Showing posts with label Will Weissert. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Will Weissert. Show all posts

Sunday, July 5, 2015

"The Only State That Owns An Actual Stockpile Of Gold"

July 05, 2015 Associated Press , Gold Holdings 0 Comments
Texas Wants Its Gold Back Inside The State's Borders 

By Will Weissert, Jul. 4, 2015, Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Forget Fort Knox or the Federal Reserve. Texas has decided to start keeping its gold holdings within in its own borders. But what makes sense politically in such a sovereignty-loving place is creating a logistical conundrum.

Texas is the only state that owns an actual stockpile of gold, according to public sector and financial industry experts - not just gold futures or investment positions, but approximately 5,600 gold bars worth around $650 million. The holdings, stored at a New York bank, for some harken back to century-old fears about the security of currency not backed by shiny bullion.

The Legislature's decision this summer to bring its gold cache home was hailed by many conservatives, and even some on the far left, who are suspicious of national government.

More: www.ap.org

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Politics or abuse?

August 16, 2014 Bigstory.ap.org , Drunk Driving 0 Comments
Texas Gov. Rick Perry Indicted for Funding Veto Threat

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg
after being sentenced to 45 days in jail for DUI

By Paul J. Weber and Will Weissert, Aug. 15, 2014, Bigstory.ap.org

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A grand jury indicted Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Friday for allegedly abusing the powers of his office by carrying out a threat to veto funding for state prosecutors investigating public corruption — making the possible 2016 presidential hopeful his state's first indicted governor in nearly a century.

A special prosecutor spent months calling witnesses and presenting evidence that Perry broke the law when he promised publicly to nix $7.5 million over two years for the public integrity unit run by the office of Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg. Lehmberg, a Democrat, was convicted of drunken driving, but refused Perry's calls to resign.

Though the Republican governor now faces two felony indictments, politics dominates the case. Lehmberg is based in Austin, which is heavily Democratic, in contrast to most of the rest of fiercely conservative Texas. The grand jury was comprised of Austin-area residents.

The unit Lehmberg oversees investigates statewide allegations of corruption and political wrongdoing. It led the investigation against former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican who in 2010 was convicted of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering for taking part in a scheme to influence elections in his home state — convictions later vacated by an appeals court.

Mary Anne Wiley, Perry's general counsel, predicted Perry ultimately will be cleared of the charges against him — abuse of official capacity and coercion of a public servant.

"The veto in question was made in accordance with the veto authority afforded to every governor under the Texas Constitution," she said.

David L. Botsford, Perry's defense attorney, whose $450-per hour fees are being paid for by state funds, said he was outraged by the action.

"This clearly represents political abuse of the court system and there is no legal basis in this decision," Botsford said in a statement. "Today's action, which violates the separation of powers outlined in the Texas Constitution, is nothing more than an effort to weaken the constitutional authority granted to the office of Texas governor, and sets a dangerous precedent by allowing a grand jury to punish the exercise of a lawful and constitutional authority afforded to the Texas governor."

Several top aides to Perry appeared before grand jurors, including his deputy chief of staff, legislative director and general counsel. Perry himself did not testify, though.

Abuse of official capacity is a first-degree felony with potential punishments of five to 99 years in prison. Coercion of a public servant is a third-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 10 years.

Read the full story: www.bigstory.ap.org
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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Fort Hood Gunman Sought Mental Health Treatment --Time to reconsider gun free zones?

April 03, 2014 Army Secretary John McHugh , Associated Press 0 Comments
Source:  www.usacarry.com
By Will Weissert and Paul J. Weber, Apr. 3, 2014, Associated Press
FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- The soldier who killed three people at Fort Hood may have argued with another service member prior to the attack, and investigators believe his unstable mental health contributed to the rampage, authorities said Thursday.
The base's senior officer, Lt. Gen. Mark Milley, said there is a "strong possibility" that Spc. Ivan Lopez had a "verbal altercation" with another soldier or soldiers immediately before Wednesday's shooting, which unfolded on the same Army post that was the scene of an infamous 2009 mass shooting.
However, there's no indication that he targeted specific soldiers, Milley said.

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