Texas

A man-made lake in Texas has almost entirely dried up but what's catching attention is the deep, blood-like color of the water that is left.

Photos of the OC Fisher Reservoir in San Angelo State Park that began circulating fishing forums last week have conjured up apocalyptic images, with one preacher from Indiana saying the lake is another sign of the end times.

"I'm not saying that this Texas lake is these scriptures in Revelation but what I am saying is the Bible prophecies are slowly fulfilling themselves in the midst of an end time revelation – that we need to be right, we need to be saved, we need to be born again and ready to meet the coming king," said Paul Begley of Community Gospel Baptist Church in Knox. more >>

A Houston judge made a ruling Thursday that would allow Texas Gov. Rick Perry to take part in a prayer and fasting rally next month, dismissing a case brought by a group of atheists.

Judge Gray Miller tossed out the lawsuit Thursday afternoon after deciding that the plaintiffs had no legal standing in their attempt to block Perry from joining The Response, slated for August 6 at the Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Mark Miner, a spokesman for the governor, told ABC News he was pleased with the ruling. more >>

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is reportedly dismissing the panic over the debt ceiling and a possible debt default as overblown.

During a Houston bill signing ceremony Wednesday, the potential presidential contender assured that tax revenues would still be collected and the wheels of government would not come to a grinding halt August 3 if a comprise was not reached.

"I think this threat that somehow or another, the world's going to come to an end and the threat of we're not going to be able to pay our bills is a bit of a stretch," he told reporters. more >>

Perhaps the largest in the state, a 16-pound baby was born in Longview, Texas, recently, twice the weight of an average newborn.

Born to proud parents Janet Johnson and Michael Brown at the Good Shepherd Medical Center on Friday, JaMichael was expected to be 12 to 13 pounds, but not more than that.

Though a woman’s uterus could handle about 16 pounds, many doctors hope not to see such a large baby due to possible health complications. more >>

[UPDATE] 7/7 6:40 p.m.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Thursday a stay plea submitted by the Obama administration to delay the execution of convicted rapist and murderer Humberto Leal Garcia Jr., who is a Mexico national. In a 5-4 vote, the high court refused to postpone Texas' execution by lethal injection of Garcia at 7 p.m. ET. The Obama administration had urged the stay, arguing that executing Humberto could have international repercussions because he was not alerted of his rights as laid out in the Vienna Convention.

[This is a breaking news update. Check CP's earlier story below.] more >>

President Barack Obama and world agencies are pressuring Texas Governor Rick Perry, a conservative and death penalty supporter, to commute the scheduled Thursday execution of Mexican national Humberto Leal Garcia Jr. in the interest of international relations.

Garcia, now 38, is one day away from execution for the 1994 rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. However, the Obama administration is voicing concerns that executing Garcia could endanger relations with Mexico and the rest of the world.

Executing the foreign national "would have serious repercussions for United States foreign relations, law enforcement and other co-operation with Mexico, and the ability of American citizens traveling abroad to have the benefits of consular assistance in the event of detention," said Solicitor General Donald Verrilli. more >>