The Pentagon says it will extend some benefits to same-sex domestic partners of military servicemembers. This comes a year and a half after the repeal of the military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy. Outside the visitor’s center at Fort Hood, men and women in camouflage stream into the building, paperwork in hand. Paul Eagen, of nearby Copperas Cove, spent ten years working at Fort Hood. “I’ve been to Iraq. I’ve been stabbed and shot at as a contractor,” he said. But giving benefits to the spouses of gay and lesbian service members isn't something that keeps Eagen up at night. “They’re doing the same task I am," said Eagen. "They’re surviving, they’re over there protecting. Leave ‘em alone!” Not everyone agrees with Eagen. Several older men...
» read more

We’re still about a month away from March Madness, but Austin City Council members are already filling out their brackets. The council is deliberating what to do with a $14 million budget surplus at mid-fiscal year – the result of higher-than-expected sales tax and development revenues. The council held one work session delving into the topic already; at its work session tomorrow, the council’s posted to take action spending all or part of the available surplus. So what projects will council members fund?...
» read more