Bus crash memories linger 40 years later€¦ · Pope Benedict XVI calls for an end to the...
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‘Killing people’ was objective of ex-con in firefighter deaths In Webster, N.Y., an ex-convict killed two firefighters with the same caliber and make military-style rifle used in the Newtown, Conn., massacre. William Spengler, 62, set his house afire on Christmas Eve, then took a sniper position. A2 NatioN & World Obama to exit Hawaii in hopes of fiscal deal President Barack Obama planned to cut his Christmas vacation short and return to Washington to make a last-ditch push for a ‘fiscal cliff’ compromise with Congress. A3 Afghanistan slaying: The policewoman who killed an American contractor in Kabul is a native Iranian who displayed ‘unstable behavior’ but had no known links to militants. A2 Papal Christmas message: Pope Benedict XVI calls for an end to the slaughter in Syria, meaningful talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and more religious freedom under China’s new leaders. A3 MEtro & StatE Early graduation path at high schools A new program will help high- achieving students get their diplomas a year early with a good chance of admission to the University of Texas or Texas A&M. B1 Courthouse tour: An Austin couple have visited all 254 county courthouses in Texas on a two-year odyssey. B1 Helping one who served: A former Marine who has multiple sclerosis gets a hand from businesses and the community through the Season for Caring program. B1 BUSiNESS Young adults once again leaving nest With the economy improving and their jobless rate falling, more young American adults are leaving their parents’ homes and giving the housing market a boost. B8 Statesman Interview: Matt Murphy, president and general manager of Grande Communications, talks about what is making the small Texas cable provider successful. B8 SPortS A season in 10 plays for Longhorns Cedric Golden looks at the key plays that defined this season for the Texas football team. C1 In tHE nEws Business B8-9 Deaths B4 Life & Arts D1 Sports C1 Classifieds D10 To subscribe to the American-Statesman, call 445-4040 © 2012, Austin American-Statesman Over a tight, two-lane bridge about 10 miles east of Fort Sumner, John Roberts, a postal clerk and the 38-year-old driver of the lead bus, squeezed the vehicle past an oncoming tractor- trailer carrying cattle. He thought it was moving too fast. A moment later, in the rear-view mirror, he saw sparks light up the night, “like a flashbulb going off,” he would say later. In the flash, Rob- erts witnessed the behemoth cattle truck and the trailing bus crash with such ferocity that the collision ripped the bus frame from its body. Roberts pulled over. He and some of the pas- sengers ran back into the dark, 26-degree night, and on that lonely stretch of U.S. 60-84, hun- dreds of miles away from home, they came upon a horrific scene: The cattle truck had side- swiped the bridge railing and then jackknifed, whipping its long trailer into the bus with New Mexico highway rerouted after accident ■ Replacement of bridge had been postponed for years due to lack of money, A8 Survivors, rescuers recall horrific night when 19 died Woodlawn continued on A8 Bus crash memories linger 40 years later Ron Hicks (left) and Frank Estes lay a wreath Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Woodlawn Baptist Church bus tragedy, in which both of Estes’ parents were killed. Rodolfo gonzalez / ameRican-statesman STATESMAN REMEMBERS: WOODLAWN BAPTIST BUS CRASH This bus was carrying teen members of Woodlawn Baptist Church and chaperones to a religious re- treat in New Mexico on Dec. 26, 1972, when it collid- ed with a cattle truck. The crash killed 19 people, in- cluding 16 teens, and injured 17. associated PRess By Juan Castillo | [email protected] On the night after Christmas 40 years ago, two buses carved a thin line across the vast blackness of the New Mexico plains. They carried 58 young people and seven chaperones from Woodlawn Baptist Church in South Austin, the passengers still reveling in the merry holiday glow, en route to a religious retreat and skiing in the eastern New Mexico mountains. By Tim Eaton [email protected] The odds always appear long for passing bills to expand gambling in Texas, but every two years, unrelenting propo- nents hope for a lucky break. For the legislative session that will begin in a couple of weeks, various gambling pushers will be returning with more unity than they have seen in a long time. But even if the groups — which have been at odds in the past — share a vision for casinos in Texas, they could face a daunting task in 2013, especially since passing a gambling bill would take the support of two-thirds of both chambers and voters’ approval in a statewide referendum. Bill Miller, an Austin polit- ical consultant and lobbyist, said gambling is always a tough sell for proponents, but this time around, a high level Gambling proponents hope odds improve with unified effort. Casino backers change strategy LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: GAMBLING ComPREhEnSIVE CoVERAGE This report is one in a series of stories previewing important state issues before the 83rd Legislature, which will convene Jan. 8. Gambling continued on A By Ricardo Gandara [email protected] A window sticker on her well-worn 2002 Toyota Prius reads, “Biting Those Who Need to be Bitten.” Another asks, “Dear officer, what part of the Constitution are you defending today?” The messages are spot on about Debbie Russell, though she concedes she’s now more focused on students as a trustee of the Del Valle school board. The outspoken 44-year-old activist has made headlines on social issues ranging from open government to police misconduct to the Occupy Austin protests and even championed the late Leslie Cochran, Austin’s iconic cross- dressing homeless man. She took part in the successful campaign to pass Proposi- tion 3 to allow the election of Austin City Council members AUSTIN ACTIVISM Area activist lowering her profile Russell involved in a range of causes but now focusing on schools. Russell continued on A Debbie Russell might be best known for her criticism of the Austin Police Department. By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press WASHINGTON — New taxes are coming Jan. 1 to help finance President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Most people may not notice. But they will pay attention if Con- gress decides to start taxing employer-sponsored health insurance, one option in play if lawmakers can ever agree on a budget deal to reduce federal deficits. The tax hikes already on the books, taking effect in 2013, fall mainly on people who make lots of money and on the health care industry. But about half of Americans ben- efit from the tax-free status of employer health insurance. Workers pay no income or payroll taxes on what their employer contributes for health insurance, and in most cases on their own share of Health care taxes for 2013 could start trend affordable care act Health care continued on A Today Sunny and chilly. 46/25 Thursday: Mostly sunny. 58/45 Friday: 20% chance of rain. 60/36 Saturday: Partly cloudy. 58/33 Sunday: Partly cloudy. 57/43 $1.00 Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Breaking news at statesman.com Real Austin. Real News. LIFE & ARTS, D1 Bubbly toast: Tips to enjoy a year’s worth of champagne SPORTS, C1 Bowl test: It’s time to find out how good Big 12 really is METRO & STATE, B1 Foul weather: Tornadoes, storms, snow smack Texas YOUR WEATHER, B10
Transcript of Bus crash memories linger 40 years later€¦ · Pope Benedict XVI calls for an end to the...
‘Killing people’ was objective of ex-conin firefighter deathsIn Webster, N.Y., an ex-convict killed two firefighters with the same caliber and make military-style rifle used in the Newtown, Conn., massacre. William Spengler, 62, set his house afire on Christmas Eve, then took a sniper position. A2
NatioN & WorldObama to exit Hawaii in hopes of fiscal dealPresident Barack Obama planned to cut his Christmas vacation short and return to Washington to make a last-ditch push for a ‘fiscal cliff’ compromise with Congress. A3
Afghanistan slaying: The policewoman who killed an American contractor in Kabul is a native Iranian who displayed ‘unstable behavior’ but had no known links to militants. A2
Papal Christmas message: Pope Benedict XVI calls for an end to the slaughter in Syria, meaningful talks between Israelis and Palestinians, and more religious freedom under China’s new leaders. A3
MEtro & StatEEarly graduation path at high schools A new program will help high-achieving students get their diplomas a year early with a good chance of admission to the University of Texas or Texas A&M. B1
Courthouse tour: An Austin couple have visited all 254 county courthouses in Texas on a two-year odyssey. B1
Helping one who served: A former Marine who has multiple sclerosis gets a hand from businesses and the community through the Season for Caring program. B1
BUSiNESSYoung adults once again leaving nestWith the economy improving and their jobless rate falling, more young American adults are leaving their parents’ homes and giving the housing market a boost. B8
Statesman Interview:Matt Murphy, president and general manager of Grande Communications, talks about what is making the small Texas cable provider successful. B8
SPortSA season in 10 plays for LonghornsCedric Golden looks at the key plays that defined this season for the Texas football team. C1
In tHE nEws
Business B8-9Deaths B4Life & Arts D1Sports C1Classifieds D10
To subscribe to theAmerican-Statesman,
call 445-4040© 2012, Austin American-Statesman
Over a tight, two-lane bridge about 10 miles east of Fort Sumner, John Roberts, a postal clerk and the 38-year-old driver of the lead bus, squeezed the vehicle past an oncoming tractor-trailer carrying cattle. He thought it was moving too fast. A moment later, in the rear-view mirror, he saw sparks light up the night, “like a flashbulb going off,” he would say later. In the flash, Rob-erts witnessed the behemoth cattle truck and the trailing bus crash with such ferocity that the collision ripped the bus frame from its body.
Roberts pulled over. He and some of the pas-sengers ran back into the dark, 26-degree night, and on that lonely stretch of U.S. 60-84, hun-dreds of miles away from home, they came upon a horrific scene: The cattle truck had side-swiped the bridge railing and then jackknifed, whipping its long trailer into the bus with New Mexico highway rerouted after accident
■ Replacement of bridge had been postponed for years due to lack of money, A8
Survivors, rescuers recall horrific night when 19 died
Woodlawn continued on A8
Bus crash memories linger 40 years later
Ron Hicks (left) and Frank Estes lay a wreath Friday to mark the 40th anniversary of the Woodlawn Baptist Church bus tragedy, in which both of Estes’ parents were killed. Rodolfo gonzalez / ameRican-statesman
STATESMAN REMEMBERS: WOODLAWN BAPTIST BUS CRASH
This bus was carrying teen members of Woodlawn Baptist Church and chaperones to a religious re-treat in New Mexico on Dec. 26, 1972, when it collid-ed with a cattle truck. The crash killed 19 people, in-cluding 16 teens, and injured 17. associated PRess
By Juan Castillo | [email protected]
On the night after Christmas 40 years ago, two buses carved a thin line across the vast blackness of the New Mexico plains. They carried 58 young people and seven chaperones from Woodlawn Baptist Church in South Austin, the passengers still reveling in the merry holiday glow, en route to a religious retreat and skiing in the eastern New Mexico mountains.
By Tim [email protected]
The odds always appear long for passing bills to expand gambling in Texas, but every two years, unrelenting propo-nents hope for a lucky break.
For the legislative session that will begin in a couple of weeks, various gambling pushers will be returning with more unity than they have seen in a long time.
But even if the groups — which have been at odds in the past — share a vision for casinos in Texas, they could face a daunting task in 2013, especially since passing a gambling bill would take the support of two-thirds of both chambers and voters’ approval in a statewide referendum.
Bill Miller, an Austin polit-ical consultant and lobbyist, said gambling is always a tough sell for proponents, but this time around, a high level
Gambling proponents hope odds improve with unified effort.
Casino backers change strategy
LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: GAMBLING
ComPREhEnSIVECoVERAGEThis report is one in a series of stories previewing important state issues before the 83rd Legislature, which will convene Jan. 8.
Gambling continued on A�
By Ricardo Gandara [email protected]
A window sticker on her well-worn 2002 Toyota Prius reads, “Biting Those Who Need to be Bitten.” Another asks, “Dear officer, what part of the Constitution are you
defending today?”The messages are spot on
about Debbie Russell, though she concedes she’s now more focused on students as a trustee of the Del Valle school board.
The outspoken 44-year-old
activist has made headlines on social issues ranging from open government to police misconduct to the Occupy Austin protests and even championed the late Leslie Cochran, Austin’s iconic cross-dressing homeless man. She took part in the successful campaign to pass Proposi-tion 3 to allow the election of Austin City Council members
AUSTIN ACTIVISM
Area activist lowering her profileRussell involved in a range of causes but now focusing on schools.
Russell continued on A�
Debbie Russell might be best known for her criticism of the Austin Police Department.
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar Associated Press
WASHINGTON — New taxes are coming Jan. 1 to help finance President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul. Most people may not notice. But they will pay attention if Con-gress decides to start taxing employer-sponsored health insurance, one option in play if lawmakers can ever agree on a budget deal to reduce federal deficits.
The tax hikes already on the books, taking effect in 2013, fall mainly on people who make lots of money and on the health care industry. But about half of Americans ben-efit from the tax-free status of employer health insurance. Workers pay no income or payroll taxes on what their employer contributes for health insurance, and in most cases on their own share of
Health care taxes for 2013 could start trend
affordable care act
Health care continued on A�
TodaySunny and chilly. 46/25
Thursday: Mostly sunny. 58/45Friday: 20% chance of rain. 60/36Saturday: Partly cloudy. 58/33Sunday: Partly cloudy. 57/43
$1.00
Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Breaking news at statesman.comReal Austin. Real News.
LIFE & ARTS, D1
Bubbly toast: Tips to enjoy a year’s worth of champagne
SPORTS, C1
Bowl test: It’s time to find out how good Big 12 really is
METRO & STATE, B1
Foul weather: Tornadoes, storms, snow smack Texas
YOUR WEATHER, B10YOUR WEATHER, B10
