AUSTIN --- Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in September, meaning 44,700 nonagricultural jobs were lost for the month. The state’s unemployment rate was 8.0 percent at the end of August.

Tom Pauken, chairman of the state Workforce Commission said, “While unemployment in Texas remains well below the national rate of 9.8 percent, this serious national recession continues to affect us adversely in Texas.”

The leisure and hospitality industry took the biggest hit in September, losing 16,900 jobs, followed by professional and business services, down 16,500 jobs. Trade, transportation and utilities lost 13,000 positions.

The unemployment news was somewhat tempered by widely broadcast reports that the economies of Austin-Round Rock, Brownsville-Harlingen, Dallas- Plano-Irving, El Paso, Lubbock, McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr and San Antonio areas are among the first in the nation to move from recession into recovery, indicating that their economies have grown over the past six months.

Interest over Willingham

It’s been more than five years since the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in 2004, but interest in the Corsicana man’s 1992 arson/murder conviction and 2004 execution has increased over the past few weeks.

An article published in The New Yorker magazine in August quoting arson experts raised questions about evidence prosecutors used to demonstrate that Willingham intentionally started a fire in his home that caused the deaths of his three daughters.

Willingham told officials he was innocent but some of his family members and associates say he confessed.

The story took on another dimension when Gov. Rick Perry appointed replacements to fill two seats on the state’s nine-member Forensic Science Commission shortly before the commission was to review the Willingham arson investigation.

Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, one of the two appointees, is the new chair of the commission. He told The Dallas Morning News he would take time as necessary to get acquainted with the commission and its procedures before proceeding with a review.

Storied jurist W.W. Justice dies

Senior U.S. District Judge William Wayne Justice, 89, died Oct. 13 in Austin.

The Athens native, widely regarded as a civil rights champion of minorities and the poor, was appointed to the federal bench by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968.

In presiding over many landmark cases, Justice rendered rulings bringing about the desegregation of public schools and housing, and improving prison conditions.

Agency promotes propane

The Railroad Commission is promoting propane as a desirable alternative fuel in its 2009 “Breathe Easy Tour.”

The tour, which visited some state agencies and central Texas school districts last week, features a variety of currently available vehicles, and carries the message that “propane is a cleaner, cheaper, Texas-produced fuel for school buses and other fleet vehicles.”

Railroad Commission staff described a new grant proposal that the Commission will submit this month. The proposal seeks to fund additional propane vehicles and upgrade more propane fueling stations.

Based on miles traveled, fuel economy and fuel-price numbers from a current propane school bus

POINTS TO REMEMBER National Bank fleet, school districts can save approximately

POINTS TO REMEMBER National Bank $3,000 per bus each RESOLVING year by using propane, the agency

said. Charge Card

Charge Card

CONSUMER Broadband applicants get help 0123 456 678 9100

DISPUTES There’s movement in efforts to 0123 456 678 9100 John Doe 1234

bring broadband technology — John Doe 1234 RESOLVING

CONSUMER

DISPUTES

the Internet and other digital developments If you have a dispute with a company:

— to more areas of

If you have a dispute with a company:

Texas.

Contact the company and speak management to resolve the issue. •

The state Department of Agriculture

Contact the company and speak management to resolve the issue. • and Public Utility Commission

If an acceptable agreement cannot

•

joined together in an Oct.

be reached, file a complaint with OAG, the BBB or the FTC. 15 announcement that the two If an acceptable agreement cannot

•

agencies are helping 63 applicants

be reached, file a complaint with OAG, the BBB or the FTC. in seeking $793 million in funds

Credit card customers who paid item but did not receive it can contact •

from BTOP, the federal Broadband

their credit card company to dispute charge. Technology Opportunities

Credit card customers who paid item but did not receive it can contact • Program.

Projects were screened for the

their credit card company to dispute charge.

Mediation or small claims court last resort. • ability to extend broadband service

to unserved and underserved

Mediation or small claims court last resort. • populations.

Consumer Information Catalog Troopers take to school buses Offers tips on buying products and services

The Texas Department of Public

www.pueblo.gsa.gov Safety assigned highway patrol

Consumer Information Catalog

(888) 8-PUEBLO

troopers to ride school buses during

Offers tips on buying products and services

National School Bus Safety

Consumer Action Handbook

www.pueblo.gsa.gov

Week, Oct. 19-23, and watch for

Provides contact information on where

(888) 8-PUEBLO

motorists illegally passing the to file a complaint or ask a question

buses. www.consumeraction.gov

Consumer Action Handbook

Motorists who are cited for (202) 501-1794

Provides contact information on where

driving past a stopped school bus

to file a complaint or ask a question whose red alternating flashing

www.consumeraction.gov lights are activated can expect to

(202) 501-1794 pay up to a $1,000 fine.

Voters may cast ballots now

Early voting in the Nov. 3 election began Oct. 19 and continues through Oct. 30.

Voters will decide the fate of 11 proposed constitutional amendments and many local governmental bodies will have candidates and/or bond issues on the ballot.