Jeffs Wants A New Trial

Warren Jeffs wants another trial. The imprisoned religious sect leader was, of course, convicted here in San Angelo just last month and sentenced to life in prison on child sex assault charges. Now, Jeffs -- who represented himself in that trial -- says his religious rights were violated in that trial. He's filed a motion for a new one. The Texas attorney-general's office hasn't';t commented so far.

Arrest In Drive-By Shooting

A San Angelo man in custody today after a drive-by shooting over the weekend. Police say 23-year-old Jose Aguilar was arrested following an investigation that lasted several days. Investigators say a man pulled up behind a house in the 1300 block of Spaulding Saturday night and opened fire at a group of men who were standing outside the house. No one was injured. Aguilar being held in lieu of bond today.

Multi-Chem To Be Purchased By Halliburton

North America's number two oil field services company says it's buying the continent's number four oil field production chemicals provider. Halliburton Corporation announcing today that it's reached an agreement to buy San Angelo-based Multi-Chem Worldwide. Price not disclosed.

Wildfires Claim more than 1,000 Homes So Far

A thousand burned homes -- and counting. That's the total so far as at least 57 wildfires rage across rain-starved Texas. Most of the devastation in that monster blaze close to Austin that's still raging out of control. Governor Rick Perry now says more than 100,000 acres have burned. The fires whipped by wind pushed along by Tropical Storm Lee in the Gulf of Mexico, although calmer winds are expected by this evening.

SA To Penalize City Employees Refusing Health Screening

The City of San Angelo cannot legally require its employees to participate in the city's new wellness program and many are refusing to do so. But the city CAN penalize those who don't. At issue is the city's health insurance plan, which it self-funds, and efforts to control rising costs and premiums. San Angelo Resources Director Lisa Marley says around 850 city employees are covered by the health insurance program. Of that number, she says only about 500 have completed a Health Risk Assessment questionnaire -- and only half of them have done a health screening that involves drawing blood and measuring the waistline. City employees reportedly saying they fear the city might use negative health information against them, something city leaders say they not only wouldn't do but cannot do by law.The large number of non-participators puts health insurance cost controls at risk. The City Council this morning unanimously agreed to charge employees who refuse to participate in the program up to twenty percent of their individual premiums.

Iowa Farmers Donate Hay To Hard-Pressed Concho Producers

Iowa pitches in to help Concho Valley livestock producers. Farmers and ranchers in desperate shape for hay because of all the hot, dry weather. Now, church leaders have organized a "hay lift" to try to bring some relief. Already a number of thousand-pound bales have been donated by Iowa farmers through their Lutheran Church relief organizations and have arrived in the Valley. Pastors working to get more volunteers in the Hawkeye State, which has experienced almost too much rain this summer, to donate hay to West Texas producers.

New Traffic Laws In Effect Today

Some significant new traffic laws going into effect today and one of them directly affects how fast you can drive and when. Beginning today -- the existing nighttime and truck speed limits on highways in the Concho Valley -- and across the state of Texas -- will no longer be in force. State lawmakers agreed to do away with the 65-mile-an-hour speed limit for nighttime and truck speeds during the last session -- and the change takes effect September 1ST. The same legislation allows TXDOT employees to create 75-mile and 85-mile an hour speed limits on any state highway found to be reasonable and safe.