Texas Illegals Promised 'Hurricane Amnesty'

Houston expects surge in births 9 months after storm cut power

(NEWSER) - A Houston hospital is bracing for a baby boom due 9 months after Hurricane Ike cut power to the region for days, the Chronicle reports. “There’s about a 25% increase in the number of deliveries coming up in mid-June to mid-July,” said one doctor. Another physician is herself expecting. “You can only do so much when there’s no television, nothing open, and there’s nowhere to go,” she said. More»

One big exception is getting attention in Texas

(NEWSER) - Under House Bill 1202, one of a number of proposed Texas bills that addresses illegal immigration, anyone who "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly" hires an illegal immigrant would face up to two years in jail and a fine as high as $10,000 ... unless, of course, he or she is just hiring that illegal immigrant to do housework or yardwork. As long as you're hiring unauthorized immigrants "for the purpose of obtaining labor or other work to be performed exclusively or primarily at a single-family residence," you're in the clear. More»

Mayors ask Congress to move quickly on relief

(NEWSER) - Texas officials told Congress today they might need up to $40 billion in aid to rebuild the state's hurricane-hit areas, the Houston Chronicle reports. The state's lieutenant governor sought at least $11.5 billion of aid and as many trailer homes as available to help the 770 communities damaged by Hurricane Ike. Houston's mayor requested an immediate $2.5 billion injection to help his metropolis. More»

(NEWSER) - President Bush visited Houston and took an air tour over Galveston today, urging Americans to continue contributions to the Red Cross and other charities and promising timely aid from state and federal governments, the Washington Post reports. Meanwhile, Houston Mayor Bill White grumbled about a slow FEMA response to his city, which still has 1.6 million residents without power and a curfew in place until Saturday. More»

60 food shelters to open today to meed demand for supplies

(AP) - More relief was on the way for Hurricane Ike evacuees today as tens of thousands waited for supplies, the electricity to return to their homes, or their first hot meal and shower. The number of distribution centers was to be quadrupled to 60 by the end of the day to deliver food, water and ice. "A good bath would be nice: have the fire department swing by and spray us down," said one Galveston resident. More»