Capital Highlights A summary of the week's significant events in Austin
State authorities intervene at religious sect compound
Ed Sterling Texas Press Association

A USTIN - State authorities on April 3 entered YFZ Ranch, a 1,700-

acre compound located

near Eldorado, owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and under construction since 2004.

Over a period of a few days 416 children and 139 women who resided in the compound were placed in state custody and transported by bus to temporary quarters in San Angelo. The women reportedly left the compound voluntarily.

Emergency calls made to a local family violence shelter prompted the state to take action. A caller who identified herself as a 16-year-old mother reported that she had suffered physical and sexual abuse inside of the compound, according to a six-page affidavit filed in Schleicher County.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services directed the relocation of the YFZ women and children to San Angelo. An estimated 700 workers took part in the effort. The agency is lining up guardians ad litem and licensed foster care for the children.

The San Angelo Standard- Times reported April 11 that the city of San Angelo alone is paying $60,000 a day toward the care of the children removed from the compound.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is overseeing medical and mental health services for the children.

The agency reported that about a dozen children have what appears to be chicken pox.

About 25 mental health professionals were on the job as of April 11, along with four doctors and 10 nurses. Plans were made to bring in 14 more doctors and medical assistants to see to the group's needs.

Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick signed a joint letter to Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, addressing costs arising from the situation.

The state's three top officials asked Combs to allow the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to cover allowable legitimate emergency costs for state agencies and local governmental bodies. Ethics post ahead for Lehmberg

Rosemary Lehmberg won the April 8 Democratic primary runoff for Travis County district attorney, defeating fellow Assistant Travis County District Attorney Mindy Montford.

By state law, the Travis County district attorney serves as the state's chief ethics prosecutor in addition to the normal district attorney duties.

Current Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle is retiring after 31 years in office. Lehmberg has served as Earle's chief deputy for a decade. Earle endorsed Lehmberg's candidacy.

No Republican filed as a candidate, meaning Lehmberg will run unopposed on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

AG appoints solicitor general

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott on April 9 announced the appointment of James C. Ho as solicitor general of Texas, replacing R. Ted Cruz.

As the state's chief appellate lawyer, Ho will oversee both criminal and civil litigation before state and federal appeals courts and will represent Texas before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ho also will serve as a top legal advisor to Abbott.

Cruz will return to private practice later this spring. He argued eight cases before the U.S. Supreme Court since his tenure began in January 2003.

Unlicensed locksmith are caught

The Texas Department of Public Safety in late March arrested seven employees of unlicensed locksmith companies and three employees of unlicensed alarm companies in El Paso. Arrests were made when the individuals offered alarm and locksmith services to undercover officers, the DPS reported on April 8.

"These companies have access to private homes, and the licensing process guarantees that their employees have undergone criminal background checks, are not registered sex offenders and meet basic requirements established by Texas law," said DPS chief, Col. Thomas A. Davis Jr.

Corridor comment period expires

On April 18, a 30-day extension of the public comment period for the Texas Department of Transportation's "Interstate- 69/Trans-Texas Corridor Tier One Draft Environmental Impact Statement" expires.

TxDOT Executive Director Amadeo Saenz said the agency conducted more than 500 public meetings on the proposed Interstate 69 and Interstate 35 projects.

Citizens voiced resistance to the proposals at many of the public meetings and hearings.

Ed Sterling is director of member services for the Texas Press Association in Austin.