Historic building in Elgin catches fire this afternoon. Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates that this UT football season will bring about $142 million to our town. City of Austin holding public meetings on urban rail plan. Apartment owners suing Farmers Branch (again!) over their new ban on the rental of housing to illegal immigrants. Multiple retired judges and prosecutors from around the state and country ask Gov. Perry to stop the upcoming execution of Charles Dean Hood. Texans for Public Justice want Lt. Gov. Dewhurst's wealth investigated....

In this video of a small press gaggle earlier today at the RNC in St. Paul, Hutchison defends McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as running-mate. When asked why she didn't want to be vice-president, she says, "I didn't want to spend the next four years in Washington, and I really don't. And I really have decided I'm going to go in a different direction." Her "different direction"? Veering towards the governor's mansion . . ....

Gustav pushing back RNC plans.

Wells Dunbar from the Austin Chronicle (speaking of which, have you voted yet for Best of Austin? *hint, hint*) stopped by the Annie's List get-together last night for a wrap-up of the Democratic convention and chatted with some politicians in attendance about Obama's possible effect on local/state elections. ...

The City Council has approved the controversial biomass power contract. Explosion at natural gas line in Caldwell County surprised residents this morning, but no one was injured. KBH doesn't plan to need a ticket to Ohio for Saturday's VP announcement by McCain. Austin man sexually assaulted his insurance adjuster earlier this month....

KBH has told Rep. McCaul that she's running for governor in 2010. Truck stopped in Southeast Austin late this morning thought to be involved in human smuggling. AISD approves 3% pay increase for teachers. Hidalgo County Jail can't hold an almost 1,000 pound Edinburg woman charged in the death of her nephew....

Mont Blanc Avalanche leaves several missing, feared dead. Bush says Florida a total disaster. McCain Ad: Ooooh, Obama was like. "SNAP, take that Hillary!" Best Buy. Worst Plan. Bottle or Box? Green wine debate continues. Hey Pootie-poot, it's just us Americans here with a big ship full of aid for the Georgians. Anyways, how's it going? It's D-Day! Or DNC day, anyway....

Austin firefighters' union not happy about random drug testing proposal. More on the train derailment that occurred downtown this morning. Crews cleaning up the downtown oil tank which earlier this year spilled into Waller Creek. Soon Georgetown residents won't be allowed to park in yards anymore. Two Republican members of the Lege ask AG Abbott about possible state anti-immigration options....

Our "heavy" rains have dripped into the burned out Governor's Mansion. Driver dead after hydroplaning and hitting an 18-wheeler head-on in Bastrop. EPPICard/Texas Debit Card users a target for identity thieves. UT team working on a pen-shaped probe that could someday help detect skin cancer. San Angelo judge orders Warren Jeffs' teenage wife to be removed from her mother's care and placed in foster care. exas musician Pat Green knocked out by thrown beer can during a Michigan concert after asking, "Anyone got a beer?"...

Heh. Pullout. Obama. McCain. Preacher guy. Abortion. Marriage. Oy. Obama meets with Texas oil baron T. Boone Pickens. Say it ... T. Boone Pickens! It's fun to say! Lieberman: Hommina Hommina Whuh? JB4VP? Cap Metro makes riders go ha. SWAT standoff ends in shooting suspect arrest....

9-year-old girl died this morning after being pulled out of Lake Travis. 13 positions cut at Texas Monthly today. Don't forget tax-free weekend started today and goes through Sunday! The area of Cesar Chavez between San Antonio St. and Congress Ave. will be closed this weekend for crosswalk work. This year's BatFest will be held on the First Street bridge....

The dollar headed for a fifth weekly gain against the euro. Start packing for London. Germans try to slow glacier melt with giant screen. What to do with traumatized elephant stirs up Dallas. Hillary Clinton's name to be placed in nomination at convention. Poland pisses off Russia. Harry Potter film delayed eight months. Two Georgians say they have bigfoot’s body.......

Michelle Obama set to headline first night of DNC Convention. Russia still bombing Georgia. Bush: What, me worry? Fox News decides Edwards affair more newsworthy than thousands of dead Georgians. You decide. Isaac Hayes dead at 65. "Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Bernie Mac's family had expected him to survive....

This couple has so far cost HEB $10,000 in forged checks. Cyclist who ran a red light at N. Lamar and Rundberg is in the hospital after being hit by a police car. Billy Carroll will be granted a public defender after all. Authorities trying to piece together what caused a bus full of Vietnamese religious pilgrims from the Houston area to crash near Sherman this morning....

13 reported dead in North Texas bus crash. Williamson County wildfire contained. John Edwards' 'love child' sex scandal hits Obama campaign. Mayor in Detroit sex scandal case sent to jail. Olympian posing nude for animal rights generates controversy in China. Georgia calls for US help as Russians invade to defend South Ossetia. SOS turning 16 means free admission at Barton Springs today!......

Your trash collection fee is likely to increase, perhaps by as much as 36%. Planned Oak Hill development would impact water quality, environmentalists and residents say. UT Alumni Center employee threatens that he will blow the building up because his check isn't ready, freaks co-workers out, is arrested. Criminal charges filed against Houston woman who kept 5 children from their mother after helping the family post-Katrina. First out-of-Texas Alamo Drafthouse franchise to be built in Winchester, VA....

The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that they are sticking with their ethanol requirements. This after our esteemed Gov. Perry requested that the EPA waive renewable fuel standards. Gov. Perry was supported in this request by Bo Pilgrim of Pilgrim's Pride, who, along with other meat producers, doesn't like the effect the current ethanol quotas have on the price of feed. But it looks like all the lobbying was for naught, as our nation's love......

"Political Pundit" Toby Keith: Black society thinks Obama "talks, acts, and carries himself as a Caucasian." The jobless keep getting joblesser! Unemployment tracking at 6-year high. Favre: When you're a jet you're a jet all the way. China to Bush: Mind your own biz. Typhus in Texas! Madonna, Kirk Watson and Prince Albert walk into a bar... Austin based Whole Foods Market stock loses 17 percent....

A woman was sexually assaulted on Saturday after leaving a Hyde Park Walgreens; police searching for the suspect. Multi-vehicle wreck this morning on Bee Caves at Barton Creek results in one death. Cesar Chavez St. set to turn two-way on Monday, August 11. Fickle Edouard floods areas of Southeast Texas, only sends some light showers our way. Girl, you know it's true: Jammin' 105.9 is now up for sale....

Electric Reliability Council of Texas and PUC ask you to reduce your energy usage tomorrow between the peak hours of 3pm and 7pm. Rep. Michael McCaul making campaign stops at local gas stations today. Gov. Perry issued a disaster declaration this afternoon before Edouard hits tomorrow. Kingsland resident will be charged with aggravated assault after firing his gun at suspected burglars. Multiple businesses in North Lamar strip mall affected by overnight fire....

McCain security detail removes sole black reporter from event. At least nine feared dead on K-2. Obama fights for Florida and Michigan's right to party. Oh, Joe, you wild card, you! 7-year-old Round Rock boy makes film debut. Abducted Austinites rescued in Dallas. Scientist finds world's smallest snake, which is as thin as a spaghetti noodle, and probably as dangerous....

Results from the Wildflower Center's study show that having a green roof can knock 20% off your electric bills. APD searching for 2 men accused of swindling Austin-area immigrants. Judge rules that Gov. Perry's travel records can be released to newspapers. Locally-filmed Friday Night Lights looking for paid extras to play players, cheerleaders, and football fans. Snoop Dogg's tour bus was pulled over yesterday near Corsicana and two passengers were charged with marijuana possession....

The accident this morning in Smithville happened when a crane being used to dismantle an old bridge fell into the Colorado River. Red light cameras have caught 400 drivers going through red lights in the past 2 months. Traffic on Cesar Chavez may be a bigger mess than usual tomorrow. APD searching for man believed to be a serial groper....

State public utilities commission issues a yellow alert, asking Texans to conserve energy. It may not be a CapMetro shuttle you take to ACL later this summer. Pilot project in Travis and (part of) Williamson counties has found that 25% of drivers pulled over have no auto insurance. Yikes! Capital Area Food Bank running low on donations this summer. Austin author Bill Bishop (The Big Sort) stops by The Daily Show tonight....

DPS releases report on security at Governor's Mansion at time of the arson; sole DPS trooper on duty named and timeline revealed. Arsonist arrested after Friday's apartment fire that ruined 12 units off Jollyville. CapMetro wants buses to have "signal priority" so that lights will stay green when a bus is close by (which means you might want to stay behind that bus after all). It's summertime and the Central Texas Blood and Tissue Center needs your blood. The floating banana may not get off the ground after all....

City Manager Ott presented his proposed 2009 budget to the city today. Expect higher garbage and water rates, as well as rotating library branch closures. Public library usage up this summer. O ho, the Wells Fargo Tower has been sold. It looks like the Rio Grande levees will hold up after South Texas received a battering from Dolly....

Satellite Image/The Weather Channel Hurricane Dolly, classified as Category 2 this morning, is hitting the lower Texas coast, with the eye seemingly headed for Harlingen. Earlier this afternoon, Gov. Perry asked for a presidential disaster declaration which would aid recovery efforts after the storm is done slamming the border area. The latest news has Dolly weakening back to category 1 status.......

Holy $155 million, Batman! Obama kicks it with Karzai. Speaking of Obama, Maliki likes how he thinks. Treasury Secretary: "Hold on bitches, it's gonna get worse!" US and Iran: The new Paris and Nicole? Probably not. But they are talking. Dolly. Now more than just a cloned sheep or kick-ass country idol. It's hot. Surprise. ...

Anita Perry announces a fund (not yet non-profit) to raise money for mansion restoration. Man related to feet found at Lake Travis has been identified. Oklahoma paper to sue UT staffer for his fake news story. Sen. Cornyn far outpacing Democratic candidate Noriega as far as campaign money goes. Texas Public Utilities Commission deciding how much more money to invest in wind energy. Sunset Advisory Commission suggests that public (instead of the governor) should choose head of TxDOT....

Mom and kids find a loaded gun at Slaughter Creek park; a cop had apparently lost it while training a police dog there earlier in the morning. 11 Central Texans receive various sentences for fraudulent house-flipping. Office of Attorney General says that the mansion surveillance videos don't have to be released to the media. Southwest Airlines may soon have flights to Canada if their deal with WestJet works out. American Airlines will be cutting over two hundred jobs at airports in Texas. FDA blocking shipments of salsa ingredients (except for tomatoes) to the States from Mexico. Could cilantro be the salmonella carrier?...