News

Austin, TX – A Texas House member is under criminal investigation over air travel he received from a beer distributor.

A lawyer for Democrat Kino Flores of Plano today confirmed the investigation, but says he doesn't think the legislator violated any laws.

Attorney Roy Minton says Flores is not going to resign, and the lawmaker has repaid about $1,500 for two or three trips.

Flores, who's an ally of embattled GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick, flew between Austin and the Rio Grande Valley on a plane owned by the LaMantia family.

Lawton, OK – It's the "Cameron Centennial Moment," an Oral History Project in conjunction with Cameron University and KCCU, dedicated to broadcasting perspectives from current and former students, alumni, faculty, staff, and others that were impacted by Cameron University.

The Cameron Centennial Moment will air every Friday until the conclusion of the Centennial Year at 7:30 in the morning and 4:30 in the afternoon.

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma Republican House Speaker Chris Benge is expected to remain in the post when House Republicans gather at the state Capitol today to select a leadership team for the next two years.

But changes could be made to the rest of the Republican leadership team following Tuesday's general election in which they added four more seats to their 57-vote majority in the 101-member House.

Benge, of Tulsa, was chairman of the powerful House Appropriations and Budget Committee when he was elected speaker in January.

Oklahoma City, OK – Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry says he loves his job as governor and is not angling for a position in the administration of Democratic president-elect Barack Obama.

Ever since he endorsed Obama for the Democratic nomination back in April, there has been speculation locally that Henry might wind up with a federal post.

That's despite the Oklahoma governor's repeated claims that he has no interest in running for federal office or moving to Washington, D.C., in any capacity.

Austin, TX – U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison isn't ready to say whether she will run for governor in 2010, but she said she doesn't think resigning from the Senate before her term ends at the end of 2012 would hurt Texas in Congress.

Talking with reporters after speaking yesterday at a luncheon hosted by the University of Texas, the Republican said she believes, quote, ``that if I did decide to step down in order to run for governor, that Texas would be actually well positioned because John Cornyn will have had a full term.''

Cornyn won his second six-year term Tuesday.