STATE & LOCAL
Judge to confirm Robin Hood system unconstitutional
District Judge John Dietz was expected to issue a written statement Monday that would make official his Sept. 15 oral ruling that the Texas school finance system is unconstitutional.
If Dietz's ruling remains the same, the Texas Legislature will have one year to fix the inadequacy of the Robin Hood system, which taxes rich school districts more than poorer districts based on property taxes, then redistributes funds to level the education playing field.
The 300 school districts who filed suit against the system say the state should take on more of education's funding.
Jerry Strickland, spokesman for Attorney General Greg Abbott, said Abbott will appeal the decision as soon as it's made official.
- Juliana Torres
High Court postpones Texas redistricting appeal case
The U.S. Supreme Court postponed making a decision to hear the Texas redistricting appeal case until the end of the week.
The court will decide during an Oct. 8 conference whether to hear the case or dismiss it, leaving the current Congressional district map in place.
The Democrats appealed last fall, claiming the current Congressional district lines illegally benefit the Republican party.
Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz, who represents the Republicans, declined to comment.
- Leslie Flynn
Dick Cheney, John Edwards to debate tonight in Ohio
Vice President Dick Cheney will defend his title against Sen. John Edwards tonight at 8 p.m. in Cleveland, Ohio.
Case Western Reserve University will host the showdown. The men will get an even assortment of foreign and domestic policy questions, as agreed by the parties.
- Jeff Squire
UNIVERSITY
SpaceShipOne designer to speak at UT this Friday
"Space for the Rest of Us!", a lecture by experimental aircraft designer Burt Rutan on space tourism, will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in the Lyndon B. Johnson Auditorium. Rutan is the designer of SpaceShipOne, the world's first privately funded and staffed aircraft to enter outer space.
On Oct. 3, SpaceShipOne launched a pilot and two passengers into space, and repeated the trip Monday, winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize.
- Lori Holcomb
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