TexasTowelie
TexasTowelie's JournalNo Algebra II? Great for students, terrible for Texas workforce
AUSTIN — Call it much ado about Algebra II.
The math class of exponents and imaginary numbers — and a potential predictor of a student's success in college and in life — has become a key point of contention in the Texas Legislature.
Lawmakers are grappling with overhauling high school graduation requirements statewide. And several bills backed by industry groups would tweak graduation rules to give students more options in career training and vocational skills.
But that could mean no longer requiring Algebra II for all students. Opponents say will ultimately produce future Texans who are less prepared for the workforce of the future — not more so.
More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/No-Algebra-II-Great-for-students-terrible-for-4359906.php .
Bankruptcy trustee challenges Horton's severance package at AMR
The U.S. trustee in AMR Corp.'s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case has objected to American Airlines CEO Tom Horton's $19.8 million severance payment, arguing that the company hasn't explained why such a large sum is permissible under federal bankruptcy rules.
Horton's compensation is addressed as part of the company's merger agreement with US Airways, which calls for Horton to become chairman of the combined company until its first shareholders meeting, expected in mid-2014. US Airways CEO Doug Parker will be chief executive of the combined carrier.
The U.S. trustee in such cases supervises the debtor's administration. That includes monitoring financial reporting and also compensation and reimbursements, according to a description by the administrative office of U.S. Courts.
However, it is the bankruptcy judge who decides on motions before the court.
Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/03/16/4706151/bankruptcy-trustee-challenges.html#storylink=cpy
Legislature OKs wage, pension, health bills
The New Mexico Legislature wrapped up work Friday night on three key issues, sending to the governor bills to raise the state’s minimum wage, establish a state-run health insurance exchange and shore up the solvency of a pension plan for educators.
The state’s minimum wage would increase to $8.50 an hour — the fourth-highest rate in the nation — under the measure approved largely along party lines as lawmakers rushed to beat a Saturday deadline for adjournment. The bill is opposed by Republican Gov. Susana Martinez.
The state minimum wage has been $7.50 an hour since 2009, and supporters said the proposed increase would help workers cope with rising prices.
“This is about the people,” said Rep. Carl Trujillo, a Santa Fe Democrat. “This is about an extra $40 in the pocket every single week.”
More at http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/article_3e967d15-e321-5770-b414-97b7cdae10ad.html .
Jindal tax plan would set state sales tax rate at 5.88 percent
Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to eliminate the state's income and corporate taxes would raise the state sales tax to 5.88 percent, eliminate about 200 exemptions and include a rebate for middle- and low-income residents as well as for some retirees. The governor and his officials explained some aspects of the proposal to legislators Thursday morning, though many of the details of how the plan will work have not yet been revealed.
The plan is not "etched in stone," Jindal said as he addressed a joint meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. The administration plans to work with legislators to adjust the plan during the legislative session that begins on April 8.
The planned increase in the sales tax would raise the current rate by about 47 percent and would come on top of local sales taxes. Residents in New Orleans, for example, would pay a combined rate of about 11 percent under the plan.
The proposal also calls for increasing the state's cigarette tax from 36 cents to $1.41 per pack.
More at http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/03/jindal_tax_plan_would_set_stat.html#incart_most-comments .
BP asks federal judge to halt approval of billions in payments for fictitious 'losses'
BP asked a federal judge on Friday to block the Deepwater Horizon claims administrator from awarding what it said could be billions of dollars in payments for "business economic losses" that it says are based on "fictitious" claims of economic damage.
"BP suffers imminent harm because the settlement program is about to pay hundreds of millions of dollars, and what could reach billions of dollars, in awards to claims asserting fictitious losses -- with more claims being made on a daily basis," said the motion filed Friday.
The claims were filed with the Deepwater Horizon Court Supervised Settlement Program, overseen by claims administrator Patrick Juneau of Lafayette, under a class action settlement between private claimants and BP that was approved by U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier Jr. in December.
The settlement was intended to compensate claimants for economic damages resulting from the blowout of BP's Macondo well in April 2010, which caused a fire and explosions aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, killing 11 workers, and resulted in the uncontrolled flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico for three months.
More at http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/bp_asks_federal_judge_to_halt.html#incart_more_business .
Jindal and Scalise address CPAC
WASHINGTON – Gov. Bobby Jindal and U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise criticized President Barack Obama on Friday and said federal spending must be reined in during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
Scalise, R-Jefferson and chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee, and Jindal spoke back-to-back Friday afternoon as part of the three-day CPAC rally and conference that featured more than 70 speakers — from U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin — at Maryland’s National Harbor just outside of Washington, D.C.
Jindal jokingly started out by joking whether he would rather sit through all three days of the speakers or be “water-boarded.” “Well, I may have to think about that,” Jindal said.
Jindal’s speech largely consisted of combining recycled jokes from last week’s Gridiron Club Dinner in Washington with parts of his past speeches about removing the focus on Washington and the federal government. He said Republicans must instead emphasize growing local communities whether in “Billings (Mont.) or Baton Rouge.”
More at http://theadvocate.com/news/5449145-123/jindal-and-scalise-address-cpac .
Feds: Small Baton Rouge store laundered millions in drug cash
Two Baton Rouge companies pleaded guilty to money laundering charges Friday in a case that involves a small convenience store, millions of dollars in drug dealers’ cash and drug dealing by store employees.
The details that led to the convictions are contained in a May 2012 affidavit by Special Agent Andre Guilott of the Internal Revenue Service, who alleged Thang Minh “Tommy” Tran, 43, used the convenience store he founded to launder drug money.
Guillot also reported that an undercover agent purchased 1,000 tablets of Ecstasy from two store employees in 2010 as part of a joint Drug Enforcement Administration and IRS investigation. He said confidential informants also alleged Tran operated an illegal bookmaking business from the store — Quality Express, 1526 N. Foster Drive.
Guillot noted the little store deposited $178.5 million into a Hancock Bank account between July 2006 and December 2011.
More at http://theadvocate.com/home/5450008-125/feds-small-br-store-laundered .
Dean Foods ending production at Shreveport plant: 170 jobs lost
Dean Foods employees today learned the company will end production at its Shreveport fluid dairy plant, Oak Farms, resulting in the loss of 170 jobs.
“Production will be phased out over the next two months, and we expect the plant will close in mid-May,” a company statement says. Dean Foods plans to keep about 25 positions for local distribution and sales.
“We will move the current production volume to other regional Dean Foods facilities, and Oak Farms products will continue to be available in Shreveport,” the statement says.
The closure of the Oak Farms plant — which primarily produces dairy items including milk, creamers and ice cream as well as various juice products — will bring the total number jobs lost in recent months in the Shreveport area to approximately 1,972. Other notable layoff announcements of late include PrintPack, 143, Libbey Glass, 200, Northwest Supports and Services Center, 286, and Christus Schumpert Health System, 84.
More at http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130315/NEWS01/130315033/Shreveport-plant-close-idling-170?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|FRONTPAGE&nclick_check=1 .
Investors in R. Allen Stanford's $7B swindle could soon get payout
HOUSTON (AP) — Investors in a $7 billion Ponzi scheme orchestrated by former Texas tycoon R. Allen Stanford could in the next few months finally begin getting back some of what they lost. The process has dragged on for more than four years.
However, the amounts returned to many who lost their life savings ultimately will be only a pittance of what they put in.
The recovery process got a boost this week as the Justice Department and other parties that had been battling for control of about $300 million in Stanford’s frozen foreign bank accounts and other assets agreed to work together.
The legal battle over the assets has frustrated investors, who have not received any money so far.
Source: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2013-03-15/investors-7b-swindle-could-soon-get-payout
Doctor sentenced for role in Medicare scheme
HOUSTON -
A federal judge has sentenced a physician to more than five years in prison for participating in a Medicare fraud scheme that pulled in more than $20 million from false claims.
Authorities say 63-year-old Ben Harris Echols of Houston also was ordered Friday to pay restitution of $2.9 million. He was convicted in December of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and six counts of false statements relating to health care matters.
Echols approved plans for medical care so that fraudulent claims could be billed by two home health care companies. He also signed treatment plans for Medicare beneficiaries not under his care.
Authorities say he conspired with the health care companies for payouts of $17.3 million, and with other beneficiaries for additional claims of $5.5 million.
Source: http://www.click2houston.com/news/Doctor-sentenced-for-role-in-Medicare-scheme/-/1735978/19339872/-/d3v8w1/-/index.html
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Gender: MaleHometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
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