Watchdog Bytes

News flash: Prince Will and Kate will (hopefully) kick behinds royally in graphic novel

Finally -- a graphic novel based on the wedding of (we've always secretly suspected) crime fighting duo Prince William and Kate Middleton.   

Written by CW Cooke and penciled by Pablo Martinena, the book "looks to give context to two perceived fairy tale lives and how an eight-year romance flourished in such a fishbowl existence," according to a press release.

We hope it also details Prince William's career fighting vile paparazzi crime lords in the streets of London from the cockpit of his MI-6 enhanced Supermarine Spitfire.

The special collector's edition 40-page graphic novel retails for $7.99 and includes, again we're hoping, original sketches of the Dude of Wales kicking butt.

And let's just say we have a feeling that in this troubled world of crime, brutality and war, in the graphic novel below, things are about to get Harry:

-- Darren Barbee

Former Texas guard punted for kicking inmate in head with pointy boots

A Texas correctional officer who kicked a compliant inmate in the head with his pointy cowboy boots is going to the pokey.

This after the local DA for some inexplicable reason didn't take the case and the feds had to step in.

Nancy Sinatra Daniel Melgoza, a former Bexar County Sheriff's office deputy, was sentenced by a federal judge to 27 months in prison for depriving a man of his constitutional right to be free from excessive force and for writing false reports to cover up his misdeeds, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

“Correctional officers are entrusted with a great deal of power in order to carry out their critical public safety duties. But they must not be permitted to abuse that power by violating the rights of inmates under their supervision,” said Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez.

Before the Justice Department indicted Melgoza in 2009, the Bexar County district attorney's office mulled prosecution before deciding not to file charges, the San Antonio Express News reported. 

 

-- Darren Barbee

 

FDA website: If your search for beef recalls gives you eggs, make omelettes

The Food and Drug Administration has a product recall page that allows consumers to search for product problems. 

Our grade: Less than perfect but still interesting.

Watchdog did a little spot testing of the site and couldn’t figure out why, for instance, a search for beef recalls results in “undeclared egg” in a California sandwich. (The egg raises a potential for possible allergies for the anti-egg crowd). Searching for “apples” pulls up a recall on protein-based supplements that may have salmonella.

We finally got a good result searching for "milk," which brought up a warning about Le Bon Patissier’s undeclared wheat, egg, pistachios, walnuts or milk in its products.

On the plus side, the site gives you a list of the latest recalls, including, recently, herring in vegetable oil from a Brooklyn company. The herring may be contaminated with the spores that can cause Botulism.

The FDA says the product recall page allows sorting and search functions with results in an easy-to-read format. 

-- Darren Barbee

 

War torn: military personnel deaths in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany and Asia and Africa

AIR FORCE
Senior Airmen Michael J. Hinkle II, 24, of Corona, Calif., died March 16 due to a non-combat related incident in Southwest Asia.  He was assigned to the 28th Communications Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.  
Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, 25, of Williamston, S.C., died as a result of the March 2 shooting at Frankfurt Airport, Germany.  He was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron, RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom. 
Airman 1st Class Christoffer P. Johnson, 20, of Clarksville, Tenn., died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident in Southwest Asia.  He was assigned to the 423rd Security Forces Squadron, Royal Air Force Alconbury, England.

Airman 1st Class Corey C. Owens, 26, of San Antonio, Texas, died Feb. 17 due to a non-combat related incident at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 47th Security Forces Squadron, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas. 


ARMY

Three soldiers died of wounds suffered April 16, in Nimroz province, Afghanistan when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device.  They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. Killed were: Spc. Paul J. Atim, 27, of Green Bay, Wis.; Spc. Charles J. Wren, 25, of Beeville, Texas; and Pfc. Joel A. Ramirez, 22, of Waxahachie, Texas. 

Two soldiers died April 2 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their position with indirect fire in Babil, Iraq. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Quadi S. Hudgins, 26, of New Orleans, La. and Sgt. Christian A. S. Garcia, 30, of Goodyear, Ariz. They were assigned to the Maintenance Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas.

Two soldiers died April 4 of wounds suffered from small arms fire in Faryab province, Afghanistan.  The incident is under investigation. Killed were: Sgt. Scott H. Burgess, 32, of Franklin, Texas, and Sgt. Michael S. Lammerts, 26, of Tonawanda, N.Y. They were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany.

Three soldiers died March 29 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with small arms fire in Konar province,Afghanistan. Killed were: Sgt. 1st Class Ofren Arrechaga, 28, of Hialeah, Fla.; Staff Sgt. Frank E. Adamski III, 26, of Moosup, Conn.; and Spc. Jameson L. Lindskog, 23, of Pleasanton, Calif. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Two soldiers died March 29 at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with small arms fire in Konar province. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Bryan A. Burgess, 29, of Cleburne, Texas, and Pfc. Dustin J. Feldhaus, 20, of Glendale, Ariz. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Two soldiers died March 22, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire. Killed were Staff Sgt. Joshua S. Gire, 28, of Chillicothe, Ohio, and Pfc. Michael C. Mahr, 26, of Homosassa, Fla.  They were assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany. 

Two soldiers died March 19 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when they were allegedly shot with small arms fire by an individual from a military security group.  The incident is under investigation.  They were assigned to the 4th Squadron, 2nd Stryker Calvary Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. Killed were: Cpl. Donald R. Mickler Jr., 29, of Bucyrus, Ohio, and Pfc. Rudy A. Acosta, 19, of Canyon Country, Calif.  

Two soldiers died Feb. 28, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device. Killed were: Staff Sgt. Chauncy R. Mays, 25, of Cookville, Texas, and Spc. Christopher G. Stark, 22, of Monett, Mo. They were assigned to the 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion, 20th Support Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md. 

Spc. Joseph A. Kennedy, 25, of St. Paul, Minn. died April 15, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. 

Spc. Donald L. Nichols, 21, of Shell Rock, Iowa, died April 13, in Laghman province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, Waterloo, Iowa. 

Pvt. Brandon T. Pickering, 21, of Fort Thomas, Ky., died April 10 in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade in Wardak province, Afghanistan, April 8. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. 

Spc. Brent M. Maher, 31, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, died April 11 in Paktia province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, Iowa National Guard, Shenandoah, Iowa. 

Sgt. Vorasack T. Xaysana, 30, of Westminster, Colo., died April 10 in Kirkuk, Iraq, of injuries sustained April 9 in a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, Fort Hood, Texas. 

Sgt. Jose M. Caraballo Pietri, 32, of Yauco, Puerto Rico, died April 10 in Badghis province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment, 170th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Baumholder, Germany. 

Spc. Keith T. Buzinski, 26, of Daytona Beach, Fla., died April 7 in Logar province, Afghanistan of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. 

Spc. Gary L. Nelson III, 20, of Woodstock, Ga., died April 5 in Mosul, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. 

Capt. Wesley J. Hinkley, 36, of Carlisle, Pa., died April 4 in Baghdad, Iraq, as a result of a non-combat related incident. He was assigned to the 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart, Ga. 

Sgt. Jorge A. Scatliffe, 32, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, died April 3 in a non-combat related incident at Mosul, Iraq.  He was assigned to the 27th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. 

1st Lt. Robert F. Welch III, 26, of Denton (Wylie), Texas, died April 3 in Khost province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his base with indirect fire.  He was assigned to the 201st Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. 

Spc. Dennis C. Poulin, 26, of Cumberland, R.I., died March 31 in the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, of injuries sustained on March 28 in Konar province, Afghanistan, from a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts National Guard, Milford, Mass. 

Pvt. Jeremy P. Faulkner, 23, of Griffin, Ga., died March 29 of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small arms fire in Konar province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Spc. Justin D. Ross, 22, of Green Bay, Wis., died March 26 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit was attacked by small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 863rd Engineer Battalion, Wausau, Wis. 

Cpl. Brandon S. Hocking, 24, of Seattle, Wash., died March 21 in As Samawah, Iraq, when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 87th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. 

Master Sgt. Jamal H. Bowers, 41, of Raleigh, N.C., died March 18 at Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, as a result of a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 6th Battalion, 4th Military Information Support Group, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

Staff Sgt. Mecolus C. McDaniel, 33, of Fort Hood, Texas, died March 19 in Khowst province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 6th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. 

Sgt. Travis M. Tompkins, 31, of Lawton, Okla., died March 16 in Logar province, Afghanistan,of injuries sustained on March 15, when enemy forces attacked his unit with a rocket propelled grenade. He was assigned to the Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La.  

Pfc. Arturo E. Rodriguez, 19, of Bellflower, Calif., died March, 12 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Sgt. 1st Class Daehan Park, 36, of Watertown, Conn. died March 12, in Wardak province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

Pfc. Andrew M. Harper, 19, of Maidsville, W. Va., died March 11, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident.  He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. 

Staff Sgt. Eric S. Trueblood, 27, of Alameda, Calif., died March 10 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 391st Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 16th Sustainment Brigade, Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim, Germany. 

Cpl. Loren M. Buffalo, 20, of Mountain Pine, Ark., died March 9 in Kandahar province of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 75th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Spc. Andrew P. Wade, 22, of Antioch, Ill., died March 9 in Kunduz province, Afghanistan, as a result of a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. 

Pfc. Kalin C. Johnson, 19, of Lexington, S.C., died March 8 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of injuries sustained in a non-combat incident.  He was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. 

Staff Sgt. Mark C. Wells, 31, of San Jose, Calif., died March 5 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. 

Spc. Jason M. Weaver, 22, of Anaheim, Calif., died March 3 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

Spc. Rudolph R. Hizon 22, of Los Angeles, Calif., died Feb. 28, in Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, La. 

Pfc. David R. Fahey Jr., 23, of Norwalk, Conn., died Feb. 28, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 42nd Military Police Brigade, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. 

Sgt. Kristopher J. Gould, 25, of Saginaw, Mich., died Feb. 27, in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Knox, Ky. 

Spc. Brian Tabada, 21, of Las Vegas, Nev., died Feb. 27, in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire and a rocket propelled grenade.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Spc. Andrew C. Wilfahrt, 31, of Rosemount, Minn., died Feb. 27, in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to the 504th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. 

Staff Sgt. Jerome Firtamag, 29, of Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, was medically evacuated from Kandahar, Afghanistan, to the United States on Dec. 1, 2010, for treatment of a non-combat related illness.  He died Feb. 24 in Pembroke, Ky.  Firtamag was assigned to the 96th Combat Support Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

1st Lt. Daren M. Hidalgo, 24, of Waukesha, Wis., died Feb. 20 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using an improvised explosive device.  He was assigned to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany.  

Sgt. Robert C. Sisson Jr., 29, of Aliquippa, Pa., died Feb. 21 in Kandahar district, Afghanistan, in a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.   

Staff Sgt. Bradley C. Hart, 25, of Perrysburg, Ohio died February 17 at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa, of injuries sustained in a non combat incident.  He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, N.C. 

Spc. Jonathan A. Pilgeram, 22, of Great Falls, Mont., died Feb. 17 in Konar province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit using small arms fire.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky. 

Spc. Lashawn D. Evans, 24, of Columbia, S.C., died Feb. 15 in Baghdad province, Iraq, in a non-combat related incident.  He was assigned to the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division,Fort Riley, Kan.  

MARINES

Staff Sgt. Jason A. Rogers, 28, of Brandon, Miss., died April 7 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Combat Engineer Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Staff Sgt. Jeremy D. Smith, 26, of Arlington, Texas, died April 6 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, based out of Houston, Texas. This incident is under investigation. 

Lance Cpl. Harry Lew, 21, of Santa Clara, Calif., died April 3 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. This incident is under investigation. 

Staff Sgt. James M. Malachowski, 25, of Westminster, Md., died March 20 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Lance Cpl. Christopher S. Meis, 20, of Bennett, Colo., died March 17 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Cpl. Ian M. Muller, 22, of Danville, Vt., died March 11 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Cpl. Jordan R. Stanton, 20, of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., died March 4 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Cpl. Johnathan W. Taylor, 23, of Homosassa, Fla., died Feb. 22 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary 

Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Lance Cpl. Andrew P. Carpenter, 27, of Columbia, Tenn., died Feb. 19 of wounds received Feb. 14 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

Sgt. Matthew J. Deyoung, 26, of Talent, Ore., died Feb. 18 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan.  He was assigned to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 

NAVY

Seaman Benjamin D. Rast, 23, of Niles, Mich., died April 6 while conducting a dismounted patrol northeast of Patrol Base Alcatraz, Helmand province, Afghanistan.  Rast was assigned as a hospitalman to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division.  Rast was stationed at Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, San Diego, Calif. The incident is under investigation. 

Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent A. Filpi III, 41, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died as a result of a non-combat related incident.  Filpi was assigned to USS Enterprise as an aviation ordnanceman.  Enterprise is currently deployed to the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility conducting operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

New federal website offers so much government transparency it's invisible

Crooks pull pantyhose over their face to do their jobs. The Obama Administration cuts to the chase and hoses us when it comes to its job on opening up government. 

To wit, the government has once again failed to deliver on its promises of total and complete transparency. But to be fair, they have created something really, really transparent.

Introducing the new, public Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS), which was developed to give folks information about the “integrity and performance” of federal agency contractors and grantees. 

Did the grantees do something wrong? Go to FAPIIS and find out.

Except this website is transparently transparent.How transparent you may ask? So transparent it’s empty. You don’t get much more invisibly transparent than that.

Despite years of collecting data on contractors who have messed over taxpayers, the FAPIIS website will only display “integrity, performance, and proceeding information” that is entered as of April 15 or later. So anyone who has misbehaved with government money can bask in the free and clear. 

Thank you, Uncle Sam. That is you under that hose, right?

 

-- Darren Barbee

 

The Burro goes to ... firm accused of abusing, handcuffing intellectually disabled

  It’s early in the month, but the obvious Burro winner for April hails from Goldthwaite, Texas, southeast of Brownwood and slightly to the right of Bring out the Gimpville. 

In a lawsuit filed April 6, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission accuses the company of severely abusing and discriminating against a group of 31 men with intellectual disabilities for more than 20 years. Hill Country Farms, doing business as Henry’s Turkey Service is accused of denying the workers lawful wages, paying them only $65 a month for full-time work. 

The owners and operators also restricted their freedom of movement and imposed other harsh terms and conditions of employment on them, such as requiring them to live in deplorable and sub-standard living conditions, and failing to provide adequate medical care when needed, according to the EEOC. Verbal abuses included frequently referring to the workers as “retarded”, “dumb ass” and “stupid”.

Reported acts of physical abuse including hitting, kicking, at least one case of handcuffing, and forcing the disabled workers to carry heavy weights as punishment.

“The isolation and exploitation these men suffered for many years, while the fruits of their labor were cruelly consumed by their employer, cannot be explained away by good intentions, nor can the violations of the ADA be excused as antiquated social policy,” said Robert A. Canino, Regional Attorney of the EEOC’s Dallas District Office, which investigated the case and is bringing the lawsuit.

The company is based in Goldthwaite but the work and abuse occurred in West Liberty and Atalissa, Iowa. A woman who answered the phone at Hill Country Farms hung up the phone after saying no one was available for comment.

-- Darren Barbee

DFW Connector open house today -- best of luck getting there

At first we were a bit puzzled by the city of Grapevine’s press release entitled “DFW Connector Public Appreciation Day and Open House.”

Open House? Open House? Are you nuts?

OK, so then we read the rest of the the press release, which asks folks to stop by the Grapevine Convention Center. Sorry, Grapevine peeps.

Anyway, what a joyous day visitors can have as late as 8 p.m. today. Meet roadway project personnel! See how workers are kept safe! Examine the cars and trucks so mangled into fiery balls of twisted wreckage that they lowered the speed limit on the DFW Connector to 50 mph.

The last part we (mostly) made up.^*

Other fun things to do with the kids at DFW Connector Day: 1) Kids can build bridges out of Legos and roll toy Lego cars into the Lego bridge pilings. 2) Kids can put on a hard hat, vest and glasses for added protection on the ride home. 3) And learn how to chuckle politely when ignoring questions about the more than 40 percent increase in accidents on the DFW Connector since last year. 

^{* A March accident ripped open a diesel fuel tank being hauled by a tractor-trailer.}

-- Darren Barbee

BE IT RESOLVED: Texas has no grip on reality, career colleges

Watchdog has released the following resolution. If you work at a career college, get someone to read it to you: 

WHEREAS, the federal government has repeatedly found deceptive and fraudulent practices at some for-profit Texas career colleges, but the schools continue to operate because, hey, it's Texas; and

WHEREAS, students have had to sue the colleges because the state was so slow to act on their complaints about being misled by career schools; and

WHEREAS, students who find their diplomas worthless and can't get jobs default on their federal student loans, leaving taxpayers holding the bag; 

WHEREAS, the Texas Legislature will pass joint resolution 129 by Rep. Diane Patrick, R-Arlington, saying that state appropriately acts on complaints concerning career schools and colleges and enforces applicable state laws. 

WHEREAS, no, it really says that;

WHEREAS, that way, the federal spigot stays open for colleges that get 90 percent or more of their revenue from federal student aid; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that Patrick be forced to send her cute little grandbabies to those career colleges and see how they like it. After all, it's all about the kids.

 -- Lois Norder & Darren Barbee