North Texas
(2009-10-30)
DALLAS, TX
(KERA) -
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, in a policy reversal, will urge a state oversight board next week to keep a generous refund formula for those who want to cancel their pre-paid college tuition plans.
Combs says she'll urge the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board on Nov. 5 to cancel new rules that would cut the value of the refunds.
The proposed cuts sparked an outcry among parents and legislators.
In May, the board - which Combs chairs - changed the refund policy to help keep the struggling Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan solvent.
Texas getting at least 2 million swine flu doses
Texas has been allocated about 2 million swine flu vaccine doses from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Texas Department of State Health Services on Friday said the agency continues to order the state's full allocation of the H1N1 vaccine as quickly as possible.
More than 1.5 million doses of the 2 million had been ordered as of Thursday.
DSHS says about 12,000 Texas providers have registered to receive the vaccine. More orders and shipments will proceed as doctors and clinics confirm their requests with DSHS.
OSHA fines BP a record $87M for Texas refinery fix
The British oil giant BP says it's contesting a record $87 million federal fine for failing to correct safety hazards after a deadly 2005 blast at its Texas City refinery. The explosion killed 15 workers at the refinery.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed the fine today after a 6-month inspection revealed hundreds of violations of a 2005 settlement agreement to repair hazards at the refinery.
OSHA says the company also committed hundreds of new violations at the nation's third largest refinery by failing to follow industry controls on pressure relief safety systems and other precautions.
Labor Secretary Hilda Solis says BP failed to live up to the terms of its commitment to protect employees. If the problems are not addressed, Solis said it "could lead to another catastrophe."
In contesting the fine, officials of London-based BP say they believed the company had fully complied with the deal.
Muslim doctor told clinic policy bars headscarf
A young Muslim doctor who applied for a job at a North Texas medical clinic says officials told her she couldn't wear her traditional headscarf.
Dr. Hena Zaki of Plano said Friday that she was shocked when CareNow officials told her a no-hat policy extended to her hijab. She says it happened while she was on a tour and interview at a CareNow in Allen earlier this month.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations wrote to CareNow on her behalf, pointing out the law requires employers must make reasonable religious accomodations for employees.
Zaki recently finished her residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She says other places where she's worked have not had a problem with the headscarf she wears as part of her religious belief.
CareNow didn't return messages for comment Friday.
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