Finally Gett'n Some Rain

First major rainfall we have had in 200+ days.  I hope this keeps tacking to the west.

Coming Soon to a Spot Near You...

via Top News

Unemployment and COBRA Benefits to Expire Sunday

Unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits is reported to expire Sunday for millions of voters because the Senate failed to pass a short term extensions of cash and health insurance benefits for the unemployed after a lone senator hampered the swift path due to his insistence that Congress first pay for the $10 billion package.

The failure throws light on the partisan gridlock that has held the Democratic legislative agenda and partly the Senate rules that enables one lawmaker to block legislation.

Alt Markets

from TTAG

More than one way to skin a cat.

Bud’s Gun Shop is now offering silver coins of its own design, complete with the FFL’s url and a trademarked anti-abortion exhortation. Although the non-governmental coins don’t have any “face value” (despite the markings), at least they’re minty fresh. ”Every 2011 Peacemaker Gun Dollar has been minted in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition and contains one half Troy ounce of pure .999 fine silver with a $25 MSRP, measures 32mm and is minted with high relief to exemplify the high ideals of the Second Amendment.” I haven’t experienced high relief in decades. And what’s with the price? Our headline says $26.43. “The rates for the Second Amendment Dollar are based on the price of silver that is constantly changing. In order to provide you with the best possible prices the silver price is automatically updated every 20 minutes while the global silver market is open.” It’s closed now. You’re good to go.

ARANSAS PASS, TX-Police Beat Man for No Headlight on Bike

When will the train of abuses stop?????????? 

All for not having a headlight on his bicycle.  And the dashcam just happened to malfunction.  What a coincidence.

Attorneys Say Local Police Officer Severely Beat Unarmed Man 

News video

It's news no one wants to hear; a family member is in the hospital on life support unable to speak and even worse there are few answers about how it all happened.


That's exactly what one Aransas Pass family says they are going through.
Martin Garcia Ortiz is in critical condition after an incident allegedly involving Aransas Pass police back on August 10th.

The family and their attorneys say they believe a rogue police officer may be to blame for Ortiz's severe injuries.

"We want to find out what happened to my uncle. We want him to hurry up and talk to see what he can tell us," said Victoria Hernandez, Ortiz's niece.

48-year-old Martin Garcia Ortiz is a life long Aransas Pass resident, though for the past few weeks he's been at Spohn Memorial Hospital in Corpus Christi.

On August 10th, Ortiz's family says he was riding his bicycle home and just a few blocks away something happened to put him in critical condition.

Just before midnight, the family's attorneys say they believe police tried stopping Ortiz for not having a headlight on his bike. Then, the situation took a dramatic turn when one officers allegedly knocked Ortiz to the ground.

"Either with his vehicle or with his person pushed him over on his bicycle. He fell over to the street," said Stephen Carriganan, attorney for the family.

Attorneys say Ortiz was knocked from his bike along Cleveland Street. The allegations are only more shocking from there.

They say, they believe when Ortiz was already on the ground bleeding the officer got out and punched or kicked him causing even more injuries.

We contacted Aransas Pass police department for comment but our calls weren't returned.
It's not clear if the officers involved received disciplinary action, but it appears they're still on duty in the city.
Police are charging Ortiz with public intoxication and resisting arrest.

The family's attorneys report the police department has told them the dash-cam video from the police unit was- for some reason- unable to record the incident.

Attorneys also say the department hasn't given them a complete copy of the incident report.
"I can find very little justification. If what we believe is true; if they pushed or ran this guy of the road, whatever they did with their car or their persons. I'd be very surprised if there is any justification for that in a report," said Chris Gayle, an attorney for the family.

Now, the family and attorneys say they are faced with a lot of unanswered questions about exactly what went on that night, but they're hopeful they will find the truth.

"You will always get the answer. It may take a little bit of time. Right now, we're troubled by what we think the answer is. Maybe we're wrong, but I don't think we are," Gayle said.
Ortiz's family is pulling together and praying for his recovery. They're also praying for answers on how a possible run-in with police just blocks from home could put Ortiz in the hospital unable to speak or breathe on his own.

"It just breaks our heart. My dad and his brothers are just worried if he's going to be the same, but I know he's not going to be the same like he used to," Hernandez said.

The family says they have been contacted by the Texas Ranger who are investigating the incident.
They're asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward and contact the Rangers at [512] 424-2160.

Yesterday morning I saw this on the local news.  Even though they caught one of the shooters, they did not show a pic of him or identify him in any way.

The initial news report said he was shot with a .223 round through the windshield.  Just goes to show you.  Use M855 to hit auto glass.

Deputy Shot; Bullet-Proof Vest Saves Life

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said the deputy pulled over a vehicle in the 2200 block of FM 1960 at Humble-Westfield Road at 2:40 a.m. for a traffic stop.

One of the four men inside the vehicle got out and fired four shots from a rifle, officials said.

The deputy was still in his car when he saw three bullets shoot through his windshield, investigators said.One of the rounds hit Deputy Alan Whitlock, 41, in his chest, but the Sheriff's Office said his bullet-proof vest stopped the bullet. Whitlock was transported to a hospital as a precaution. He suffered a facial cut from windshield glass.

"I don't feel like a hero. I was doing my job," Whitlock said. "Once it knocked the wind out of me, I just caught my breath and knew I was hit."Whitlock said it was hard to call his wife to tell her what happened."I'm just glad I was the one that got to call her and not somebody else," Whitlock said. "Once that happens, you realize how fragile life is.

"The men ran off into a nearby subdivision off Cobble Creek, deputies said, and one of them was caught a short time later."We have one detained and we are looking for three other suspects," said Thomas Gilliland of the Harris County Sheriff's Office

.For some neighborhood residents, it was an early morning wake-up call."The lights woke me up and I looked and I didn't know what was going on," Inge Radtke said.Radtke said she was told to take cover."(The officer) wanted me to get to a back room," she said. "I didn't know what was going on. I knew it had to be something pretty big.""It was very scary. I came outside and the SWAT team with guns were behind trees," Lisa Hooker said.

A second suspect was arrested Friday morning."This is a fine example of what our deputies go through every day and it's good he's alive," Gilliland said.

The Harris County Sheriff's Office said wearing a protective vest is optional when the heat index reaches 100 degrees. Whitlock said he will be keeping his on.

Thanks Mom... ;-(