North Texas Getting a New State Park

A more than $7.1 million land sale has been completed for a planned state park in North Texas.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department on Tuesday announced it has closed on the purchase of more than 3,300 acres of Cross Timbers region land from several owners.

The sale, which closed last week, involves property that straddles the Palo Pinto County and Stephens County line near Strawn, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

Officials say an agreement is in the works to use Tucker Lake in the planned state park.

No projected opening date has been announced.

Funds for the purchase came from the 2008 sale of the former Eagle Mountain Lake State Park.

Long-Time Oscar Producer Gil Cates Dies at 77

Legendary producer and industry icon Gilbert “Gil” Cates, known for producing the Academy Awards, died Monday on the UCLA campus, a university spokesman confirmed. He was 77.

Emergency medical personnel responded to a call on campus shortly before 6 p.m. Monday but were unable to revive Cates, according to a message posted on the UCLA website.

The Los Angeles County coroner is investigating the cause of death.

Cates produced 14 Academy Awards shows in 18 years and won an Emmy in 1991 for the 63rd annual Oscars. He most recently produced the “80th Annual Academy Awards” show for ABC.

“Our deepest condolences and love go out to Gil's beloved family at this very difficult time,” said Teri Schwartz, dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Cates was the founding dean of the film school, a position he held from 1990 to 1998. He was also a professor at the school.

"Today we mourn our great loss but also celebrate Gil's extraordinary vision and countless contributions," Schwartz said in the UCLA website message.

UCLA's film school students "benefited from his remarkable talent, insights, generosity, experience and wisdom,” Schwartz said.

Cates was also producing director at the Geffen Playhouse, where he directed Jeffrey Hatcher’s “A Picasso” and many other plays at the venue.

He was best known as the long-time producer of the Academy Awards.

"Gil was our colleague, our friend and a former governor of the Acaedemy," said Academy President Tom Sherak.

"He was a consummate professional who gave the Academy and the world some of the most memorable moments in Oscar history," Sherak said.

Cates was an active member of the Directors Guild of America, serving as president for five years and as a board member or officer since 1975.  

"His passing is a tremendous loss to the entertainment industry," Sherak said. "Our thoughts go out to his family."

Cates is survived by his wife, Dr. Judith Reichman, four children, two stepchildren and six grandchildren.

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Texas Students Gain in Math; Reading Scores Flat

Fourth and eighth-graders in Texas are doing better in math, but gains in reading proficiency remain elusive.

That's according to results released Tuesday on the Nation's Report Card. Results show Texas students lagging behind the national average on reading scores. For eighth graders, the average score was three points below the national average.

Texas students exceeded their national peers in math -- by seven points in eighth grade. Math scores have been improving steadily over the past two decades.

Reading performance gaps between white students and black and Hispanic students in Texas were unchanged from a decade ago. In math, however, those gaps have narrowed slightly.

The results are based on the National Assessment on Educational Progress, administered by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics.

Texas Drought to Continue Another Year: Official

Texas state senators are hearing sobering news on how a record-breaking drought will continue -- and the costly measures needed to keep up with future water demand.

State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon testified Tuesday that the drought that began in October 2010 should last at least another year.

He said Texas had its hottest summer ever and tied with Oklahoma for the hottest in U.S. history. Rising temperatures means increased evaporation in reservoirs, further depleting already decimated water stocks.

Through September, Texas averaged only 8.5 inches of rain, nearly 13 inches less than normal, the driest in state annals.

Carolyn Brittin of the Texas Water Development Board urged implementing a plan to bolster future water stocks but said estimated costs have increased from $31 billion in 2007 to $53 billion today.

Texas Drought to Continue Another Year: Official

Texas state senators are hearing sobering news on how a record-breaking drought will continue -- and the costly measures needed to keep up with future water demand.

State climatologist John Nielsen-Gammon testified Tuesday that the drought that began in October 2010 should last at least another year.

He said Texas had its hottest summer ever and tied with Oklahoma for the hottest in U.S. history. Rising temperatures means increased evaporation in reservoirs, further depleting already decimated water stocks.

Through September, Texas averaged only 8.5 inches of rain, nearly 13 inches less than normal, the driest in state annals.

Carolyn Brittin of the Texas Water Development Board urged implementing a plan to bolster future water stocks but said estimated costs have increased from $31 billion in 2007 to $53 billion today.

Tug Boat Pilot Sentenced to a Year and a Day in Duck Boat Crash

The tug boat pilot who was on his cell phone for a family emergency when the barge he was steering crashed into a stalled duck boat filled with tourists was sentenced Tuesday to one year and a day in prison.

Matthew Devlin of Catskill, N.Y., pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in August.

The guilty plea and the sentencing stem from the death of two Hungarian students, 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner and 20-year-old Szabolcs Prem, who were on the duck boat, and killed in the July 7, 2010 crash.

Prem’s father told the court Tuesday that he plays Bruce Springsteen’s song “Streets of Philadelphia” often and cries.

“I wish that I could take it all back,” Matt Devlin said in court when he pleaded guilty in August this year. “I just wasn’t thinking clearly after getting the news.”

“The news” Devlin was referring to was that his 5-year-old son went eight minutes without oxygen during routine eye surgery that day, and Devlin, while acting as pilot, was on his cell phone with family after learning the news.

The 35-year-old Devlin was charged with misconduct of a ship operator causing death, a maritime offense that authorities describe as the equivalent of involuntary manslaughter.

The deadly crash occurred after the duck boat stalled in the busy shipping channel. As it sat anchored, awaiting help, the barge began bearing down, and its tug operator didn't respond to distress calls, authorities said.

In the minutes before the crash, Devlin repeatedly made and received calls on his cellphone, surfed the Internet for medical information and moved to a lower wheelhouse for more privacy -- putting the stalled duck boat in his blind spot, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board.

The crash sent all 37 people on the duck boat into the river, but 16-year-old Dora Schwendtner and 20-year-old Szabolcs Prem did not resurface. The Hungarians were visiting the United States through a church exchange program.

Texas Red Tide Kills 4.2 Million Fish Since September

The algae bloom known as red tide has killed 1.2 million more fish along the Texas coast in less than two weeks.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported Monday that about 4.2 million fish have died since the red tide outbreak began in September. The agency on Oct. 20 estimated 3 million fish had been killed.

State health officials last week banned, until further notice, commercial and recreational harvesting of oysters, clams and mussels due to red tide. Tuesday would have been opening day for public harvest of oysters through April.

Experts say red tide, often present in the fall, is worse this year because of the Texas drought and recent excessive heat. The algae thrive in warm, salty water.

Red tide can cause respiratory problems in people.