

A fire covering about 100 acres was burning in Oak Ridge North late Monday.

A fire near Nacogdoches that started Sunday night raged to 300 acres Monday and forced 60 families to evacuate their homes, said Ralph Cullom, a spokesman for the Texas Forrest Service. That fires grew with strong gusts of winds and fed off of dry conditions on the ground.

"This drought we're having is just unprecedented," Cullom said.

No injuries have been reported in Bastrop, but two people were reported killed in a North Texas fire Monday. A woman and her 18-month-old child died when a fast-moving fire near Gladewater, east of Dallas, set their mobile home on fire and they were unable to escape.

The Bastrop County Complex Fire, pushed by strong winds and fed by plenty of dry grasses, shrubs and trees, steadily moved south Monday and expanded throughout the day. It jumped the Colorado River twice.

"We will be working days on end," said Mike Fisher, the Bastrop County Emergency Management Coordinator. "The fire is so dynamic we really have no idea where it is."

'Lives at stake'

Perry said the wildfire burning in the central part of the state is "as mean looking" as he's ever seen.

Driest year on record plagues Texas ...

VOA: Weather forecasters and agriculture experts in the southwestern U.S. state of Texas say there is no relief in sight for what already is the worst drought year on record. The searing heat and dry conditions have caused devastating wildfires in the western part of the large state and led to crop losses, cattle deaths and water rationing in areas of east Texas that are normally wet at this time of year.

Driving through the countryside northwest of Houston, one sees dried up fields, dying trees and livestock ponds that are not much more than a puddles of fetid, algae-covered water. In some towns, farmers' markets have been cancelled because local growers have little to offer. Those with wells for irrigation are struggling with the high cost of fuel to run their pumps.

Debbie Cross, who operates a farmers' market near Cypress, Texas, says people are becoming discouraged by the lack of rain and the high temperatures, which are around 40 degrees most days.

“The drought is hurting everything. It is hurting all the crops, the cattle, the hay. There is no grass. The chickens are miserable. I mean everybody is just miserable. We need water,” Cross said.

Cross says local farmers are unable to supply much fruit and vegetables and that she is getting by with produce trucked in from other states where conditions are better.

“We are getting it from the local southern states and southwestern states are kicking in -- Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Oklahoma. Everybody knows that the Texas market is a great consumer market, so they are helping out a lot here,” Cross said.
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One of the hardest hit agricultural sectors is livestock. Texas is the biggest cattle producer in the United States and ships beef to many foreign markets. Earlier this year, ranchers endured one of the worst winters on record, with several days of subzero temperatures in a region where freezes are rare. The drought has made it even harder, driving up the cost of hay and leaving some areas so dry that cattle have died of thirst in their pastures.

One rancher who has managed to get through this crisis with most of her stock in fairly good condition is Dorie Damuth, owner of the Flying D ranch near Magnolia, Texas.

Damuth raises prize-winning Texas Longhorns for breeding and she has managed to find hay and enough water to keep them alive. She says she has seen dry spells before, but nothing that compares to this year.

“The drought is something I, as a cattle woman, and all of my fellow cattlemen and cattlewomen have never experienced before. This is probably the 100-year drought, just like you can have a 100-year flood. It is very devastating for all of us ranchers who work so hard to provide beef for our country as well as for around the world,” Damuth said.

In a dried up lake on her property, there is a Longhorn skull sitting on top of cracked earth that is muddy and soft underneath.

“We have had lakes and stock ponds on the ranch that have dried up because of no rain, no rainfall. They will dry down to a little mucky place in the middle that is still wet and the cattle will sometimes go down and try to get water and they can't. And they step into that mucky mud and it is kind of like quicksand, and they can't get out.”

Lately, there have been beautiful fluffy clouds floating over the area. But ranch hand Chris Quinters is not encouraged by them.

“Those are some nice clouds, but it don't look like they are going to bring any rain,” Quinters said.

Tough water restrictions in League City ...

LEAGUE CITY, Texas – Severe drought conditions have prompted city officials here to order the strictest water restrictions in Southeast Texas.
At Kelley’s Country Cookin in League City, diners are finding something unusual.
"This is the first year that it’s ever happened," says manager Jennifer Salas.
The city called her last week and told her stage 5 water restrictions were in effect.
That means restaurants can no longer offer water. They can only serve it if customers specifically ask.

While Salas said she’s received no complaints from customers, some of them wondered Sunday whether the restriction was necessary.
"It’s probably a little much," Yessika Katcham said. "Because we’re used to drinking water at restaurants."
Still, Salas agreed with the city’s conservation efforts due to the record-breaking drought.

The water rationing means League City residents can’t water their lawns at all.
"My yard is looking horrible," Adrian Keith said. "My trees - it looks like fall at my house."

Businesses like professional carwashes can use water only between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. The city has also closed its pool and won’t maintain the water level.
Violations could cost up to $500.

League City may have the toughest water restrictions. But they are certainly not the only ones in place around Houston.

Galveston has also banned all outdoor watering – although it hasn’t gone as far as League City with other restrictions. Residents in the Woodlands can only soak their lawns on certain days. Katy and Sugar Land have voluntary restrictions.
Houston’s mayor says the city will likely move to mandatory restrictions by the end of this week.

Clear Lake to host water quality conference

By Texas State University

CLEAR LAKE — The Texas Stream Team, based at Texas State University-San Marcos, and the Houston-Galveston Area Council will host the Meeting of the Monitors Conference Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 in Clear Lake at the Hilton Houston NASA Clear Lake.

Attendees can network with staff from more than 15 environmental organizations such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Water Environment Association of Texas and the Galveston Bay Foundation.

The conference will provide educational and networking opportunities for resident water quality monitors and professionals working in the environmental field.

It also will provide opportunities for the public to learn about relevant water quality issues in Texas.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in trainings and workshops on macroinvertebrate identification; fish dissection; data analysis; the monitoring of nutrients, turbidity, streamflow, mussels, invasive species and phytoplankton.

“A collaborative approach to watershed planning is essential,” said Kerry Niemann, the TCEQ nonpoint source program manager.

“That is why it is so important to actively engage citizens by bringing them together to help in information gathering, such as volunteer monitoring efforts and decision making.

The forecast?

Drought uncovers space shuttle Columbia debris

(CNN) -- The recent drought has ruined millions of acres of farmland in Texas, turning lakes into mud puddles, and has many praying for rain.
But in the East Texas city of Nacogdoches, authorities say, the drought may have done something good by helping unearth a piece of the space shuttle Columbia.

The object, which is about 4 feet in diameter, was found in a local lake. NASA says it is a tank that provides power and water for shuttle missions.
"It's one of ours," said Lisa Malone, a spokeswoman for the agency.
Malone added that NASA is trying to develop a plan to recover the item,
But it could take weeks to get it, she said.

"We're looking into whether we'll send a team out or local authorities can," Malone said.

Authorities say the object was found after the drought caused the waters to recede in Lake Nacogdoches, and they notified representatives from NASA on Friday.

"The lower water level has exposed a larger than normal area on the northern side of the lake," said Sgt. Greg Sowell of the Nacogdoches Police Department.
The item is full of mud and is in a remote area near a private shoreline, Sowell said.

Nacogdoches made headlines in 2003 when debris from the shuttle Columbia disaster was found there.

The spacecraft broke up while re-entering Earth's atmosphere near the end of its mission on February 1, 2003.

"We want to remind everyone that the rules are the same as they were back in 2003. If this object is indeed a part of the shuttle, it is government property, and it is a criminal offense to tamper with it," Sowell said.

Wells Fargo robbers sought ...

By MARY ALYS CHERRY

A team of four robbers — three toting shotguns — are being sought by Houston Police and the FBI after they held up the Wells Fargo in the Randalls grocery store at the intersection of Space Center and Clear Lake City Boulevards Monday morning.

The masked men entered Randalls about 10:55 a.m. Monday and then walked to the far end of the store to rob the Wells Fargo branch bank, which is in the store. They arrived in a silver SUV, later found to be stolen, and initially parked it out in front of the store.
As they left, they fled in the SUV, but ditched it in back of the store after driving it into a guard rail. A fourth man may have been waiting for them in a black car, which drove off with the robbers shortly before HPD officers arrived, but this could not be verified.

One of several 9-1-1 calls from Randalls shoppers and employees came in at about 10:55 a.m., HPD spokeswoman Jodi Silva said. The first caller reported that an armed man in a mask was robbing the bank.

When police and deputies from the Precinct 8 Constable’s Office arrived, they found a silver SUV, believed to have been stolen, that had crashed into a guard rail behind Randalls. Thinking the trio may have fled on foot, they called in the HPD helicopter and began searching the area by car and on foot.
An hour later, employees at both the bank and the grocery store were clearly still upset over what they had just witnessed.
THIRD HOLDUP
It is one of three robberies in the past three days.

One was at a bank in Dickinson Saturday morning and another was the holdup of an armored car just outside the Bank of America near Gulfgate about 8 a.m. Monday. The armored car driver reportedly exchanged gunshots with one of the robbers but no one was injured.
Wells Fargo Service Manager Michael Sprott declined to comment about the holdup at his bank as he locked the door, and HPD Sgt. G.A. Llanez referred any questions to the FBI.

TWO SOUGHT
Police also are looking for two men who held up the Texas First Bank in Dickinson shortly after the bank opened at 8 a.m. Saturday, July 23.

The suspects, who robbed the tellers at gunpoint, were described as young, possible in their mid to late 20s, and dark skinned. The suspects were wearing masks and were armed with handguns, Dickinson Police said. They fled the bank in a late model Toyota.
The Toyota was later recovered on Oleander just west of Highway 3, less than one mile from the bank. The vehicle had been stolen earlier in the day during a reported carjacking in Galveston, officers said.

An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the bank. No injuries were reported.

Space Shuttle Atlantis home - end of an era.

USA TODAY:

Atlantis is home," said NASA control moments after its arrival at 5:56 a.m. ET. "Its journey complete. A moment to be savored."

In its final act before beginning the long journey home, Atlantis sent a small payload into orbit on Thursday.

As an era comes to a close, nearly 200 satellites, probes and spacecraft have emerged from the cargo bays of NASA's five space shuttles since the Columbia launched from Kennedy Space Center on April 12, 1981.


"We really wish we could share with everybody this really cool glow," Commander Chris Ferguson radioed as he and his crew entered the Earth's atmosphere in a plasma of heated air before touching down. "We're doing fantastic."

The perfect landing is bittersweet. As sorrowful employees greeted the fabulous flying machine for the final time, plans for NASA's next grand venture remain largely on the drawing board. United Space Alliance, one of the space program's largest employers, will lay off about 2,000 employees on Friday.

President Obama has charged NASA with finding a way to transport astronauts into deep space, either to Mars or an asteroid, but that flight could be a generation away.
Most of the nation's baby boomers can remember the thrilling moment Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, inspiring a generation of kids who idolized astronauts and devoured space science.

The Generation X grew up on the space shuttle, which astronomer and former NASA historian Steven Dick says provided little in the way of ground-breaking exploration and discovery, but great engineering breakthroughs.

"It's definitely the end of the era," Dick said. "The shuttle has been a magnificent flying machine, an engineering marvel, but it has consigned Americans for two generations to low-Earth orbit. I think that's a negative."

Without the excitement of a heart-pounding launch of astronauts blasting toward the stars, America's space program seems destined for a decade of obscurity. American astronauts will hitch rides to the International Space Station on the Russian Soyuz until commercial space companies develop the rockets and capsules to transport humans.

"I hope we won't lose a whole generation. Kids get excited by exploration," Dick said. "I think NASA, in some ways, is doing the right thing by off-loading the routine work of the space shuttle. The only problem is we're a long way from getting something that will take us out of low-Earth orbit."
Until then, NASA is hoping to capture American imagination with telescopes, probes and and unmanned spacecraft.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

End of shuttle program hurts Houston in more than lost jobs ...

GULFNEWS

The end of the space shuttle programme is hitting its Florida launch home in the pocketbook with some areas practically becoming economic ghost towns. But Houston, home of Mission Control, is getting hit somewhere else: prestige.

Aerospace ranks only fourth among booming industries, far, far behind king oil, Mayor Annise Parker said. It's a pride thing for a city whose baseball team is the Astros and whose basketball team is the Rockets.

Space is "part of our psyche here", Parker said. "It's how we view ourselves as a city."
This is a metropolis of four million people that has tied its identity to space and to the shuttle specifically. But that identity has taken three hard hits and the loss of thousands of jobs is just one of them.

The first blow came in 2004, when then-President George W. Bush announced the end of the space shuttle programme. His plan was to replace it with a return-to-the-moon programme run out of Houston.

Then in 2010, President Barack Obama cancelled that over-budget Houston-centric shuttle replacement programme. He proposed going to an asteroid in a plan that at the moment is less detailed, especially when it comes to Houston's role.

The concept relies on private companies to take Nasa's place when it comes to shuttling people to Earth's orbit and the International Space Station, with Nasa buying rides on these private ships. Many of those private companies — including the acknowledged leader, SpaceX, have little connection to Houston.

Then in April came what some in this city consider the cruellest blow: Houston would not be getting one of the retired shuttles to display.
Many locals, from hotel housekeepers to the mayor, are angry.
"We need space because space was the heart and soul of Houston," says Bob Mitchell, president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership. "We've got the knowledge and skilled people to move forward."

Last year, 16,613 people in Houston had jobs because of the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Nasa's economic impact in Texas was $6.5 billion (Dh24 billion) last year with $2 billion of that because of the space shuttle, the space agency calculated in a recent report. Most of that is in the area around Clear Lake, south of downtown. But Harris County, which includes Houston, has more than 2 million people employed.

And while Nasa means a lot of money, it represents just a fraction of 1 per cent of the state's gross domestic product.

The Houston area has already lost about 2,000 space shuttle jobs — government and private contractors — in the past several months, Mitchell said. Another 1,800 or so lay-offs will come after space shuttle Atlantis lands, ending the programme.
Harris County's May unemployment rate of 8.2 per cent is almost a full percentage point below the national average and looks robust compared to the 10.8 per cent jobless rate on the Florida Space Coast.

The space shuttle's work force nationwide peaked in 1991 at 32,000 government and private contract workers. In 2006, that number was about half that, and now is about 6,300 and shrinking, according to Nasa.

Houston has always been the brains of the space shuttle programme while Florida has been the muscle, the technicians who refurbish, prepare and launch the spacecraft.

Tribute ... last shuttle flight.

God's speed Atlantis! Last shuttle blasts into orbit.

Atlantis' journey to the International Space Station is NASA's 135th and final mission in the space shuttle program, which began 30 years ago.

(CNN) -- The space shuttle Atlantis lifted off Friday morning on the final mission of America's 30-year space-shuttle program.

The four-member crew blasted off on a 12-day mission just before 11:30 a.m. The four -- all shuttle veterans -- are on their way to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

The possibility of storms had raised doubt about whether the launch would take place as planned, but NASA gave the shuttle a "go" for launch a few minutes before liftoff.
Thousands of people, including some who came to Kennedy Space Center three decades ago for the first launch, were gathered to watch. Almost a million people were expected to be on hand to witness the historic event.

One onlooker flew in with a friend Thursday from New York. Unable to find a hotel, the men went to a Walmart and picked up a tent, air mattresses and some tortilla chips and camped out on a nearby spit of land to wait for the launch. Seeing the shuttle blast off, they said, will let them check an item off their things-to-do-before-you-die bucket list.

Last flight ...

LINK: HERE

Astronauts reflect on Space Shuttle program ...

With Atlantis poised to leave Earth one last time, signaling an end to more than 30 years of flying the Shuttle Orbiter, some of the nation's best-known astronauts are speaking out about NASA retiring its reusable spacecraft, and what it might mean to the future of manned space flight.

At a June gathering of astronauts during SpaceFest III held at the Starr Pass Resort in Tucson, Atlantis' final launch on Friday sparked strong opinions from nearly a dozen Apollo and shuttle astronauts.

Apollo 7 astronaut retired Marine Col. Walter Cunningham, 79, Houston, Texas

"They aren't moth-balling the shuttle, they've quit it. They've stopped it. It's the worst decision ever made by NASA, to ground the shuttle, without a replacement. And a replacement would be very difficult because this is the greatest flying machine ever developed and built; it's the safest spacecraft that we have ever flown into orbit. It's really bad for NASA, but more importantly, it's terrible for our country. Because right now, it's doing away with the kind of imagination and dreaming that it takes to reach out and explore. And when you can't be the preeminent space nation in the world, you're surrendering things. I'm much more concerned about it's impact on the country than I am just it's impact on NASA.

"We better hope that the so-called space industry is successful, because it's the only thing we're going to have going for us. And there's no question that a commercial company can cut through some of the delays and cost, because they're not big and bureaucratic yet. So, it might be a little bit cheaper, but it's going to be a hell of a lot more expensive than they think, and it's going to take a lot longer than they think before they can have any kind of man-rated vehicle flying."

Cunningham was selected by NASA to train as an astronaut in 1963. On Oct. 11, 1968, he served as lunar module pilot for the Apollo 7 mission, along with spacecraft commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., and command module pilot Donn F. Eisele. The 11-day flight was the first manned flight test of the third generation U.S. spacecraft. Cunningham was also the backup lunar module pilot to the crew of Apollo 1. When the Apollo 1 spacecraft burned up on the pad, killing the entire crew, Cunningham, Schirra, and Eisele were assigned to fly the first manned Apollo mission. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Cunningham wrote "The All-American Boys: the human side of the space program," released in 1977.

Apollo 10 astronaut retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, 80, Florida

"I explained to a lot of congressmen that one time I had a chance to one-on-one with (President) Richard Nixon, and I told him this was the thing to do to go forward. At times we were very small in the astronaut group, (NASA director of Flight Crew Operations and astronaut) Deke Slayton, myself and (Apollo 13 command module pilot John) Jack Swigert. We did a lot of the landing and approach testing and simulating."

Of the last shuttle flight, Stafford said: "I think it's a little short sighted. Sure we needed to look at this as a result of the Columbia accident; they recommended you have the crew separate from the cargo, after the Columbia accident. But also, they're still doing a great job . . . we need to move on and continue. America has led human space flight starting with the Gemini program, while the Soviet Union led before that. It turns out we set the lead with Gemini, and now we're falling back."


READ THE REST OF THE STORY HERE

Houston Area 4th of July Celebrations ...

by Stacy Morrow / khou.com staff
khou.com

The Houston area is buzzing with activities for the celebration of our nation's independence. You can find events from fireworks displays to parades, in just about every city and community. Here's a list we've compiled of the things we have heard about so far. If you see we have missed anything, or if you want to add something, let us know in the comments below!

HOUSTON
Freedom Over Texas
Houston will set the stage for an extraordinary patriotic celebration at Mayor Annise Parker’s official Fourth of July event, Freedom Over Texas. The annual event is held at Eleanor Tinsley Park from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and culminates with a fireworks extravaganza set to a perfectly timed bed of patriot and current musical selections. Free with a can of food benefiting the Houston Food Bank or $8 per person (children under 2 free) Information from: http://www.freedomovertexas.org

ExxonMobil Star-Spangled Salute, Miller Outdoor Theatre
Enjoy an evening with Michael Krajewski and the Houston Symphony. Astronaut and vocalist Chris Hadfield will also sing Big Smoke, a song inspired by his first shuttle mission.

Make sure to stay until the end for the 1812 Overture—complete with booming cannons! This celebration concludes with a magnificent display of fireworks provided by the City of Houston through the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. Hours: 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. at 6000 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030, Phone: 281-FREE-FUN or 281-373-3386 Information from: http://milleroutdoortheatre.com/events/133/

Bayou Bend Family Days Independence Day Celebration
Start your Fourth of July at Bayou Bend, where America's Colonial era is celebrated in patriotic style. Ring in the holiday with an extravaganza of Americana—performers, crafts, activities, refreshments, and more—and don't forget to sign the Texas-sized Declaration of Independence before you leave! With its unique blend of the arts and American history, Bayou Bend is the perfect place to spend Independence Day. From 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. FREE! Information from:
http://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-family-days/

Kidpendence Celebration | Children's Museum of Houston
Friday, Jul 1 2011 6:00 AM to Monday, Jul 4 2011 10:00 PM CDT
We’re seeing stars and stripes at this special Independence Day celebration! Join us for a patriotic 21-soda geyser burst salute on the 4th of July and plenty of fun-filled activities that will cover you in red, white and blue! Claim Your Independence Discount: We know rising gas prices are making you see stars and stripes, so it is time to claim your independence from them! Receive up to $12 off/ 6 people on July 1 - 4. Special Activity - 21 - Soda Geyser Burst Salute: Celebrate America with a CMH tradition - 21 patriotic bursts of soda that will help you get excited for the rest of the day's activities. 1500 Binz, Houston TX 77004. Phone: (713) 522-1138 Informaton from: http://www.cmhouston.org/en/cev/2570

BELLAIRE
July 4th Parade and Festival
The parade begins at 9:30 am and the festival runs from 10 am to 1 pm. The parade route begins at the Bellaire Triangle and travels down Bellaire Blvd. and S. Rice Ave. A children's parade leads the big parade. Kids are encouraged to decorate trikes, bikes and wagons and meet by Community National Bank at Bellaire Blvd. & Fifth Street. No need to enter the children's parade ahead of time, just show up at 9 a.m. in the CNB parking lot. The festival begins in Bellaire Town Square immediately after the parade. Enjoy live entertainment, carnival games, food, a mini ferris wheel, petting zoo, moon jumps, dunk tank and much, much more! Admission into the festival is free, but games take tickets and the food is an additional cost. Join us for some home town fun! Information from: http://www.ci.bellaire.tx.us/index.aspx?nid=879.

CITY OF EL LAGO
July 4th Picnic
For this year’s July 4th Picnic, we are going to take it down home with a parade and then bar-b-que at the pool. Join us at 10:00 a.m. at McNair Park for the annual non-motorized parade around the park. Prizes will be awarded in the following three categories: Most Sparkling, Most Creative and Most Patriotic. After the parade, we will retire to the El Lago Swim and Racquet Club to visit with friends, listen to some music and enjoy a burger together. The City will provide the drinks, burger, bun and burger fixings; we are asking residents to bring a side dish and/or desert. You will also want to bring your lawn chair or blanket for relaxing around the pool and spray ground in the afternoon. Information from: http://www.ellago-tx.com/events.html#july4

CONROE
July 4th Walden and Bentwater Fireworks Show
Fireworks will be shot off at Dusk from the Marina near the Walden Yacht Club, 13101 Melville Dr, Montgomery. Parking at the Yacht club is reserved for dinner guests. There is limited parking on the streets. Suggested viewing is from the water. Information from: http://www.conroetoday.com/evps/evitem.cfm?evid=4548

FORT BEND
Freedom Rings Concert featuring the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra
Program includes Star Spangled Banner Finale with soloist, Armed Forces Salute, America the Beautiful – Dragon, God Bless the USA, Liberty Fanfare -Williams/Aguero, Joplin Rag, You're a Grand Old Flag, Variations on a Shaker Melody – Copland, Strike Up the Band, Sousa Marches, Gems of Stephen Foster and 1812 Overture. Event will be at the Stafford Centre from 7p.m. to 9 p.m. and a fireworks show will begin at 9 p.m. Location:10505 Cash Road, Stafford, TX 77477. Information from: http://www.fbso.org/
KATY
Annual Freedom Celebration at Katy Mills Mall
The 22nd Annual Katy Freedom Celebration fireworks display will be held at Katy Mills Mall on Monday, July 4. The fireworks are launched between the east side of the mall and Katy Fort Bend Road. The display begins at dark (approximately 9:00 p.m.) and can be viewed from several miles around the mall area. Information from: cityofkaty.com/katy-freedom-celebration-july-4/
KEMAH
Kemah’s Independence Day Parade
Kicking off the Independence Day Celebration activities is the Kemah 4th of July Parade, Monday, at 11:00 a.m. with the Children’s Parade starting at 10:30 a.m. The parade line up is behind the Kemah Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. with the parade route travelling along the Kemah Lighthouse District. The theme for the patriotic parade this year is “The Spirit of Volunteerism.” The parade is open to all and easy to enter with no registration fee. Monday evening is the July 4th Kemah Boardwalk Fireworks, “Star Spangled Skies” extravaganza. From the Kemah Boardwalk and surrounding areas all will be able to see the fantastic light show over Galveston Bay. The annual fireworks display scheduled to begin at 9:30 p.m. For more information on these activities or lodging needs contact the Kemah Visitor Center at 281-334-3181. Information from: http://www.kemah.net/July_4_2011_Kemah_press_release.pdf

LEAGUE CITY
July 4th Citizen Appreciation Day
Mayor, City Council, Parks Board and staff will be serving free refreshments in appreciation of the citizens of the City of League City at League Park from 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. There will be live music and other entertainment. FREE. Information from: http://www.leaguecity.com/calendar.aspx?EID=1348

NASSAU BAY
July 4th Parade and Fireworks Show
Decorate your bikes, floats, baby strollers, cars, or just yourself! Various prizes will be awarded. Join your friends and neighbors for a fun-filled evening. Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket for the fireworks show. Parade begins at 6:30 p.m. from Gloria Dei and ends at Lake Park Nassau. Activities at the park including bounce houses, food vendors, face painting, and live music. Fireworks Display begins at 9 p.m. Information from: http://www.nassaubay.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=48

PASADENA
Pasadena's Annual 4th Fest Event will take place Monday, July 4th, 2011
from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center.
There will be a 20-minute long fireworks show, live music by “The Slags,” a car show, kidzone, USMC Toys for Tots BBQ Cook-off, games, prizes, vendors, water balloon war zone, sports and other entertainment. Information from: http://www.ci.pasadena.tx.us/default.aspx?name=prk.event-4thfest

PEARLAND
Celebration of Freedom
This year's program will begin with an explosion of patriotic excitement! A full-size carnival will be on site at noon on Monday. Stadium and Field seating will be available at no charge beginning at 6 PM on Monday. A VFW military salute will begin the evening's entertainment, followed by the National Anthem. The stadium will be filled with the tunes of Texas country recording artist, Hamilton Loomis. At sundown, enjoy a spectacular 20-minute fireworks display from your seat inside the stadium.. For more information, call 281-412-8900. Information from: http://www.pearlandparks.com/celebration_of_freedom.html
SUGAR LAND
Celebration of Freedom
The City of Sugar Land’s 26th annual Red White and Bluefest will set the skies ablaze over Oyster Creek Park. Celebrate America’s 235th birthday with family, friends and fellow residents while enjoying new main stage performances, delicious county fair-type goodies and numerous children’s activities. A free shuttle service will be provided from Mercer Stadium, 16403 Lexington Blvd., to Oyster Creek Park, 4033 State Highway 6 South, from 4:30-11 p.m. Information from: www.sugarlandtx.gov
THE WOODLANDS
South County Fourth of July Parade “Celebrating the American Dream”
On Sunday, July 3, stroll through Market Street - The Woodlands for its Fourth of July parade, “Celebrating the American Dream” starting at 9 a.m. The festivities continue later that evening when the Houston Symphony performs its Star Spangled Salute, a free concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion starting at 8 pm. Information from: http://www.4thofjuly.org/

Houston Symphony presents Star-Spangled Salute
The Pavilion dons red, white and blue July 3 for the return of the Star-Spangled Salute. This free Independence Eve spectacular features the Houston Symphony in a selection of patriotic favorites under the direction of Michael Krajewski. Don’t miss commemorating the birth of our nation by joining the Symphony in this grandiose celebration. It’s an evening of good, old-fashioned family fun complete with cannons blasting from the top of the hill during Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture." Pre-concert activities begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Fidelity Investments Plaza.FREE event. Information from: http://www.woodlandscenter.org/tourarchive.html?n_id=346

Red, Hot & Blue Festival
The Woodlands will celebrate July 4 weekend with one of the largest firework displays in the greater Houston area, hot dog and watermelon eating contests, live entertainment, and more! Now in its 14th year, the annual Red, Hot & Blue Festival will be held Monday, July 4, 2011 from 6 - 10 pm at Town Green Park and Waterway Square, both located along The Woodlands Waterway. Admission to the event is free and tickets for food concessions and games may be purchased on-site. Information from: http://www.thewoodlandscvb.com/redhotblue/

Alvin woman jumps on hood of beer thieves ...

Wildfires ravage area

Firefighters from Cut and Shoot, Caney Creek, Splendora, Montgomery County and Bear Creek fire departments were still at work by deadline Monday trying to put out a nearly 200-acre wildfire about 10 miles northwest of Cleveland.
No structures were harmed.
Four bulldozers, including one from the Texas Forest Service, worked to set up a fire perimeter to keep the fire contained.
Helicopters made 38 drops of water to squelch the flames. The cause was undetermined Monday night.

Yates case though tragic - still helping shine light on PPD

Juliana Heyward felt good after the birth of her first child two years ago. She had decided to put medical school on hold to be a stay-at-home mom, and she was excited about what awaited her.

Heyward and her husband, Tom, adjusted happily to the late-night feedings and diaper changes for their son, Noah. But soon Heyward found that she had trouble sleeping, lacked an appetite and had nagging doubts about her parenting skills. Frightening thoughts slipped into her mind.

"We have a spiral staircase, and I would be nervous walking down because I would have images of dropping him over and over again," said Heyward, 27. "I realized something was not normal. I knew I loved my son and I was happy to have a baby."

She called her father, a physician, who recognized the classic symptoms of postpartum depression and urged his daughter to get to a hospital. She was quickly diagnosed and prescribed medication, and a month later she was symptom-free, she said.
Another mother, Andrea Yates, struggled with similar symptoms a decade ago. But her battle with the illness ended in a tragedy that shocked the nation and put a spotlight on postpartum depression.

Ten years ago today, Yates drowned her five children, ages 6 months to 7 years, one by one in the bathtub of the family's Clear Lake home. The 36-year-old mother suffered from postpartum psychosis, the most severe but rarest form of postpartum depression.

In 2001 most people, including many doctors, didn't know about the condition and many women who had it suffered in silence, experts said. The past decade, however, has brought education and greater awareness, lessening the stigma and making it easier for women to seek help.

Screening tools have been developed to identify and assist mothers in getting further evaluation and medical care. Research on the causes and treatment of postpartum depression has advanced.

Lawmakers in a dozen states, including Texas, have passed legislation mandating screening or the distribution of information to mothers.
Last year, the Mother's Act became law as part of the federal health care reform legislation, signaling the government's commitment to fight the debilitating condition. The Department of Health and Human Services is coordinating efforts in research, education and support service programs.

"The act mandates that as a nation we start paying attention to postpartum depression and psychiatric illness, and that's groundbreaking," said Dr. Lucy Puryear, a Houston psychiatrist and president of Postpartum Support International, an advocacy group. "A lot of things have changed in 10 years."

Yet more work needs to be done, experts said. Mental health providers are scarce and many women lack access to speciality care.

Postpartum depression is common, with 1 out of 8 mothers developing it after delivery. Women generally experience sadness, difficulty sleeping, guilt and crying. They may also be afraid they or something else might harm their child.
One out of 1,000 women experiences postpartum psychosis. Mothers may feel confused, hear voices, see things and have thoughts of harming themselves or their baby.
The upside is that treatment with therapy and medication is effective. Therapist Sherry Duson, who runs a postpartum depression support group at Texas Children's Hospital, said she's never seen a woman fail to get well with treatment.
"I see moms come back to life," Duson said.

Attorney George Parnham, who represented Yates during her two capital murder trials, said he had never heard of postpartum depression when he got involved in the case.
Parnham and his wife, Mary, have since become staunch advocates. The couple founded the Yates Children Memorial Fund in partnership with Mental Health America of Greater Houston in 2002. The fund's advisory committee has launched initiatives to educate mothers, families and physicians.
Yates, who declined to be interviewed, is aware of the fund and its activities, Parnham said. She has written notes of thanks to the advisory committee. She also designs cards and aprons, which are sold in the gift shop at the Kerrville State Hospital where she is being treated. She sends the proceeds to the fund every 45 days, he said.

Yates was moved to the facility after a Harris County jury found her not guilty due to insanity at her second trial in 2006.
The Parnhams said Yates is stable and doing well. They visit her often and she has become part of their family, they said.
"We'll always defend her by keeping the children's legacy alive," Parnham said.
Yates' ex-husband, Rusty, said he appreciates the efforts of the Parnhams and others involved with the fund.

"They are helping families cope with postpartum mental illnesses, which is a great tribute to my children," Yates said. "The 10-year anniversary is a painful reminder to me of my family's loss. At the same time, I'm encouraged to see that the public's overall awareness of mental illness has significantly increased since then."
The couple divorced in 2005, but Yates keeps in touch with his ex-wife. He said she's looking forward to one day regaining her freedom and rebuilding her life.
The fund's advisory committee lobbied for a Yates-inspired bill, passed by the Legislature in 2003, that requires physicians to give expectant mothers information and resources on postpartum depression.

The committee also launched a program to screen low-income mothers at sites where they seek nutrition benefits, using a two-question assessment to identify and refer those who show indications of the condition to mental health professionals who provide free services.

About 6 percent of more than 60,000 screenings since 2006 have shown positive results, according to city health department records.
The fund's outreach efforts have included the development last year of a pilot program focusing on outreach, screening and training strategies for pediatricians and their staffs.


Read more: HERE

Texas Local Web Site Blooms into a Flower for the Community

New exciting things are developing in the Summer of 2011 for ExploreHouston.com

Best Publications wants to welcome the public to this new web business directory and informational mecca for ExploreHouston.com that will continue to be filled with. . . Community Links and Events, Guide Pages for Restaurants, Weddings, Florist, Services, Auto Sales, Entertainment, Real Estate, Eye Care, Dental, Medical, Employment, Shopping! Read a variety of Articles | Forums Topics | Daily Deals | Coupons | Directory Hot Links | Interact Page to Join the Community Fun!

Register with ExploreHouston.com site so you can gain the benefits. User can post Social and Public Events.

Take the opportunity for High School and University Students to announce Sports and School Events, Professional Sports Links and Ticket Information | Post a photo or comment on other people’s Photos, Comment of Articles or Forum Topics | Post a Scan of your Child’s Artwork | Free Classified Postings & Add Your Own

The staff of ExploreHouston wants the community to benefit from the information we can share... as well as encourage you to participate. Send us a comment.

Post your event or Your Organization Benefit in ExploreHouston.com Event section. We want our information to accurate, so we depend on our community to help us stay in touch.

Are you a writer that wants to be published? Got an article? Send it in a word document to info@ExploreHouston.com

Engage! Enjoy! Grow with us!

~ ExploreHouston.com Staff

Endeavor launch picture perfect ...

A Great Launch, A Challenging Mission Ahead
Mon, 16 May 2011 10:35:13 AM CDT

Space shuttle Endeavour is officially on its way to the International Space Station on its STS-134 mission and final flight. Endeavour lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center on time at 8:56 a.m. EDT, soaring through a few clouds, after a relatively smooth countdown.

"I can't thank the teams that got this vehicle ready to fly and for all the work they've done," said Associate Administrator for Space Operations Bill Gerstenmaier referring to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) heater issues and said, "The teams worked really hard to get through that, get it behind and to understand what the problem was -- and it was no problem to us at all during the count."

"The teams stayed focused, and made this launch a success," Gerstenmaier added. "The mission in front of us is no easy mission, the EVAs (extra vehicular activities) are very demanding -- but it'll be exciting to see the AMS (Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) get installed on the station and get some real research data for the ISS."

"We showed our determination to succeed on a very complex mission," said Michel Tognini, head of the European Astronaut Center and former ESA astronaut, "and this is the model of human exploration for the future."

Mike Moses apologized (in jest) about the view not being the best and the longest because of the cloud cover." But the data that we were looking at in the launch center was absolutely perfect," said Moses. "We had the clouds where we needed them, so we went."

There were a few minor problems, but they were managed and worked immediately, including the minor tile repair, reported Moses.

After every launch an award is given to one of the teams, according to Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach, and today's honor was given to the combined APU repair/test team. "It was an outstanding countdown, lots of pats on the back in the lobby of the LCC (launch control center) afterwards when we were eating our beans and corn bread (a traditional post-launch snack)," said Leinbach. "Endeavour's on orbit safely and it's going to perform a great mission and we'll see her back here on June 1."

"It's a great day here at Kennedy Space Center and for the Shuttle Program," added Leinbach.

Autopsy on boy who died on soccer field pending ...

LEAGUE CITY, Texas - The results of an autopsy performed on a four year old boy who collapsed at soccer practice and later died are still pending, but sources close to the investigation say there may have been swelling around the child's heart.

The boy died Wednesday night after collapsing at the League City YMCA's soccer field. A relative who contacted FOX 26 News has identified the boy as Cade Carpenter.
"Practice started at 6:30 and about 10 minutes later, the little boy complained to his father that his stomach hurt," said Trazanna Moreno, spokesperson for the YMCA. "Almost immediately after that he collapsed."

The YMCA runs a soccer program for kids as young as 3-years-old. Parents submit basic information, but are not required to give medical information. A physical is also not required.

Clear Lake Greek Festival this weekend!

The 18th annual Clear Lake Greek Festival will be from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Clear Lake Park in the Landolt Pavilion, 5001 NASA Parkway, in Seabrook.

There will be food, live music, rides, moonwalks and traditional dancing.

All guests will receive a commemorative program book.

General admission is $4, and presale tickets for $12 include admission fee and a meal of your choosing.

Visit www.clearlakegreekfestival.com or call 409-939-9852.

Texan heads Bin Laden raiders

The commander of the U.S. military unit responsible for killing elusive al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden — Vice Adm. William H. McRaven — is a San Antonio native and graduate of the University of Texas in Austin.

McRaven, 55, earned a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1977, although a campus dean said a computer listing didn't indicate whether the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps member had an interest in the print side of news coverage, broadcast or public relations.
A fellow ROTC member recalled McRaven as eager for military service.

"He was extremely focused on preparing for special forces details," said Curtis Raetz, of McKinney, who majored in engineering at UT, served in the Marine Corps and now works in private business.
'He had drive.'

Raetz, who graduated a year before McRaven, said the ROTC program included required courses such as naval science.

James Gruetzner, who served in the same Navy ROTC batallion as McRaven, told Cox Newspapers, "He had drive. He went on extraordinarily long runs to stay in shape. He was very dedicated."
McRaven's Navy biography states he attended the Naval Postgraduate School and was its first graduate in Special Operations/Low Intensity Conflict. In 1995, he wrote a book called Spec Ops: Case Studies in Special Operations Warfare Theory and Practice.

McRaven became commander of the U.S. military's Joint Special Operations Command in 2008.
In that role, he reportedly led the planning and execution of bin Laden's death Sunday at the hand of Navy SEALs, an acronym that stands for Sea, Air and Land.

Endeavor set for last flight today ..

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:32:07 AM CDT

Space shuttle Endeavour's external tank is fully loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in preparation for today's 3:47 p.m. EDT launch. Tanking operations began at 6:22 a.m. and concluded at 9:24 a.m.

The countdown has entered a planned 2.5-hour hold at T-3 hours, during which the tank will remain in "stable replenish" mode, the Close Out Crew will prepare the White Room for astronaut arrival, and the Final Inspection Team will conduct its inspections.

Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for today's launch. The only concerns are low cloud ceilings and high crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at time of liftoff.

Follow along with Endeavour's countdown milestones on NASA's Launch Blog at http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/launch/launch_blog.html.

NASA funding possible shuttle successors:

BBC: Nasa has given an indication of the companies it thinks may be closest to offering commercial systems to carry American astronauts into space.

With its shuttles about to retire, the agency has offered $270m (£166m) of funds to four firms to help them mature designs for new orbiting vehicles.

Blue Origin, Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp and SpaceX hope to sell astronaut "taxi" services to Nasa by mid-decade.

Until then, US crews will have to go to the space station on Russian rockets.

"We are pleased to be completing a significant milestone today in the development of US commercial crew systems, and we are very excited about the future," said Philip McAlister, acting director of commercial spaceflight development at the US space agency.

"We hope someday soon we will see commercial human spaceflight to low-Earth orbit as a robust, vibrant, profit-making, commercial enterprise with many providers and a wide range of public and private users."

The winning companies have a range of concepts under development.

SpaceX, which has garnered much publicity recently, is perhaps the most advanced in its plans. The Hawthorne, California, company has already flown a rocket called Falcon 9 and a capsule called Dragon. It is being offered $75m over the next year if it meets certain targets in advancing Dragon's crew-carrying capabilities.


Boeing's Crew Space Transportation (CST) 100 craft
The long-established Boeing company stands to win the largest award depending on its achievement of goals set by Nasa. Boeing's Houston, Texas, team has a capsule design called CST-100 which could transport up to seven astronauts to the space station. The $92.3m support on offer will help the company get the vehicle through to a key, or preliminary, design review.

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) of Louisville, Colorado, has already received considerable financial support in Nasa's Commercial Crew Development (CCDev) effort. It is now in line to get a further £80m in the latest round of funding. SNC is developing a shuttle-like vehicle called the Dream Chaser that would launch atop a rocket.

The fourth recipient, Blue Origin, of Kent, Washington, is a company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos. Blue Origin has kept much of its space development activity secret, but it has requested funds from Nasa to help it mature systems for a cone-shaped crew vehicle. It has been awarded up to £22m.

Perhaps just as interesting as the companies that have won awards are the companies that have missed out.

These include ATK which makes the solid-fuel rocket boosters (SRBs) that lift the space shuttle off the ground. ATK wants to marry an evolution of these SRBs with the main core stage of Europe's Ariane 5 rocket. The concept, known as Liberty, would be used to launch other companies' capsules and spaceplanes.


SpaceX has already flown its Dragon capsule
ATK will now have to secure funds elsewhere if it wants to carry the Liberty idea forward.

Also missing out on CCDev money is United Launch Alliance (ULA). This is the company that operates Atlas and Delta rockets for the US Air Force and for Nasa.

These vehicles frequently orbit satellites, but ULA believes the rockets could be modified to launch humans also.

Sierra Nevada, Boeing and Blue Origin had all talked about using an Atlas 5 to loft their proposed crew ships.

Where Monday's announcement from Nasa leaves ULA's plans is uncertain. Again, it will need to use its own funds or find a partner if it wishes to continue with the project to man-rate the Atlas and Delta rockets. The CCDev process is not a down-selection, so it is conceivable ULA could get an award in a further round.

"Given enough time and money I am confident that multiple US companies could develop safe, reliable and cost effective commercial crew transportation systems," Mr McAlister said.

"And it is my sincere hope that the companies not selected for award today will continue maturing their systems and making progress on their designs so that they can potentially be available at some point in the future for purchase by Nasa and other customers."


Blue Origin is a space company set up by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos
Nasa awarded about $50m in its first round of commercial crew contracts. It plans to substantially increase this funding next year to $850m.

There is still much debate, particularly in the US Congress, about the readiness of the private sector to provide safe crew transportation systems. There are also doubts over whether the procurement strategy will deliver significant savings to the US taxpayer.

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Shuttle workers get pink slips ...

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — NASA’s prime space shuttle contractor, United Space Alliance, told employees April 15 that half of them will need to find other jobs this summer.

The official notification was long expected, as the shutdown of the 30-year-old shuttle program has been under way for several years.

“We’re starting the process,” USA spokeswoman Kari Fluegel says. “We’ll take self-nominations [for layoffs] first, then determine who else needs to go.”

The company, which has been whittling down its workforce over the past year, currently employs about 5,600 people under the shuttle processing contract in Florida, Texas and Alabama. Up to 2,800 will be laid off this summer, after completion of two final shuttle missions. The cutback will affect 1,850-1,950 employees in Florida, 750-800 in Texas and 30-40 in Alabama.

“We are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible for them,” USA President and Chief Executive Virginia Barnes said. “Though USA will be a significantly smaller company after the space shuttle program is completed, we are optimistic about our future.”