Thursday, March 3, 2016 Board bars DPS chief doctor from upholds firing B Metro&State treating female of trooper over News: [email protected]; 512-445-3851 patients, B3 Bland case, B3 +Business Subscribe: statesman.com/subscribe NEW DETAILS ELECTION 2016 CENTRAL TEXAS TEXAS 130 Chapter Primary result: New faces abound 11 sought Both Travis County and Williamson County will son Travis County sheriff’s in a primary election that had have new sheriffs and district attorneys. race that seemed destined for the highest turnout — 37 per- by tollway a runoff. Sheriffeg Gr Hamilton cent — since the 2008 primary, isn’t seeking another term. according to the Travis Coun- By PhilipJankowski ic nomination for Travis Coun- On Wednesday, local polit- ty clerk’s office. Gina Hinojo- operator and Claire Osborn ty district attorney in what ical experts were still assess- sa won a majority in the race [email protected] experts saw as the primary’s ing the district attorney’s race, for District 49’s state represen- [email protected] most shocking voting result, but the consensus was that tative (second place also went SH 130 Concession Co.’s with Moore handily defeating both Hernandez and Moore to a woman), and Tamara Nee- Travis and Williamson coun- the man who was once consid- were aided by women voters. dles defeated Judge Jim Coro- payments lag on about ties will see sweeping chang- ered the clear successor to the “The sheriff’s race, especial- nado in the primary for 427th $1.7 billion of debt. es in their top criminal justice post being vacated by Rose- ly,” political consultant David District Court seat. officials after Tuesday’s prima- mary Lehmberg. Butts said. “That is probably Only one woman lost to By Ben Wear ries assured that both counties Precinct 3 Constable Sal- where the power of the wom- a male challenger in a Tra- [email protected] will have a new sheriff and dis- ly Hernandez also pulled off a en’s vote is most evident, no vis County race. Brad Urru- trict attorney. surprise by narrowly winning question.” tia defeated Chantal Melissa The company operating the Margaret Moore cruised to a majority of the Democrat- Indeed, women notched southern 41 miles of Texas 130, victory, earning the Democrat- ic primary vote in a four-per- several wins in Travis County Primary continued on B6 a tollway that has struggled with light traffic and heavy debt since opening in late 2012, filed for Chapter 11 bank- TEXAS INDEPENDENCE DAY ENVIRONMENT ruptcy protection Wednesday afternoon in federal court. That will put before a feder- Texas’ independence celebrated Plan to al court negotiations over SH 130 Concession Co.’s lagging payments on about $1.7 billion protect of debt owed on the four-lane road, a figure that includes $1.27 billion in principal and more than $400 million in lizard unpaid interest, expenses and fees. About $500 million is owed to the federal govern- upheld ment under a low-interest loan program for transportation projects, and payments on Appeals court says that portion of the debt begin state’s conservation in 2017. In its filing for bankrupt- approach is adequate. cy protection, the compa- ny (which depleted a $65 mil- By Eric Dexheimer [email protected] Tollway continued on B5 Texas’ voluntary and private- ly administered plan to protect Georgetown the dunes sagebrush lizard is TxDOT legal and adequate to protect section 183 the species, a federal appeals opened court ruled Tuesday. The deci- 2006-08 sion appears to end challenges 130 to the state’s conservation plan by environmental groups that Privately Austin argued Texas’ efforts are unen- operated 290 71 forceable and so leave the spe- section 35 cies vulnerable to development opened in by oil and gas companies. 2012 The U.S. Fish and Wild- San Marcos life Service had proposed list- Lockhart Men in period costumes fire a volley on Wednesday in honor of those who fought and died in the Texas Revolution. ing the species as endangered 130 183 Wednesday marked the 180th anniversary of Texas Independence Day, when settlers in Mexican Texas declared in 2010. Because the lizard is independence from Mexico. Celebrate Texas organized activities that featured a musket volley on the grounds of found primarily in West Tex- Seguin 35 the Texas State Cemetery. See more photos at statesman.com. RALPH BARRERA / AMERICAN-STATESMAN as lands that are rich with oil 10 and gas, petroleum compa- N nies were concerned it would San Antonio 10 miles have had a dramatic impact on HEALTH exploration and drilling. So, ROBERT CALZADA / STAFF led by then-Comptroller Susan Combs, the state in 2012 pro- State board scraps proposed rule posed instead an alternative plan to protect the species. PUBLIC ART Yesterday’s court decision restricting ‘distance’ counseling said: “The focus of the Tex- $1.1 million Proposal’s foes said as a video call. “There’s very little support for Lizard continued on B5 rule would cause fewer In addition, the Texas State this rule,” Christopherson said donated Board of Examiners of Profes- at that meeting. He added that people to seek help. sional Counselors said it didn’t those making comments point- see problems indicating the ed out that not allowing the use for Waller By MaryAnn Roser rule was needed, said Steven of technology for counseling cli- [email protected] Christopherson, chairman of ents in rural areas where mental the board’s rules committee. health professionals are sparse Creek art After receiving overwhelm- “We haven’t really seen a could cause fewer people to ing opposition from counsel- pattern of complaints,” he told seek help. Marcus Foundation ors, a Texas regulatory board the board. “Show us a pattern The rule was proposed for The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gives money to the scrapped a proposed rule of complaints, we’ll show you safety reasons, so counsel- had proposed listing the dunes Wednesday that would have a rule.” ors could get a better handle sagebrush lizard, found mainly in Contemporary Austin. required an in-person session The rules committee took on who they were treating, oil-rich areas of West Texas, as before a therapist could pro- up the rule earlier in the day endangered in 2010. MIKE HILL / U.S. ByJeanne Claire van Ryzin vide “distance” services, such and agreed it wasn’t needed. Counseling continued on B6 FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE [email protected] The future of public art along Austin’s Waller Creek CENTRAL TEXAS WEATHER received major support thanks to a $1.1 million donation February weather summary from the Edward and Betty El Niño continued as Marcus Foundation that was With all but 10 days of high temperatures at or above announced Wednesday. 70 degrees, this February at Camp Mabry was the 8th ‘El Nada’ in February Melba Whatley, chair of the LABELwarmest XXXXY on record. The only significant rainfall of the Dallas-based foundation, made month occurred on the 23rd. the announcement at the pre- Colder, wetter weather times reaching into the low- view opening of “Hurlyburly,” Daily temperature Monthly anticipated for month er 80s, winter was effective- a massive, site-specific installa- Austin-Bergstrom International Airport rainfall ly over by the end of February, tion made of repurposed lob- never materialized. a month that also brought lit- 110°110 High Normal: ster rope by artist Orly Genger 100100 2.31” tle rainfall to the Austin area. that is on view on a stretch of 9090 Normal high By Marty Toohey The winter of our discontent, public park adjacent to the 8080 [email protected] it was not. 7070 Waller Creek Boathouse. 6060 All but 10 days of February On hand for the announce- 5050 60 1.14” El Niño “sputtered.” saw temperatures climb to 70 ment were Mayor Steve Adler; 4040 El Niño “has been a weird one.” degrees or above, according 3030 City Council Members Kath- 2020 Normal low El Niño’s anticipated rainfall to the National Weather Ser- Low ie Tovo, Leslie Pool and Sabino 1010 was “El Nada.” vice. The only significant rain- 0 0 “Pio” Renteria; and state Rep. 1357 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 However you want to put fall for the month fell during a Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin. it — those assessments came few predawn hours the morn- The $1.1 million is being Camp Mabry from Central Texas meteorol- ing of Feb. 23, when the Austin 110°110 Normal: ogist Bob Rose, Houston mete- metro area saw up to 2 inches High Record Donation continued on B6 100100 2.02” orologist Matt Lanza and Aus- of rain. 9090 Normal high Matched record of 83° 8080 tin weather spotter Michael “Winter hardly showed up 7070 Lyttle, respectively — February in Austin,” said Rose, the Low- “HURLYBURLY” 6060 1.34” wasn’t the kind of month that er Colorado River Authority’s 5050 PUBLIC OPENING 4040 El Niño was expected to usher meteorologist. According to When: Noon to 3 p.m. Saturday 3030 in. El Niño is typically associat- Rose: Where: Waller Creek Boathouse, 2020 Normal low ed with colder and wetter con- ■Since Dec. 1, only 4.68 inch- 10 Low 72 Trinity St. 10 ditions than usual in Central es of rain fell at the Camp Mabry 00 Tickets: Free 1357 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27 29 Texas. It tends to make winter weather station in Central Aus- Information: 512-453-5312, Sources: National Weather Service, Lower Colorado River Authority, KVUE feel more like winter. thecontemporaryaustin.org LINDA SCOTT/STAFF Nope.