HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-04-03 Euless Articles DISTRIBUTED TO: PAGE / I '�►
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LEGISLATURE I ELECTIONS
Top Republican- p ashes for �--
P . P
,
delay in new voter ID rules •
dles-,:that would,disproportionately affect
Rep.Todd Smith,R-Euless, g stunned members of thepublic waiting :poor;tnmurity and elderly voters -s- ,,:
-• wants the new rules to begin more than'20 hours for a chance to testify on . Under the Senate bill,which passed x a
in 2014 instead of 2010. it. , ..a ::: -, strict p -line;votet is:month:the;acdept-
Smith promises adifferentapproach ;;able noitphoto ID•documentswo_uldinclude
{ By JAY ROOT Unlike the•Senate bill, which would re-:i voter registration.certificates, marriage.li-
`, me Associated Press quire..a.photo;ID.or;two alternatives before.'; censes,bank statements and mailfrom agov-
AUSTIN—Seeking compromise voters go to the polls in 20,10,Smith's goal is to; ernment entity,,,y, ! R:;�7r-
cwhere none had seemed posse delay its implementation for at least..two _ Ems , :r ,;
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ble, a top Re-
.•,4,
e elections.That means the new rules would Security and access ,., ; -. '
> , ? publican leader not be in place for statewide contests untih Smith said he agrees that ID requirements
�K �m r°r Q in the Texas: 2014. ? ;: ,r , , ' need.to:•be tigbtened,to protect.against_voter
Jfg f:; 1,, e House is push _ "My preferred period of transition.would'•,fraud. But the Euless lawyer also said valid
L. ing for a delay of be two full election cycles," Smith,told The""+concerns h.ayebeen expressed about lowered •
w s, .1 a 'up to four years:, Associated Press."It's my intent thatthete be:, voter:participanQn rider tl4e,Aew rsegurity
before new vot-
F,:. , , a period oftune where,pe&ple are hterallyed-�,procedures: He�vowed to sEekl m�zkey i'oi•:a
L Smithf. er identification' voter education cam airs and a statewide
ucated as they vote." P
requirements .1 t ,r. •} „` t S ' - 1 . regtstratiPh drive ,2 :44'1, ti v,q`:
`are enacted,givingthe state time , �,
.
Playing defense e� Theres aivays gouig..to'be tension he
oto,educate the public and eon Smith's approach was cautiously welcomed,- tween b... of access and ballot,secuxi y,
3 duct a massive voter registration Friday by state Rep.:Rafael Anchia,D-Dallas, Smith said "U•nforhinately,we have a;situa-
campaign . • ,the party's top spokesman on voter ID issuesn .tion where:one pohtcal party talks primarily
"It's- not something that'sin' the state House r t -::::,--'••••-'4,.:-'. ; ` i,� -fabout,bat securitan
ballot d the other;,political
going to take effect immediately,";; "We've never 1keard anyrhuig like that_, part.talks primarily,about ballo`taccess
':said state Rep.Todd Smith;R-Eu ' ;from the Republicans:in the:past,•soI think. 'you Can.'mcrease �ecuritl; at the same
— less,chairman of the House Elec.' Toddis trying to setthe righf tone-foz the dzs �itam
. e that' d you expanccess"� ;,si lit, '
tions Committee,Which is set to cussions,"•Anchia,said.:''.In the pasty it's al--rr,.A.nchia said he fears that any compromise
take-up the volatile issue April 6. ways been a cram,.down._There's been r i ni F•thatpassesthe,Housewouldbe amendedlat-
While tightening voter.ID laws, put.We've aiwaysbeen playing defense in the er,in a back-reomp artisan play,and,shaved.
-' ;may ,not„figure among Texans'' House,and we've always been run over"°4F nr dowrf his party throat . '" �;
top concerns, the issue has , The;voter ID debate is akinto redistricting}i,e4 "Tbe deyi1:is n the details oar this(he said.
sparked a partisan fre ire the' p ''''s°
�y where members of both arties run,to their ,�Sr�m r�otied thai<;operatives ut,both par- `
_ ,Legislature because'the:rules at ,respective corners and refuse to compto 's it s'a'ri alrea°dy'ussing the.debate,to:gm1up
'the-`ballot.box can help ;deter- ;mise::In this case;'Repubhcaiis;who control*funcarse•n0;,arid energize activists ;
mine who,gets elected. Fboth houses of the,Legislature and:all state-; �•.jHe alsZ iacknowledged'the obvious:Many
The propos alfor toughervoter wide`elective offices, sa ;new ID rules are artisans V3ill cibrri lain no matter what he
ID rules tied the Senate ui knots needed to protect against voter fraud.:Demo- doe's.
and sparked days of partisan, �crats•complain thatt GOP wants to sup-.1. • ' "I can't ehtrimatet cheap..allegations )by
bickering — at one'point`drag press.:,Democratic.tunout by erecting httr= aztisanpeoplg, heflsaid , ,
Lging,through the night and I,..
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EDITORIAL
VOTER ID' L _ c<
•1 • xiA7'+x'�`y'— :Jy2! L R s 1 t u 'L 4 J7"SY
L 'Lo®1 f..,.,:ii..:::•.,,,,,: :. ,..,.:. :. . . ., .,,or the �middle..: .,.- .: . ., , .. ou .n -
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'Rep.Todd Smith offers a way around a bit- -..,,It should be clear to Republicans that the ap
Lter, partisan fight,over voter identification.',. proach taken in the Senate damaged their par-
�.ty. Qualified elderly,poor and minorityVoters,
Say this'about state Rep.,Todd Smith of Euless 'who tend to vote for Democrats,,have a`harder';
I ;fie takes his job very seriously.He thinks issues time getting the required photo ID. ' -
;through to apain'stakirig degree..And when he's "'.The Senate approach has,everyyappearance:
done,.he makes decisions'based on his deeply .of Republicans having devised a-scheme'to hi--.
;;held convictions ,,.,y:�,.,,jack Would'
the 2010 legislative' elections.That `
That's why it's no real surprise to see Smith give them the upper,hand in the federal and,
come up with anewway to handle the.voter'ID . state redistricting decisions that theLegislatufe"
bill that has fractured the Texas Legislature for- is scheduled to'make in 2011. A
two consecutive sessions - \ There must be middle ground o rs ssue''
;} ThisEditorial Board has firmly opposed'the 'and Smith is showing the-wayHeproposes tliati,.
— bill hilts previous incarnations:Our reason: It voter-ID theill in the House be crafted so that
simply has not been shown to be-necessary.,.F, its'requirements dor r'
not go into effect until afte
L - N Nith`its requirement that voters present'a the,next two election cycles.Meanwhileu,vote]
government issued photo ID or specified sub ediication..and registration'campaigns would
stitutes along with their voter registration card ;"help allvoters.understand theirobligationsan
'at'the`polls ,;the bill's stated goal is to prevent get the required ID. 4s,,'" .1.,
L ',voter fraud. No one favors voter fraud, but to ;' Hard-liners might balk at that .Mill, j ey,1
`this dayproponents of voter ID have not shown must rernembethat the chances ofgettrng the
•'convincing evidence that such fraud is a prob =,overly .restrictive-;,Senate fbillrpasserd ii.in th
m or)'ias even occurred in Texas. House ate , best. -•.•.,:..„, ;,
L '7Voter ID is a flawed solution looking for a That's not to say that Smit ' proposat Inas ar
,problem ' * ; : lock on becoming'law even if the.House adopt" '
Worse still,'proponents seem to have deter it.A conference committee could:change,a less.
mined:that they will,use every power.`they can 'restrictive bill. B'u`t,even-if voter IID were'=to go!:;°
L grab to pass the bill.'Republicans, who hold a into effect after just one more election cycle,itL a
19 12 majority•ority.in the Senate,voted on the sec would avoid the appearance:of a Republicanhi •l
''ond dayof the current session to change Senate jacking aimed at control.of redistricting �r 7I
,rules so_they could`cram the,bill down Demo- , -As much as the partisans-fires have been ;!
L c-rats'throats.Then;they proceeded to do so. -stoked on this issue,compromise will be;diff)
As'chairman of the House Elections Corn- cult. The thought-ofcomproniise has-causedt-`
mittee, Smith faces a more delicate task.He is heated debate among_members'bf the Editorial '
L solidly on the Republican side of the aisle,but Bo__ard `;_ „° •
his party holds only a slim/6-74 majority in the Still,voter ID has"partisan showdown writ
,=House. Some of those Republicans have sided .ten.all over it.Debate on a cram-down version't
with Democrats in the past;and it is not likely-in the House,besides having an unpredictable
L that a"cram-down"approach would work. outcome,would be bitter and divisive''
"I'm trying very hard to find the middle - Smith's=proposal is worth thoughtful consid
,ground on a very contentious issue, Smith "eration in his committee. He has shown-again:`
says."I believe it is entirely possible to improve that his diligent and principled-approach to a
L security at the polls while enhancing access for very difficult issue makes him a valuable asset
;:qualified voters." in Austin. i
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DRUNKEN DRIVING, 0
��.
L
•CC I think they realize how many lives will:56
'saved." ,.; ..
Mary Kardell of Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Texas may soon join 40 other Safety
states'in allowing them in certain
I Municipal police in cities with pop
conditions. ulations of 500,000 or more.
(;Sheriff's departments in counties
By GORDON DICKSON with populations of 250,000 or more.
gclickson@star-telegram com If the bill becomes law,states could
—
Texas is one of just 10:states that don't begin'operating roadblocks Sept.1
allow sobriety checkpoints, but that or immediately if two-thirds,of law
maychange soon. makers approve it
Opponents are gearing up for a "Our city is plagued by problems
fight after the state Senate passed a that go with drinking and driving.It's
bill this week allowing checkpoints something that, if the Legislature
under certain conditions.The matter gives us authority to do it I look for
'know moves to the House;where Rep, ward to quick implementation,.." said
,;Todd Smith,R-Euless,is the author of Arlington Councilman Jimmy Ben
an identical bill. E nett.
"We're concerned the bill seems to i, Ten people were killed in crashes in:
— have some traction there in.Texas, Arlington during the first 10 weeks of-
said
fsaid Sarah Longwell,managing.direc the year,and half those accidents in=
for of the Washington-based.Ameii- volved alcohol or drugs,police said.
,can'Beverage Institute, which repre- ' Arlington Mayor Robert'Cluck said
sents restaurants. - he Yexpects'to testify during House
Longwell said she intends to travel hearings and hopes to lower,the
L to Austin to testify when the' bill, threshold so cities such as Arlington,:'
which was approved,in action Mon- wliicli nas a population—of :under
day and ;Tuesday by_th_e_Senate, is 500,.000,can conduct checkpoints.
heard in the House. _ .�� "We want to be careful in targeting
L , The institute argues that check- the right area,where we see'the most
points target casual drinkers rather DAVIS.I think our police would know
than the binge.drinkers who cause better where the problems are,"Cluck
L most fatal accidents. said.
Previous efforts to allow drunken- But The American Beverage Insti-
driving checkpoints'have failed, but tute argues_that stepped-up rolling
'supporters say the mood is decidedly DWI patrols are a far more effective
L different this year. -way to catch drunken drivers than
"I think they realize how many lives checkpoints, which tie_up.law abid
will be saved.We're talking about 300 ing citizens. .
lives a year in Texas," said Mary Kar- And, she said, new technologies;
li dell of Irving-based Mothers'Against such as an iPhone application known
.. Drunk Driving.Kardell is executive di- as Trapsteraliow users to warn others
rector of MADD's North Texas affili- about roadblock locations '}
ate. "You get the bad guys going around
The bill that passed the Senate, them and the good ,guys- getting'
SB298 by Sena John Carona,R-Dallas, ;_a caught up m them, she said.
would allow only certain agencies to "
operate checkpoints.Among them:
L ■The Texas Department of Public GORDON DICKSON,817-390-7796
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RELIGION
Euless
eStappeals
animal sacrificeba!
.A,Santeria priest says he sacrifices differ from a hunter
thinks that"Justice will be bringing home a deer and
s: it
erved in a federal appeals � - butchering
:court. „What's different is that this
' man wants to keep live ani-
5.1„.
)31,AMAN BATH EJA , - mals in his home,a large num-''..
''abatheja@star-telegram.com ,-
x ber of live animals;' Bullock.
1 Euless man's fight to con Ate-T:. 4. said.
;duct religious animal sacnfic elf Merced's lawyer,Eric Rass
es reached a federal appeals bach, said Merced sacrificed
court :in New Orleans on <, . animals at his Euless home for
`Wednesday. u . .16 years without incident and
:1;.Jose Merced, a Santeria --•• .� .,; is.willing to "quadruple bag"
driest,,has accused Euless of the remains and dispose of
:,trampling on his constitution- Jose Merced, a Santeria priest, them in a way that doesn't
+a1:right to religious exercise, says Euless is violating his consti- jeopardize public health.
*hilt U.S. District Judge John tutional rights. s TIP JEENA JACOB Rassbach, a staff member
McBryde sided with the city - of The Becket Fund for•Reli-
last year and dismissed the home to investigate a neigh- .gious Liberty, described San-
Puerto Rico native's claims. bor's tip.They told Merced he teria in court papers as an
Merced, 46, asked the 5th •could not proceed with the Afro-Cuban religion with a
U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sacrifice. complex ritual for ordaining
to•overturn McBryde's ruling. The city refused to issue a :priests,including the sacrifice
A three-judge panel that heard permit for Merced to conduct: of up to nine four-legged ani
arguments Wednesday did not future ceremonies,citing rules °mals, such as lambs or goats,
immediately rule on the case. against being cruel to annuals, up to 20 chickens or other fowl
After the hearing, Merced keeping livestock and dispos- and a turtle. McKamie:said
said he is optimistic that the ing of animal waste. Merced dumped=chicken re-.
judges will overturn the ruling.. In 2007, the city offered mains in a stream at least.
"It's sad that we're here for Merced a compromise to help once. - :.
another hearing, Merced settle the lawsuit He could He said Merced .isn't _
said. "I think, finally, justice sacrifice chickens, which the equipped to handle many ani-
will be served." city ordinance allows,but not mals on his property or
The city says animal sacri- goats as he wanted. The city pose of them in a sanitaryway
fices jeopardize public health would continue to enforce its :Bullock said the ordinances
and violate its slaughterhouse animal cruelty ordinance and outlawing animal sacrifices
and animal cruelty ordinanc- its ban on killing livestock were adopted before Merced
es. r Merced declined the deal. arrived 1990 and don't dis-
City spokeswoman Becky ' Ever since,Merced said,he . criminate against any individ-
Deck referred questions onthe hasn't been able to properly ual or group.
case to William McKamie,the practice his religion forfear of "Mr. Merced testified that
attorney for Euless. being arreste& he was able to practice virtu-
"It's repulsive,
irtu-"It's-repulsive,and it has no He refuses to leave Euless, ally every other aspect of his
business in an urban environ- he said. religion in his home,"Bullock
ment,"McKamie said after the "I dont think that's.up to a said.
hearing. city" Merced said. "This is a This report includes material from The
Merced and 10 church land of religious freedom." - -- Associated Press and the star-Telegram' -..
members were preparing for Judge Rhesa Barksdale.. archives. -
an animal sacrifice in May asked city attorney Bradford —
2006 when police went to his Bullock how Merced's animal AMAN BATH EJA,817-390-7695 ....
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DATE DISTRIBUTED 41/2/0 DATE OF ARTICLE ji/3 9/° NEWSPAPER A /-,
Heroin use is up, local police say C/ 5e/c-,
By SCOTT PRICE
� S'.$ rv:S NF1{
!ii
,,dd W
L COURTESY PHOTO
Mexican black tar is the most common type of heroin in North Texas, authorities say.
LAfter two fatal overdoses by local teens, police say they are seeing more heroin use in northeast Tarrant County but no clear
catalyst.
"There is a slight uptick in the number of cases involving heroin," Keller police Chief Mark Hafner said.
LThe drug "just seems to be more popular than it used to be," said Lt. John Williams, a spokesman for Euless police, which
reports several heroin-related deaths over the past year.
The trend, seemingly, is recent. Keller police, for example, charged four people with possessing heroin in each of the past
two years. But at least two local teens overdosed in January alone. And an autopsy suggests heroin could be to blame for a
Lthird death - that of a 16-year-old from Keller- weeks earlier, but authorities have not confirmed that the boy used the
drug.
One of the teens, Kathleen Arendt, 17, a junior at Southlake Carroll Senior High School, died Jan. 24 from an accidental
overdose resulting from "ingestion of morphine," according to the Tarrant County medical examiner's office.
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She had taken "cheese," Southlake police Officer Roderick Page said. "Cheese" is a powdery mixture of black tar heroin and
crushed tablets of the cold medication Tylenol PM.
LHours after Arendt's death, Freddy Joiner, 18, of Hurst, choked on his own vomit because of heroin intoxication, the medical
examiner ruled.
Police in both cities investigated whether those deaths were connected, but"found nothing to link these two incidents
together," Page said. "We have nothing to believe that they were anything other than two separate, tragic incidents."
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In Keller, Lee Mathews, 16, a sophomore at Keller High School, died at his home Jan. 9 from "acute morphine intoxication,"
according to the medical examiner.
Lit is unclear whether he used heroin or how he administered the deadly substance. Because of a metabolic process in the
human body, heroin often shows up as morphine in toxicology tests.
Though Keller police don't pursue criminal charges in accidental deaths, they are investigating how Mathews obtained the
Ldrug, Hafner said in February.
A lesson police have taken from these deaths is that "the drugs don't respect city lines, so we need to attack it in that
respect," Williams said.
LEuless and Keller are among the dozen cities that make up the northeast Tarrant County narcotics task force, a group
formed to share information and resources among local, state and federal law enforcement officers. However, the recent
trend reported by police hasn't made its way to federal agents.
L "There hasn't been an upsurge in [heroin use] that we have seen," said Terri K. Wyatt, an agent in the Dallas office of the
Drug Enforcement Agency. "That's not to say that one doesn't exist. It's just that we haven't seen it."
Linda Anderson, a spokeswoman for the medical examiner's office, said, "We haven't had a huge increase [in the number of
heroin overdoses],just a little increase. But that happens every year."
LAmong local police departments, Grapevine seems to be the one that has not seen heroin use increase.
Sgt. Kim Smith, a Grapevine police spokeswoman, said the department worked a drug overdose last year, but"it's been a
L
long time since I have seen anyone arrested for heroin, cocaine or anything like that."
Southlake officers have different experiences.
"It is happening more in the D-FW area than we had believed," Page said. "It's people of all ages."
LJay Board and Sandra Engelland contributed to this report.