The Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 4, 2016 Page: 4 of 10
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The Aransas Pass Progress
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Page 4
Supreme Court sends Voter ID case back to Fifth Circuit
Capital
Highlights
a
Texas’ voter identi-
fication law will remain in effect for
now, but the U.S. Supreme Court has
instructed a lower court to rule on its
constitutionality before November’s
election.
On April 29 the Supreme Court
temporarily upheld a stay granted by
the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
on Oct. 14. The stay has allowed the
Texas law to remain in effect.
Justice Clarence Thomas, acting on
behalf of the high court, ordered the
New Orleans-based appellate court to
decide Veasey v. Abbott by July 20, well
in advance of the November 8 General
Election.
The plaintiffs allege the state law’s
requirement — that in order to cast a
ballot at an election poll a voter must
present certain approved photograph-
ic identification
— places a dis-
criminatory and
therefore unconsti-
tutional burden on
blacks and Hispan-,
The Fifth Circuit
set May 24 as the
hearing date, the ex-
act date of the state
runoff election. Also
of concern is that
poll workers must be
trained in time to oversee and assist
voters in accordance with any court de-
cisions come Election Day in Novem-
ber.
entire Fifth Circuit next month.’
Obama grants disaster aid
President Obama on April 25 grant-
ed Gov. Greg Abbott’s April 24 request
for individual assistance to residents of
the flood-stricken counties of Fayette,
Grimes, Harris and Parker.
“I would like to thank the president
and FEMA for quickly granting Texas’
request for individual assistance fol-
lowing last week’s severe weather,” Ab-
bott said. “The State of Texas will con-
tinue to work with our local and federal
partners to aid Texans recovering and
rebuilding from flood damages and en-
sure all those affected receive the assis-
tance they need.”
Citizens who reside in the affected
counties now may apply for “individual
assistance” grants of up to $33,000 and
low-interest disaster loans from the
U.S. Small Business Administration.
AUSTIN
Cascos reminds voters
Texas Secretary of State Carlos Cas-
cos, the state’s chief elections officer, on
April 21 reminded voters that the law
does not allow them to cross parties
between the primary and the primary
runoff election.
“If you voted in a party’s primary or
nominating convention, you must stick
with that party for any runoff elec-
tions,” Cascos said. However, he added,
“Eligible Texans who did not vote in
the primary or participate in a nomi-
nating convention are free to vote in
either primary runoff election.”
Early voting in runoff elections will
begin May 16 and end on May 20. Elec-
tion Day is May 24.
",
by Ed Sterling
f
ICS.
Earlier decisions in lower courts
found that the law did violate Section
2 of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, which
prohibits voting practices or proce-
dures that discriminate on the basis
of race, color, or membership in one
of certain language minority groups
identified elsewhere in the act. Denial
of a citizen’s right to vote and inten-
tional dilution of the voting strength of
a community of common interest are
common tests courts use in determin-
ing whether an election law is discrim-
inatory.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton
commented after the Supreme Court
issued the order: “Texas enacted a
common-sense law to provide simple
protections to the integrity of our elec-
tions and the democratic process in our
state. We appreciate the Supreme Court
allowing the law to remain in effect at
this time and look forward to defend-
ing the merits of our case in front of the
Report predicts
near-average 2016
hurricane season
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Earlier this month, the Tropical Meteorological Project at Col-
orado State University (CSU) predicted 2016 could be a near-aver-
age hurricane season. In CSU’s Atlantic Basin Seasonal Hurricane
Forecast, climatologists stated there could be 13 named storms
during the 2016 hurricane season, five of which could be hurri-
canes and two of which could be major hurricanes designated as
Category 3 or above. According the National Oceanic and Atmo-
spheric Administration (NOAA), an average hurricane season
includes 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hur-
ricanes. Should this prediction hold, it would mean we could see
more activity this year than in the past three seasons, which were
considered below average.
Hurricane season occurs annually from June 1st through No-
vember 30th, although one unusual storm has already occurred in
2016. Hurricane Alex, a Category 1 storm, made landfall in The
Azores Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean this past January.
Hurricanes that form outside the normal hurricane season months
generally occur in May or December. According to CSU, this rare
storm, combined with an unpredictable El Nino weather system,
makes this year’s hurricane forecast more uncertain than usual.
In specific to our region, climatologists predict there is a 79 per-
cent chance a named storm of some magnitude, such as a tropical
storm, will make landfall along the Gulf Coast, which runs from
the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville, TX and includes
Nueces County. In addition, there is also a 29 percent chance a Cat-
egory 3 or above hurricane will affect the Gulf Coast region this
year, which is slightly less than normal. Nueces County is one of
the fourteen Tier One coastal counties in the state, a designation
given to the counties most likely to be affected by a hurricane that
makes landfall in Texas.
As residents of the Coastal Bend know, it only takes one major
tropical event to make landfall for it be considered an active sea-
son to those affected by such a storm. This is why it is especially
important for us all to take the proper measures to ensure we are
prepared for hurricane season. These measures can include creat-
ing a disaster plan for your family and staying up to date on infor-
mation about hurricanes and tropical storms. In addition to the
Colorado State University report, the NOAA’s National Hurricane
Center website provides up to date information about potential
tropical weather events as well as hurricane preparedness tips. You
can learn more about the National Hurricane Center online here:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov.
To learn more about Colorado State University’s Tropical Mete-
orological Project, please visit the website here: http://tropical.at-
mos.colostate.edu . You can access the 2016 Atlantic Basin Season-
al Hurricane Forecast online here: http://tropical.atmos.colostate.
edu/Forecasts/2016/apr2016/apr2016.pdf.
If you would like to follow the Texas House and learn more in-
formation on news, committees or other aspects of the legislative
body, you can access its website at http://www.house.state.tx.us/.
The site features live streaming from the House floor, committee
hearings as well as access to a number of other resources. You can
also follow the Texas Senate at http://www.senate.state.tx.us/. The
Texas Governor’s official website can be found at http://governor.
state.tx.us/. If you have questions regarding any of the information
mentioned in this week’s article, please do not hesitate to call my
Capitol or District Office. Please always feel free to contact my
office if you have any questions or issues regarding a Texas state
agency, or if you would like to contact my office regarding constitu-
ent services. As always, my offices are available at any time to assist
with questions, concerns or comments. (Capitol Office, 512-463-
0672; District Office, 361-949-4603).
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Letter to the Editor
Staff
Water department refund
problem
sonnel said nothing had been done and only the
finance director Donna Cox could do refunds. File
would be on her desk. Two weeks later, no refund. I
phoned, talked to a Donna L. who said she’d make
certain Cox got the message and would return a
call. You guessed it- no phone call, and no refund
after 90 days. Our electric company and CC Times
prompt refunds took less than 30 days.
I’m wondering how many others have experi-
enced a problem with refunds from the Aransas
Pass water accounting system. High cost account-
ing when only the finance director can handle $50
refunds.
Ana Jorgenson
Port Aransas
General Manager
John Bowers
Dear Editor,
This is in regards to the Aransas Pass water
department. Nine years ago, we purchased a new
Hagan home, and the city required a $50 deposit
to be held until the home was sold-a contract was
signed. January 2016 the home was sold, meter
read and final bill paid. Thirty days later, I present-
ed the contract to the city and asked about the re-
fund. An office employee said there was a fifty cent
“50” discrepancy but to look forward to the refund
after the next billing cycle-nothing happened.
Early April, I again stopped at the office. Per-
Reporter
Jesica Parsley
Distribution Manager
Michael Hembree
Contributing Writers
Laura Simank
Richard Gonzales
The Aransas Pass Prog-
ress (USPS 028-900) is
published weekly by
Granite Publishing Part-
ners Inc., 346 S. Houston
St., Aransas Pass, Tex-
as 78336. Second Class
postage paid at Aransas
Pass, TX. Postmaster:
Send address changes to
The Aransas Pass Prog-
ress, P.O. Box 2100 Aran-
sas Pass, TX 78335.
Tips for saving on travel
By Nathaniel Sillin
your trip, safeguard your identity by keeping your
passport, driver’s license and credit cards in a safe
place away from view. Also make sure to make pho-
tocopies in case of theft. If you do become a victim
of identity theft, read our tips for restoring your
identity here.
6. Expect the unexpected. Credit cards get lost.
Flights get delayed. Storms arrive unexpectedly.
Keep unknowns in mind when planning your trip,
and set aside an extra 10 to 15% of your travel bud-
get for emergencies or surprises.
7. Take advantage of technology. Few travelers
leave home without their smartphones and tablets
since mobile technology devices are the screen of
choice for many. Apps like Hotel Tonight and iFly
Pro allow you to digitally book hotels, check in for
flights and organize itineraries.
8. Consider alternative lodging. Companies like
Airbnb or VRBO, services that allows you to rent
unoccupied living space in other people’s homes,
are increasingly popular - and in many cases,
cheaper. Also, hostels offer cheaper lodging. But
make sure you take the right safety precautions, like
researching the area beforehand and keeping an eye
on your belongings.
9. Use cheaper transportation. Compare the
cost of airfare with gas prices; if you can drive to
your destination, it might be cheaper. Also, consid-
er public transportation like underground railways
versus cabs.
10. Share your trip. Splitting the cost of accom-
modations, like a vacation house, with friends and
family can help cut costs.
With summer vacation also comes travel sea-
son. It’s easy to get carried away under the sun with
souvenirs, eating at restaurants and upgrading your
accommodations. After all, how often do you treat
yourself and go on a holiday? But the last thing you
want is to face a big bill come fall. Here are some tips
for budgeting accordingly, no matter what type of
getaway you’re planning.
1. Be realistic about what you can afford. Hey, we
all want an amazing, no-holds-barred vacation, but
choosing a trip you can’t afford will likely add more
stress to your life. After all, what’s the point of tak-
ing time to relax if you’ll be paying for it for several
months to come?
2. Start a dedicated travel fund. It’s easier to save
when you have a specific goal in mind. Think about
where you want to go, research how much it costs
and develop a consistent savings plan well in ad-
vance.
Subscription
Aransas and San Patri-
cio County, Cities of Port
Aransas and Rockport -
$39 per year. Outside the
listed area - $49 per year.
rates:
Memberships:
National Newspaper
Association, Texas Press
Association;
South Texas Press
Association;
Texas Gulf Coast Press
Association;
Aransas Pass Chamber
of Commerce,
Rockport Chamber of
Commerce, Ingleside
Chamber of Commerce.
Letter to the Editor Policy
3. Create a trip budget. To help you, we’ve put to-
gether this free, web-based Travel Calculator, which
can help you calculate the cost of gas, lodging, food
and more. It’s also available as a free iPhone app,
which you can download from iTunes.
4. Shop around. There are a wealth of sites that
make it easy to compare fares from a variety of air-
lines, hotels and rental car companies, some of the
most popular being Expedia.com and Travelocity.
com. It’s a savvy traveler’s world—take advantage.
5. Protect yourself. When ordering tickets, make
sure the sites you are using are legitimate. Once on
The Aransas Pass Progress encourages letters to the editor. Letters
will be run as space permits and at the discretion of the editor. Letters
may tackle political topics, but letters supporting or opposing candi-
dates for public office will not be accepted. Letters from the same au-
thor will not be published more than once a month.
Letters must include the writer's full name, daytime phone number
and home address for verification. Phone numbers and addresses will
not be printed. Any letter submitted without a phone number and ad-
dress will not be published. Additionally, anonymous letters to the edi-
tor will not be accepted.
All letters must be typed. Letters submitted in longhand may not be
published. Email letters to editor@aransaspassprogress.com. Letters
may be mailed to P.O. Box 2100, Aransas Pass,TX 78335.
Aransas Pass Progress
346 S. Houston • PO Box 2100
Aransas Pass, TX 78336
Phone: 361-758-5391
Fax: 361-758-5393
www.aransaspassprogress.
com
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The Aransas Pass Progress (Aransas Pass, Tex.), Vol. 107, No. 18, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 4, 2016, newspaper, May 4, 2016; Aransas Pass, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1143820/m1/4/?rotate=270: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Ed & Hazel Richmond Public Library.