BC-TX--Texas News Digest, TX

Texas news at 6 p.m. CDT.

Terry Wallace is on the desk, reachable at 281-872-8900. For access to AP Exchange and other technical issues, contact AP Customer Support at apcustomersupport@ap.org or 877-836-9477. If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to aptexas@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 1-888-273-6867.

— UPDATES Perry-Special Prosecutor.

— UPDATES Schools-Curriculum Overhaul.

— UPDATES Plant Explosion-Legislature.

— ADDS Political Money-Crossroads.

— ADDS Arson-Davis Office.

— UPDATES Beaumont Schools-Investigation.

— ADDS Freeze Concerns.

— ADDS Space Station.

— ADDS Remedial College.

— ADDS Dallas-Conjoined Boys.

— ADDS Castration-Slaying.

— ADDS Atlanta Schools Superintendent.

— ADDS Fire Trucks Collide.

— ADDS Music-Ray Price.

TOP STORIES:

PERRY-SPECIAL PROSECUTOR

AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas judge selected a second grand jury Monday in an investigation into whether Gov. Rick Perry abused his power by vetoing funding for public corruption prosecutors, and this time the Republican has retained a high-profile defense attorney to represent him. By Paul J. Weber and Will Weissert. SENT: 690 words.

SCHOOLS-CURRICULUM OVERHAUL

AUSTIN, Texas — A Senate panel's discussion about how best to overhaul the curriculum and testing procedures for Texas high schools at times felt like a political debate Monday, as a gubernatorial hopeful and two candidates for lieutenant governor competed for attention. Tea party-backed state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston heads the Senate Education Committee but is also the favorite to unseat incumbent Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and will face him in a runoff for the Republican nomination next month. The winner advances to November's general election against another committee member, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, the Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial nominee. By Will Weissert. SENT: 130 words. UPCOMING: 450 words by 6:30 p.m. CDT.

TEXAS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS:

PLANT EXPLOSION-LEGISLATURE

AUSTIN, Texas — The state fire marshal recommended Monday that 46 facilities storing ammonium nitrate in Texas be required to make structural improvements to prevent another deadly blast like the one that killed 15 people nearly a year ago in West. "There has to be some changes post-West," state fire marshal Chris Connealy told a Texas House committee. Thursday is the anniversary of the April 17 explosion, which also injured 200 people and caused $100 million in damage in the rural city of West. By Paul J. Weber. SENT: 420 words.

2016 PRESIDENTIAL CHECKLIST-CRUZ

AUSTIN, Texas — A look at preparations by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, for a potential 2016 presidential campaign: Nondenial denial: "My focus is entirely on working for Texans in the U.S. Senate." — February. Standard disclaimer when asked about running. By Will Weissert. SENT: 780 words, photo.

POLITICAL MONEY-CROSSROADS

WASHINGTON — After a stretch of anemic fundraising, the Karl Rove-backed American Crossroads super PAC raised more cash in March than it did during the previous 14 months combined, according to summaries of campaign filings released Monday. The GOP establishment's favorite super PAC raised almost $5.2 million last month and had more than $6.3 million in the bank as of March 31, according to the report summary. That cash will be used as the outside group tries to help Republicans pick up the six seats they need to win control of the Senate. By Philip Elliott. SENT: 650 words, photos.

IN BRIEF:

— ARSON-DAVIS OFFICE — A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for igniting a bag of Molotov cocktails outside the Fort Worth office of state Sen. Wendy Davis. SENT: 110 words.

AROUND THE STATE:

SHERIFF-CORRUPTION PROBE

McALLEN, Texas — A former South Texas sheriff whose office has attracted the attention of federal investigators has pleaded guilty to money laundering. Lupe Trevino appeared in federal court Monday and is facing a 20-year sentence. He resigned about two weeks ago as sheriff of Hidalgo County. The Monitor newspaper in McAllen reports Trevino admitted Monday to laundering campaign contributions that were tied to a convicted drug trafficker. SENT: 650 words, photo.

BEAUMONT SCHOOLS-INVESTIGATION

BEAUMONT, Texas — The state is taking over a troubled Southeast Texas school district that has been investigated over its finances and its handling of services to disabled students, state officials announced Monday, the same day two former district officials pleaded guilty to fraud charges. The Texas Education Agency will appoint a board of managers to oversee the Beaumont Independent School District, which has nearly 21,000 students, Texas Commissioner of Education Michael Williams said. Williams said he also plans to name a new district superintendent, and both should be appointed by June 15. SENT: 610 words.

OYSTER REEF RESTORATION

MATAGORDA, Texas — The Army Corps of Engineers has finished constructing the uppermost section of an artificial reef that conservationists hope will revive marine life in Matagorda Bay. Army contractors used bucket tractors to move the final blocks of concrete and limestone off a barge and into the water to build the top layer of the reef. The Corps added six rows to the 26 rows already installed by the Nature Conservancy that together form an underwater Coliseum-like structure 250 feet long and 50 feet wide rising in a semicircle from the seabed. The rows sit on the backbone of what used to be the historic Half Moon Reef and are staggered 30 feet, 60 feet and 90 feet apart. SENT: 310 words, photo.

FREEZE CONCERNS

ST. LOUIS — The winter that just won't quit has one more punch for the nation's Heartland — a cold front bringing a brief return to sub-freezing weather, creating concerns for growers of apples, peaches, grapes and other fruit. Temperatures in the 70s and 80s in recent days gave way to highs in the 40s in much of the lower Midwest on Monday, with even colder temperatures on the way. The National Weather Service issued freeze warnings for parts of six states — Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Illinois. By Jim Salter. SENT: 520 words.

SPACE STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A space station cargo ship will remain Earthbound for a while longer because of a rocket leak. With just over an hour remaining, the SpaceX company called off Monday's planned launch. Officials said they believe the problem can be fixed by Friday, the next opportunity for flying and the last chance before astronauts do urgent spacewalking repairs. A helium leak in the first-stage of the unmanned Falcon rocket forced a halt to the countdown, the latest delay spanning the past month. By Aerospace Writer Marcia Dunn. SENT: 530 words, photos, video.

REMEDIAL COLLEGE

BALTIMORE — The odds have long been stacked against students like those in Edward Ennels' remedial math classes at Baltimore City Community College. Only about a quarter of students nationally who take developmental — or remedial — classes ever graduate. At Texas State University and elsewhere, administrators have implemented a model that allows some students to enroll simultaneously in a remedial class and a college-level one in the same subject area. By Education Writer Kimberly Hefling. SENT: 970 words, photos.

DALLAS-CONJOINED BOYS

DALLAS — The conditions of conjoined twins separated last summer have steadily improved, and officials say they'll be released this week from a Dallas hospital. Officials at Medical City Children's Hospital announced Monday that Owen and Emmett Ezell are expected to be discharged Wednesday. They were born in July joined at the abdomen. SENT: 280 words.

UNT-FAMILY PHOTO COLLECTION

FORT WORTH, Texas — The University of North Texas has acquired hundreds of thousands of images amassed by four generations of photographers in one Fort Worth family. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Byrd Williams IV, his father, grandfather and great-grandfather all lived in Fort Worth and used cameras to earn a living, document history and create art. The collection dates to the late 1800s. SENT: 400 words, photos.

SPACE STATION

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The International Space Station is about to get some fresh groceries and material for an urgent repair job. An unmanned SpaceX rocket was scheduled to blast off at 4:58 p.m. Monday with more than 2 tons of supplies. By Marcia Dunn. SENT: 470 words, photo, video.

IN BRIEF:

— CASTRATION-SLAYING — A North Texas jury has found a woman guilty of murder for stabbing a man 130 times before castrating him at a Dallas hotel room. SENT: 130 words.

— ATLANTA SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT — The Atlanta school board has unanimously approved former Austin schools Superintendent Meria Carstarphen to serve as the Atlanta school system's new superintendent. SENT: 110 words.

— FIRE TRUCKS COLLIDE — Two firefighters have been injured when two San Antonio fire trucks collided while responding to an emergency call. SENT: 130 words.

— THREE TEENS DEAD-CRASH — Three teenagers from the East Texas town of Paris were killed in a one-vehicle crash that sent five others to hospitals. SENT: 130 words.

— MISSING BOATER — The U.S. Coast Guard says a body has been found that fits the description of a 48-year-old man who went missing from his boat off the coast of South Texas. SENT: 130 words.

— CENTRAL TEXAS-HOMICIDE — Authorities in the Central Texas town of Kyle say a man who was a witness in a police investigation into shots being fired has been found dead. SENT: 130 words.

— WEATHER-COLD BLAST — A cold front has brought snow to the Texas Panhandle, hail to the central part of the state and forecasts for freezing conditions accompanied by strong winds. SENT: 130 words.

— VEHICULAR HOMICIDE — A 75-year-old Tennessee woman pleaded no contest to an amended charge in the 2013 death of a 92-year-old woman on Highway 109 in Vinton, La. SENT: 130 words.

— EAST TEXAS-STORM DAMAGE — The National Weather Service will determine whether it was a tornado that destroyed three mobile homes in the small East Texas town of Lovelady. SENT: 130 words.

— SHOT FIRED AT FIREFIGHTERS — Police in Central Texas have arrested an 18-year-old they believe fired at least one shot at firefighters responding to a blaze in a shed. SENT: 130 words.

— SAN ANTONIO ZOO-KOMODO DRAGON — The hatching of a Komodo dragon almost four months after his mother's death has cheered San Antonio Zoo employees and visitors. SENT: 130 words.

— PARK DEDICATED TO LAWMAN — A park at the Port Arthur Sub-courthouse has been dedicated to a man who spent 57 years in law enforcement in Southeast Texas. SENT: 130 words.

ENTERTAINMENT:

— MUSIC-RAY PRICE — The late Ray Price titled his final studio recording "Beauty Is ..."after an opening duet with Vince Gill that draws on the axiom about the eye of the beholder. SENT: 130 words.

BUSINESS:

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES-PROFIT SHARING

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines says employees will get a record $228 million in profit-sharing this year, nearly double the payout of a year ago. The airline said Monday that the payout is based on results from 2013, when net income hit a record $754 million. SENT: 130 words.

Also:

— SOUTHWEST-WRONG AIRPORT — Southwest Airlines Co. says that the co-pilot of a plane that landed at the wrong airport in January has retired, while the plane's captain has resumed flying. SENT: 130 words.

SPORTS REFER:

BKN--SPURS-ROCKETS

HOUSTON — Dwight Howard and the Houston Rockets host the San Antonio Spurs, needing a win to clinch the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. By Kristie Rieken. UPCOMING: 750 words, photos. Game starts at 7 p.m. CT.

_______________

If you have stories of regional or statewide interest, please email them to aptexas@ap.org. If you have photos of regional or statewide interest, please send them to the AP state photo center in New York, 888-273-6867. If you have questions about the Texas AP news report, please contact News Editor James Beltran at 972-991-2100 or jbeltran@ap.org.

MARKETPLACE: Calling your attention to the Marketplace in AP Exchange, where you can find member-contributed content from Texas and other states. The Marketplace is accessible on the left navigational of the AP Exchange home page, near the bottom. For both national and state, you can click "All" or search for content by topics such as education, politics and business.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.