Austin American-Statesman

Everything has to be bigger in Texas. That's why it's fitting that Texas State University is now home to the largest human power plant in the world. Full Story »

There are beauty procedures about which Texas law is perfectly clear. People must be licensed by the state if they intend to bleach, cleanse, color, cut, dress, dye, process, shampoo, shape, singe, straighten, style, tint, wave — or otherwise beautify — hair. Full Story »

State and county environmental investigators have started investigations into how the City of Austin disposes of used tires from its fleet of cars and trucks. Full Story »

A decade ago, William Kent Riley walked into Dana and George Taggart's kitchen in Rockport with an air of predestiny and a plan to revive their Christian youth group. Full Story »

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The City of Austin's push toward a November 2010 passenger rail referendum could pick up speed Thursday, when the City Council will consider a $1 million contract to design a route and refine what has been a rough $600 million cost estimate. Full Story »

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said Monday that prosecutors will seek the death penalty for Areli Carbajal Escobar , charged with capital murder in the May slaying of a 17-year-old who lived near him in a Decker Lane apartment complex. Full Story »

A single-engine turboprop plane crashed Monday in foggy conditions while on final approach to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, killing the pilot and his 6-year-old grandson. Full Story »

Liberal Arts and Science Academy junior Dan Liu will share the $100,000 Siemens Competition grand prize for research, competition officials announced Monday. Full Story »

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Bob Jensen was 17 and assigned to the USS Maryland. The battleship, one of eight in the harbor that day, was struck by two bombs; four men lost their lives. Full Story »

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Grace Eckhoff took an unlikely path to the University of Texas. She home-schooled herself in Haiti while her parents, both physicians, worked at a hospital. After graduating from Bellaire High School near Houston, she moved to Afghanistan with her parents. Full Story »

Williamson County does not take cattle rustling lightly. Judge Ken Anderson sentenced Monte Sharp, who admitted stealing more than 1,000 cattle from a local broker, to 20 years in prison Monday. Full Story »

My latest hero? Laura Palawski, 24, who works at the Starbucks at Sixth Street and Congress Avenue. Full Story »

Getting to the airport, which involves negotiating a gantlet of traffic lights from every direction, might get easier in the not-so-distant future. Full Story »

A photo caption on Sunday's Page A8 misidentified Leon Rausch, who performed with Bob Wills' Texas Playboys at the Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball on Jan. 19. Full Story »

Responding to an "identity crisis," the Travis County Healthcare District has changed its name — for the second time. Full Story »

Rachel Leslie, 10, tried for years to win the City of Austin's annual coloring contest, the prize for which is throwing the switch to light the Zilker Tree. Full Story »

John Marler's goal is to make Georgetown the winery capital of Texas. What he needs is 4,501 signatures from registered voters in the city. Full Story »

The Central Health board — formerly the board of what was known as the Travis County Healthcare District — will hold a public hearing Thursday on whether to renew contracts with two organizations that perform abortions — an issue that packed an October meeting with opponents of the contracts and a sprinkling of supporters. Full Story »

One day you're a student at Austin Community College, snapping up what you expect to be part-time, temporary work doing odds and ends at an engineering firm. Full Story »

If you have a toll road or a highway interchange on your Christmas shopping list, you're in luck. Full Story »

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