San Antonio Water Systems has released their summer conditions for 2008. During this morning's board meeting, officials said they had the driest Spring on record. Pumping is also higher than any time in the past five years and they expect temperatures to stay high. The good news, officials say they have enough water resources to meet demand. Officials say the aquifer level has not reached the point at which Stage 1 water restrictions will take effect.

The struggling economy is even taking a gulp out of Starbucks. That means a store near you may be closing its doors. The Starbucks Corporation announced that it's closing 600 underperforming stores around the country. The Seattle-based premium coffee company also announced Tuesday that it expects to open fewer than 200 new company-operated stores in the U.S. next year. The company says it will try to place workers from closed stores in remaining Starbucks.

BETHEL, Vt. (AP) -- The search for a missing girl in Vermont has taken another dramatic turn, with the arrest of the girl's stepfather in what police say is a possible child sex ring. Authorities say 40-year-old Ray Gagnon of San Antonio, Texas, is set to appear Wednesday in federal court in Burlington to answer a charge of obstruction of justice. Gagnon is accused of destroying evidence in connection with the probe into the disappearance of 12-year-old Brooke Bennett. On Monday, Brooke's uncle, 42-year-old Michael Jacques, (Jakes) of Bethel, was arraigned on an aggravated sexual assault charge. A sworn affidavit filed by police quoted her as saying she had been recruited into a child sex ring.

LAREDO, Texas (AP) -- A driver from Laredo has been convicted of hauling illegal immigrants after 15 people were found hiding in a trailer loaded with scrap auto parts. A federal jury in Laredo on Tuesday convicted 36-year-old Juan Antonio Delgado of knowingly transporting undocumented immigrants by motor vehicle. Border Patrol agents on March 9 stopped Delgado at an Interstate 35 checkpoint. Prosecutors say agents discovered 15 Mexican nationals under a tarp inside the trailer. Delgado, convicted on two charges, faces a maximum 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the counts. Sentencing is pending.

HOUSTON (AP) -- A grand jury today declined to indict a Pasadena man who shot and killed two men he believed were burglarizing his neighbor's house. Joe Horn shot the men in the back last November after he saw them crawling out the windows of that other house and carrying bags with his neighbor's possessions. The 62-year-old Horn confronted the pair after calling 911 -- and a dispatcher pleaded with him not to go outside. The two suspects were unemployed illegal immigrants from Colombia -- Hernando Riascos Torres and Diego Ortiz. Defense attorney Tom Lambright reiterated that Horn shot the pair out of fear for his life when they came into his yard and threatened him. Horn didn't speak with reporters. A large red sign with the words "No Trespass" on it blocked the path to Horn's front door. A handwritten sign on the door said "Please no media" "No Trespassing" and "Do not knock or ring bell."

The punishment phase continues today in the trial of a man convicted of killing a security guard at a bus station.
Ali Almeaarek confessed to shooting and killing that man back in 2005.
Prosecutors believe Almeaarek was on the run after killing his ex-girlfriend when security guard Dwight Peek confiscated his gun.
Almeaarek is shown on surveillance video lunging at the guard, grabbing the gun and shooting him.
The jury can give Almeearek up to life in prison.

A ruptured gas line sends a team of firefighters to the San Antonio International Airport. It happened just after 10 p.m. this morning. Airport officials say a backhoe ruptured a 4 inch gas line in a construction area located between the two terminals. Firefighters called a CPS Energy crew, who quickly shut off the line. No flights were affected by the incident and no injuries were reported.

A young San Antonio man barely in his 20's will be doing twelve years behind bars. A jury handed down that punishment to Steven Moreno who killed a teen in October of 2006. Police say Moreno got into a fight at a party on West Sayers. He fired a gun randomly into a crowd, killing 16-year-old Benito Solis, a Harlandale High School sophomore. Moreno will have to serve half of his twelve year sentence before he's eligible for parole.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- San Antonio likes the idea of tapping into solar power. Mayor Phil Hardberger is hoping to make the Alamo City tops in the state in solar production. He tells the San Antonio Express-News that he thinks it is time to start building a solar plant. CPS Energy wants to set a goal of producing 100 megawatts of solar energy by 2020. The company plans to begin looking for suitors for a large solar plant in the next few months. CPS Energy began a solar rebate program a year ago to promote rooftop arrays, but so far only nine homes and businesses have put in solar panels. Austin has solar power on nearly 600 rooftops. It's rebate program began in 2004.

HOUSTON (AP) -- A Fayette County Jail escapee suspected in two bank robberies in College Station has been caught in Houston. The FBI confirms 44-year-old Patrick Scott Bigelow of Katy was captured Monday just hours after the holdups. Authorities say Bigelow was held on robbery charges in La Grange, about 100 miles northwest of Houston, when he overpowered a female jailer Sunday morning and fled. Police say an SUV vehicle allegedly stolen by Bigelow was located Monday on the Bryan campus of Blinn College.

Looks like at least one fireworks company is fighting back when it comes to the current fireworks ban.
According to the Seguin Gazette, Mr. W fireworks has filed a temporary restraining order to stop Guadalupe County from using a drought disaster declaration to enforce a fireworks ban this fourth of July.
Attorneys for the fireworks company say that county officials missed the deadline to file restrictions -- that was June 15th.
But the county's fire danger declaration wasn't issued until June 20th.
Fireworks companies say they are poised to lose tens of thousands of dollars in revenue because of a state-wide fire danger.
The hearing is set to take place this morning at 8:30.

Things will be busy today at the Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector's office.
Today marks the last chance for taxpayers to make arrangements for past-due payments.
It's also the deadline for people to pay the second half of their 2007 payments.
The Tax Assessor-Collector offices open this morning at 7:30 and will close at 5:30.
Payments can also be made by phone with a credit card by e-check through the tax office web site, which can be found on the links page of kabb.com

After more than 60 years in business, Karam's has closed its doors. The westside mexican food restaurant has hosted celebrities, politicians and locals since 1946. Sandra Karam says she's ready to retire and the family children want to pursue other goals.

The outlawing of fireworks has sparked a legal battle in Seguin. Mr. W Fireworks has asked for a temporary restraining order to stop Guadalupe County from using a drought disaster declaration to enforce a fireworks ban this Fourth of July holiday. The request alleges that county officials violated a local law that calls for any ban to go into effect by June 15th and only outlaws rockets and missiles. An attorney for Mr. W says Guadalupe County's ban, ordered June 20th, doesn't give the company enough time to adjust inventory and comply with the law.
A hearing in the case is set for Monday morning.

A trailer park community without power for several days received the unexpected gift of a food donation on Saturday.
The donation was by the San Antonio Food Bank to the Twin Lakes Trailer Park after they lost power following an auto accident on Monday.
A vehicle backed into a pole which knocked down a power line and resulted in the power having to be turned off.
Although the power has been restored several residents lost much of their food.
Residents say they are glad to have power restored and the helping hand by the food bank.

San Antonio city officials expressed their surprise about AT&T moving it's headquarters to Dallas, but Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert says he knew about the plans about a year ago. Leppert says his city was chosen because AT&T wants to be closer to suppliers like Nortel and Nokia. Seven hundred jobs will move from San Antonio to Dallas. Those jobs are made up of all top management and corporate support.

How much do you think it costs for an HIV/AIDS test? The answer is $12. So, you can imagine how far a check for $15,000 will go. Saint Luke's Lutheran Health Ministries donated the money to the San Antonio Aids Foundation. They provide as many free HIV tests as they can - especially - on National HIV/AIDS Testing Day, which is today. Representatives say early detection is the key. Unfortunately, 25-percent of AIDS cases here in Bexar County are diagnosed in local emergency rooms.

Two young San Antonio women remain hospitalized at University Hospital following a jet ski accident. They were airlifted here from Canyon Lake. Parks and Wildlife officials say two jet skis collided late yesterday afternoon, injuring 19-year-old Katherine Crane and 22-year-old Bridgette Oulette. Both women are from San Antonio. The jet ski crash is being ruled accidental and no charges will be filed.

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) -- Officials say one person suffered minor burns as fire destroyed a 28-passenger airplane in a hangar at San Marcos Municipal Airport. The cause of Friday's fire is sought. Investigators are looking into reports that a fuel tank was being worked on when the blaze broke out in a private hangar. San Marcos Fire Department Chief Mike Baker says a 911 call about an explosion led firefighters to the hangar where the turboprop airplane was burning. Authorities are trying to determine the owner of the aircraft. San Marcos is about 30 miles south of Austin.

AT&T is moving its corporate headquarters from San Antonio to Dallas for easier access to customers and worldwide operations.
AT&T today announced the move would begin in the coming weeks and is expected to be complete around year's end.
The move will put AT&T closer to many of its technology suppliers and help cement the Dallas area as a telecom hub.
AT&T expects the move to involve about 700 of its nearly 6,000 San Antonio-based employees.
The company will keep its mobile phone headquarters in Atlanta, its business-services group and AT&T Labs in New Jersey and its phone-directory operations in St. Louis.
Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson says being headquartered in Dallas will benefit the company's long-term growth prospects and human resources.
The Dallas area has two airports and is home to American Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Traffic investigators say 30 year Daniel Espinosa was driving a mini-van the wrong way on Highway 90 near General McMullen around 2:30 this morning when he collided with a yellow Mustang. Both drivers died at the scene. The passenger in the Mustang survived the crash, but was listed in critical condition at Wildford Hall Medical Center after being transported this morning. The impact from the crash was so extensive the Mustang was barely recognizable.
Parts from both cars littered the highway and required police to shut down several lanes. Police are investigating the cause, they say it's no clear how or why Espinosa was driving on the wrong side of the highway. An autopsy and toxicology have been ordered by police. Investigators could not say if alcohol or sleep deprivation were factors in the fatal wreck.

Also overnight, police say a woman shot her son in the chest during an argument on the city's northeast side.
Investigators say the mother kicked her son out of their home on Cresham around 2 this morning.
They say the mother grabbed a gun and shot her 30-year-old son in the chest after he got agitated.
The son ran out of the house and down the block, calling for help from a house a few doors down.
Emergency crews arrived and transferred the son to BAMC in critical condition.
Police are still trying to determine if the mother will face charges.

Jet skis collide on Canyon Lake, leaving two people injured. The crash happened shortly before 4:45 p.m. this afternoon, near Potter's Creek. A Comal County Sheriff's spokesman says one jet ski rear-ended the second with enough force to end up - one on top of the other. Airlife brought two victims to University Hospital. Authorities say one victim is a 22-year-old female and the other is believed to be a male driver of one of the jet skis. There's no word yet on why the two watercraft collided.

A former Seguin I.S.D. employee pleads guilty in federal court to child porn. As part of a plea deal, 50-year-old Mark White plead guilty to trafficking in child pornography. Investigators found over 500 video and 23,000 images on White's personal computer in January. White worked in the Seguin I.S.D. Maintanance Department. He faces between 5 and 20 years in prison. Sentencing is set for September 26th.

DALLAS (AP) -- Southwest Airlines today outlined plans to shed 31 flights but add 40 others -- including a big push into Denver. Dallas-based Southwest is also beefing up service in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The addition of nine flights overall comes as many of Southwest's competitors scale back flight offerings due to record fuel prices. A number of markets will gain new nonstop Southwest service. For example, the carrier will now offer three daily roundtrip flights between Denver and Orange County, California, and two daily between Denver and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Denver is the home of Frontier Airlines and a major hub for United Airlines -- both of which have announced capacity cutbacks in recent weeks. Frontier filed for bankruptcy protection in April. United recently announced plans to shutter its low-cost arm Ted, which was based in Denver.

BAYTOWN, Texas (AP) -- Baytown police today charged a 14-year-old girl with killing her baby in a school bathroom after secretly giving birth. The girl is charged as a juvenile with capital murder. She can't be executed because of her age. Captain Roger Clifford says prosecutors will decide whether to certify the teen as an adult. The baby was born April 2nd in a bathroom at Cedar Bayou Junior High. Police say the young mother stuffed toilet paper in the infant's throat and submerged him in a toilet. Lieutenant Eric Freed says the autopsy confirms the baby was alive and cried before the mother tried to flush him. Defense attorney Gerald Yoakum says the girl didn't realize she was giving birth to the five pound, six ounce boy. She was 35-36 weeks pregnant. The Goose Creek District is also investigating what school rules might have broken.

A west side shooting has turned deadly. This all started with a shooting early Wednesday morning. Around 5:30 in this morning a man in his thirties was shot in the groin while at his home on the corner of San Bernando and San Fernando. He says five men attacked him. Then later the same day detectives say rival gang members went back to the same location and shot a 59 year man. Police believe the second victim is the first victim's father. They do not believe he was the target. But the 59 year old man died from his injuries early Thursday. Police believe two rival gangs are feuding.
They are looking for two hispanic males who were driving a late model 2 -door gray Plymouth. If you have any information you are urged to call police.

A woman finds a man unconscious and bleeding underneath a bridge in west San Antonio.
The woman tried to revive the man when she found him Wednesday night in the 200 block of San Felipe, but he was unresponsive.
By the time paramedics arrived on the scene, they were unable to revive the man and he died on the scene.
Police say the man had obvious signs of trauma to his nose and forehead.
The medical examiner identified him as 48-year-old Juan Barrientes.
An autopsy will be performed on him today.

A San Antonio Marine killed last week in Afghanistan is now home. Sergeant Matthew Elias Mendoza is the latest casualty of Operation Enduring Freedom. The 24-year-old Marine died June 20th while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. Visitation for Sergeant Mendoza is Friday at Porter Loring on McCullough. A rosary will take place Friday night at 7 p.m. at our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church on Grime Street. Funeral services are Saturday morning at 9 a.m. with burial following at San Jose Burial Park.

A young San Antonio man accused in a deadly boating accident is out on bond. Comal County authorities say 23-year-old Oscar Villasenor posted a $60,000 bond on charges of intoxication manslaughter. Authorities say Villasenor was driving a boat drunk on Canyon Lake last week when he ran over his roommate, 21-year-old Rene Jimenez. Jimenez was reportedly tubing behind the boat near Crane's Mill Park when he fell off of the tube. It was when Villasenor went back to get him, that he allegedly ran over him.

WICHITA FALLS, Texas (AP) -- An Air Force colonel in North Texas has been acquitted today of rape -- but convicted of indecent assault. Colonel Samuel Lofton III faces from no punishment to five years on each of the two indecent assault counts and one year on each of two counts of conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. The rape and two indecent assault charges on which Lofton was acquitted -- involved one woman. The military jury at Sheppard Air Force Base deliberated about five hours. Sentencing begins tomorrow. Lofton also faces from no punishment to more than 100 years in prison and dismissal from the Air Force -- which would end his 27-year military career -- on other charges. He pleaded guilty last week to 17 counts of larceny, being absent without leave nearly a dozen times and two counts of dereliction of duty. Lofton was removed from his post about one year ago. He did not testify this week.

A teenager from the Kyle area could face charges after San Marcos Police say he ran a red light on Highway 123 and collided with another car. The accident Tuesday evening killed the other driver, a 45-year-old San Marcos man. It happened at the intersection of Highway 123 and County Road 266, also known as the Old Bastrop Highway. Police say charges could be filed against 17-year-old Mathew Espinoza of Kyle, who was driving an SUV.

SUPREME COURT (AP) -- The Supreme Court has stuck down a law allowing the execution of people convicted of a raping a child.
In a 5-4 vote, the court said the Louisiana law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in such cases violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
The case involved convicted for the rape of his 8-year-old stepdaughter.
Justice Anthony Kennedy and his four liberal colleagues wrote that the death penalty is not a "proportional punishment" for the rape of a child. The four more conservative justices dissented.
There has not been an execution in the United States for a crime that did not also involve the death of the victim in 44 years.
The Supreme Court banned executions for rape in 1977 in a case in which the victim was an adult woman.
Forty-five states ban the death penalty for any kind of rape, and the other five states allow it for child rapists. But only two people -- both in Louisiana -- have been condemned to death for a rape that was not accompanied by a killing.

AP-TX--Dallas Lawsuit,0135
Feds file suit against city of Dallas alleging racial discrimination
DALLAS (AP) -- A Justice Department lawsuit against the city of Dallas alleges it fired one of its own because he was black.
The lawsuit was filed yesterday in federal court in Dallas.
The Dallas Morning News reported for today's editions the lawsuit alleges Frenchell Willis was the victim of discrimination.
Willis -- who had been a general laborer in the Water Utilities Department since October 2006 -- says he was also retaliated against for reporting discrimination.
The suit alleges that on the same day Willis told senior managers that his immediate supervisors were calling him racial slurs, he was fired.
City Attorney Tom Perkins said Dallas will "vigorously defend the lawsuit."
He said the city had non-discriminatory and non-retaliatory reasons for the employment decisions and employment action taken by the city in this case.

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is urging Hill Country residents to try to cut back their water use -- thanks to drought conditions.
The TCEQ says the cities of Kerrville and Blanco have reached limits on how much water they can divert from the rivers that run near them.
Officials want people in those areas to avoid watering lawns more than twice a week -- and use drip irrigation if possible.
Also, they're asking car owners to cut back on washing their vehicles.
The TCEQ says water restrictions have already been put in place by 58 public water systems so far this year.

To report the illegal use of fireworks within the City of San Antonio Call:
207-0202

Hours of OPERATION
July 2, 2008 - 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm
July 3, 2008 - 7:00 pm to Midnight
July 4, 2008 - Noon to Midnight

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Governor Rick Perry today stepped up his efforts to pressure the federal government to cut ethanol production requirements in half. The Republican governor, who was in Washington, told the National Press Club that requiring increases in ethanol production and uses of it as motor fuel -- is no longer a good idea. Perry has called for reversal of the Renewable Fuel Standard that Congress approved last year. There are fears that the corn crop, which had risen because of higher demand from developing countries and U.S. ethanol producers, could be smaller because of recent floods. The Environmental Protection Agency will review thousands of written comments sent in response to Perry's request for the reduction in mandated ethanol production. The law gives the EPA administrator authority to waive the production requirements after consulting with the Energy and Agriculture secretaries.

A Seguin teenager charged with murder could end up facing some very, serious consequences. There's a hearing set for next Monday that'll determine whether the teen should be tried as an adult. The 16-year-old has been in juvenile custody in Bexar County since April. He's accused of stabbing to death Robert Perales, Jr., at Fiesta's carnival in what police describe as a gang related fight. The teen is claiming self defense.

The San Antonio Fire Department is counting on citizens to report illegal fireworks over the next few days leading up to the 4th of July. They'll have the hotline up and running starting July 2nd. It's set up for people who live in the San Antonio city limits. Anyone found using them will be given a citation with fines up to $2000. The number to call is 210-207-0202.

The smoking ban for the city of Kerrville goes into effect today. The Kerrville Daily Times reports that now that the ban is in place, smoking is prohibited in city parks, bars, clubs, on the streets during crowded events and within 20 feet of a building entrance. Restaurants can still allow smoking areas, but only if the smoking section is totally enclosed and has its own heating and air conditioning. Violation of the ban is punishable by a fine of between $100 and $500. The ban will be enforced on a complaint-by-complaint basis.

HOUSTON (AP) -- A Harris County grand jury has indicted 11 people for allegedly billing Medicaid for more than six million dollars for goods never delivered to patients. The state attorney general's office says the indictment stems from an investigation of medical billing service Frazier Medical Marketing of Humble (UM'-bel) and owners Dyain Eligha Frazier and Tajuana Krischell Frazier.

Crews began drilling at the Olmos Dam today. It's all part of the Olmos Dam Rehabilitation Project. The drilling will help provide a structural analysis of the facility that's been in operation since 1927. The work is part of a bigger project to modernize the dam. Drilling should be complete in late July. The project is part of Bexar County's 10-year $500 million flood control program.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The FBI today arrested a male nurse accused of engaging in sexual contact with a female patient at an Air Force hospital in San Antonio. Craig Allen Beard was indicted last week on two counts of abusive sexual contact and one count of improper photography or visual recording. The case involves alleged sexual contact on March 26th with a female patient at Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base. The indictment says Beard took the actions while knowing that the patient could not say no. Wilford Hall says Beard had worked at the facility since 2002 as a licensed vocational nurse and registered nurse. Wilford Hall says he was a civilian contractor -- and has been suspended. There was no attorney listed for Beard in electronic court filings. Someone who answered the phone at a listing for a Craig Beard said he could not talk.

AUSTIN (AP) -- A judge in Austin today ordered ex-Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson to install an ignition lock breathalyzer in his vehicle. The former Texas standout is facing charges of driving while intoxicated. Benson is charged in separate incidents of boating and driving while intoxicated. Travis County Court-at-Law Judge Elisabeth Earle ordered him to install the device within 72 hours as a condition of his bail. The device prevents the car from starting if it detects alcohol. Benson's attorney didn't immediately return a call for comment. Benson on May 3rd was charged with boating while intoxicated on Lake Travis and resisting arrest. A few weeks later, he was charged with driving while intoxicated when he was pulled over in downtown Austin. The Bears cut Benson after the second arrest.

HOUSTON (AP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to review the capital murder conviction of Texas death row inmate Luis Cervantes Salazar. The San Antonio man was condemned for the 1997 fatal stabbing of a woman after crawling through a window into her home. The decision moves Salazar closer to execution for the slaying of Martha Denise Sanchez at her San Antonio home. Salazar does not yet have a death date. The woman's ten-year-old son was wounded in the attack, but survived to identify Salazar in court as the killer. Sanchez was stabbed six times, including once in the throat, in what prosecutors said was an intended sexual attack. Two other children were asleep with her in bed at the time -- but were not hurt. The victim's husband was at work.

Comal County may follow Bexar County's lead by banning fireworks for the Fourth of July.
County commissioners pushed a plan to declare a state of emergency at their meeting last week. Like Bexar County's, the declaration would allow them to completely ban the sale and use of all fireworks.
County Judge Danny Scheel had set a deadline for rain for today, but there's no word if the weekend's light precipitation will change any minds.

A man stumbles into a downtown hospital with his abdomen slashed open.
Shortly after 11 Sunday night, a homeless man in his 50's walked into Downtown Baptist Hospital with a stab wound from his side all the way across his midriff.
The man told police that he had been stabbed at the park across the street, but a witness told police that the man was stabbed at a church near the park.
The man was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center with serious injuries.

Several people are looking for a new place to stay after fire spreads through a northeast side trailer park. It started Sunday afternoon in a community off Corinne and Eisenhauer. At times the flames were pretty intense. Crews tackled the fire in one trailer home only to see the flames spread. Two more mobile homes were exposed to the fire, quickly sending them up in smoke. At least two firefighters had to be treated for heat related issues caused by the fire and the sun. In all, 3 trailer homes were destroyed. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

People living in Northeast Bexar County woke up Sunday to find some less than flattering works of art. Someone with black spray paint tagged signs, mailboxes, even homes and vehicles throughout the Estate of Firestone Parkway neighborhood. It was a similar situation in the neighboring Mission Hills subdivision. It's unclear who's responsible. If you have any information about the vandalism, call the sheriff's office at 335-6070.

A TXDOT project on the south side of San Antonio left several drivers frustrated Saturday. Officials say the project is for the installation of new signs on the highway and too open entrance and exit ramps. The construction is causing major delays in many places. The project is expected to be complete some time Monday morning.

Scary moments for a pilot and his passenger after they're forced to carry out a crash landing in South Bexar County. It happened Saturday afternoon in the 17000 block of Benton City Road. Officials say the pilot of the single engine plane had to make an emergency landing in an open field. It's unclear why. The couple, a husband and wife, were not injured. Federal Investigators are looking into the situation.

Crime Stoppers is asking for the publics help in finding the person who shot and killed Marcus Nettles, 26. On June 1, 2008, Nettles was in a car leaving an apartment complex on Commerce when someone opened fire on the vehicle. Crime Stoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. The number to call is 210 224-STOP (7867)

AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas unemployment rate is up to 4.5 percent, mirroring the recent nationwide weakening in the job market. The Texas Workforce Commission today reports the May jobless rate was an increase from 4.1 percent in April. The April figure was a record low since the state began keeping track. The commission in Austin says nonfarm employment grew by 8,700 jobs in May, but that wasn't enough to offset an increase in people looking for work. The highest unemployment rates in the state continued to be along the border with Mexico. It was 6.1 percent in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission area, 5.9 percent in Brownsville-Harlingen, 5.6 percent in Beaumont-Port Arthur and 5.5 percent in El Paso.

The statewide numbers were adjusted for seasonal trends in hiring and firing, which most economists believe gives a better picture of the job market. Local figures are not seasonally adjusted.

Following are preliminary May jobless rates for local areas in Texas, with revised April numbers in parentheses. The figures are not seasonally adjusted. The statewide unadjusted jobless rate was 4.3 percent in May, up from 3.9 percent in April.
Abilene 3.5 (3.2)
Amarillo 3.1 (2.8)
Austin-Round Rock 3.7 (3.3)
Beaumont-Port Arthur 5.6 (5.0)
Brownsville-Harlingen 5.9 (5.4)
College Station-Bryan 3.4 (3.0)
Corpus Christi 4.3 (3.8)
Dallas-Plano-Irving 4.4 (3.9)
El Paso 5.5 (5.0)
Fort Worth-Arlington 4.3 (3.8)
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown 4.2 (3.8)
Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood 4.4 (4.0)
Laredo 4.8 (4.6)
Longview 3.8 (3.3)
Lubbock 3.4 (3.0)
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission 6.1 (5.7)
Midland 2.7 (2.4)
Odessa 3.1 (2.8)
San Angelo 3.6 (3.2)
San Antonio 4.0 (3.6)
Sherman-Denison 4.6 (4.3)
Texarkana 4.3 (3.9)
Tyler 4.3 (4.0)
Victoria 3.5 (3.1)
Waco 3.9 (3.5)
Wichita Falls 3.8 (3.5)

An environmental group goes to court to save an endangered species. Aquifer Guardians in Urban Areas also known as "AGUA" has filed a temporary restraining order to stop Intco-Dominion investments from developing land for commercial use near Camp Bullis. "AGUA," wants an environmental impact study before construction continues. The Camp Bullis area is home to the Golden-cheek warbler, a bird on the federal endangered species list.

One of San Antonio's big employers is going to add 300 jobs even as it's cutting 1200 jobs nationally. Washington Mutual is cutting costs across the U.S. It's more fallout from the national mortgage crisis. But the company is going to move 300 positions here to its service center in the Stone Oak area. WaMu says they have a lot of efficiencies here because the cost of doing business is lower. The positions locally will support the company's retail operations and will pay between $11 and $14 an hour. They plan to start hiring immediately.

A man involved in an argument with his friend is accused of hitting him twice in the head -- with a hammer.
Police say a couple of guys were drinking in front of a home in the 100 block of Baylor south of downtown when the fight broke out.
The suspect ran off, leaving his friend bleeding and unconscious.
The man in his late 30s was still unresponsive when emergency crews rushed him to Wilford Hall in critical condition.
Police are now searching for the suspect.

Pains at the pumps seem to be taken their toll on Texas drivers.
According to the Allstate Motor Club there is been a 53% increase in Texans running out of gas on the highway in only a five month span compared to last year.
Roadside assistance experts say there are a couple of things you can do to stay safe if you run out of gas.
1.) If you do feel your vehicle running out of gas immediately pull over to not become a hazard.
2.) If you do happen to run out of gas, if and only if it's safe push your vehicle to clear the road.
3.) Lastly, if you are able to get out or harms way or not, be sure to call for help as soon as you can to get refueled.
As to how to make the best of your gas mileage experts say:
1.) Slow down to significantly stretch your fuel economy.
2.) Keep your tires properly inflated to considerably help out with fuel mileage.
3.) Lastly, be sure to maintain a constant speed better your gas usage.
To find the cheapest gas here in San Antonio, be sure to click on our new feature called "Fuel on Fox" where we've tracked those prices for you.