Aiken News

A tornado scare in Cooke and Grayson counties, and a confirmed tornado touching down near Kent, Oklahoma in Choctaw County. via KXII-TV Sherman

“Each sentence built toward the next, and the style was conversational yet incredibly confident - his voice came across loud and clear!”

A senior at St. Mark's School of Texas was named the best among all writing award winners in The Dallas Morning News High School Journalism Day and Competition. via Denton Record-Chronicle

“It's business as usual, unfortunately”

A taxpayer watchdog group released its annual report on congressional pork-barrel spending Wednesday, listing 11,610 projects totaling $17.2 billion - including the San Antonio River Improvements Project. via MySanAntonio.com

“This salad could be a full meal in the springtime if you up the quantities of jicama and avocado”

It's time to take that spring in your step and put it on a plate. As our calendars informed us last week, spring is officially here. via Fort Worth Star-Telegram

PARTY diva Amanda Mills employed her talent for stirring up the night crawlers last week with a wicked birthday bash at Hotel ZaZa. via Houston Chronicle

“With all the smart, talented people on our staff, I expect we will continue to improve and evolve.”

Rich Oppel, editor of Cox Newspapers' Austin American-Statesman announced that he will retire effective June 1. Statesman publisher, Mike Laosa, selects Fred Zipp, currently managing editor of the Statesman, to ... via Austin American Statesman

The meaningful work of the Children's Defense Fund was eloquently spotlighted Thursday night at the annual Beat the Odds benefit dinner honoring H-E-B and its chairman and CEO, Charles Butt . via Houston Chronicle

“A majority of Americans want redemption for racism, for our terrible destructive racist past, and so see a vote for Obama as redemptive.”

Appearing in Austin before the Texas primary, Gloria Steinem's words on Hillary Clinton's behalf merely served to remind young voters why they prefer Barack Obama. via Dallas Morning News

Floresville band students advance Floresville High School Mighty Tiger Band students competed in all-region band tryouts Dec. via The Wilson County News

Harleton High School student of the month for February is Jordan Bullard. Jordan is the son of Jill and Ronnie Bullard. via Marshall News Messenger

“We're looking forward to getting into the barns and seeing the livestock. See what they've got in Texas.”

A group of students from Fort Pierce, Fla., raised $23,000 to take a trip, and there was only one place they wanted go: the Fort Worth Stock Show.

'Texas has always had this ambience with its steers,' said Kelsey Munyon, 18. 'We wanted to come see it ourselves.'

Of course, these aren't surfer kids getting their first close look at livestock. They're members of the Fort Pierce Beef Builders 4-H Club, and many have been showing cattle for years, said Sharon Murphy, the club's leader.

The group -- numbering 72, counting parents -- flew in late Wednesday and will stay through Sunday. Read more

The Waller County 4-H announces the 2008 4H BBQ Queen Candidates for the 58th Annual BBQ Fundraiser. via Waller County Texas News Citizen

“Maybe this is something where we won't really see the true picture until next month”

Almost 100 more Lufkin residents were unemployed in December than in November, according to Texas data released Friday. via The Lufkin Daily News

“There are lots of examples throughout Texas and the U.S. where a lack of planning has put a city in a less desirable position where it would like to be”

Jeanette Shelby used to spend summers in and around Elgin with her grandfather in the 70s. via News 8 Austin

“I have a vehicle for every single deposit a customer has given us”

Thirty months after ordering a custom-built Mustang from Unique Performance in Farmers Branch, Glenn Maselli no longer wonders when his $150,000 dream car will arrive. via KHOU-TV Houston