Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • B1

By W. Gardner Selby Businessman and former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert says fellow candidate Ted Cruz, a Houston lawyer, has a meaningful gap in his background. During the April 13 Republican U.S. Senate debate in Dallas, Cruz asked Leppert to comment on another position on wage taxes. Leppert go there, instead replying: reality of it is that you have been a terri sta er in the attorney ce.

But the reality of it is you led businesses. So when you start talking about these issues, on how they impact business, to you really an academic exercise. To me, a Has Cruz never led a business? Leppert spokesman Daniel Keylin told us that Leppert based his claim on biography as presented on his campaign web site. Cruz says in the biographical section that he is a Tom Leppert Statement: Opponent Ted Cruz has not led businesses. Cruz has law experience, lacks business background Sorting out the truth in politics www.politifacttexas.com See POLITIFACT back page See TRUCKER Fired for refusing to drive unsafe load, trucker loses damages on 2nd appeal Court cuts $200,000 awarded to driver texas By Chuck Lindell Under a Texas Supreme Court ruling delivered Friday, a trucker red for refusing to drive an unsafe vehicle saying he feared for himself and other drivers may have fared better in the courts had he followed his demand, driven the truck and had an accident.

Trucker Louis Martinez III led suit for wrongful termination in 2007 after he was red for refusing to drive a truck carrying a load of steel shelving that was stacked higher than allowed and was improperly secured with broken straps, court records show. It was the fth time the company, Safeshred had asked him to drive an improperly loaded or permitted truck, the Supreme Court acknowledged. After pointing out the safety concerns, Martinez agreed to drive the truck but soon returned after feeling the load shift, the court said, adding that he was red after refusing an order to return to the road. A jury determined that Martinez, whose route for Safeshred included Austin, was improperly red for refusing to perform an illegal act and awarded him $7,569 in lost wages (he found a new job two months later), $10,000 in mental anguish damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. A lower appeals court later threw out the $10,000 award, ruling that such damages were not allowed in claim.

On Friday, the Supreme Court also tossed out the $200,000 award, ruling that Martinez did not qualify for punitive damages, either. To receive punitive damages, Justice Debra Lehrmann wrote for the unanimous court, Martinez had to show he was red with malice. The court, however, rejected argument that mal See DISTRICT By Melissa B. Taboada After a tumultuous several months in the Round Rock school district, which prompted some parents to fear for his job, Superintendent has received a thumbs-up from nearly all trustees. The Round Rock school board Thursday night voted 6 to 1 to extend contract through 2015 and give him a 2.8 percent raise, considered a strong sign of support by and board members.

The extension comes with a raise of $7,124.28, bringing salary to $260,000. The raise is ective May 1. Board President Chad Chadwell said that guidance and foresight have gotten the district through a tough budget year. grateful for his Chadwell said. have a lot of con dence in him, and we think leading us in the right said he was happy with the one-year contract extension and the board vote.

my perspective, it does show a vote of con said. board and I are committed to working together to continue to improve and move forward as we have in the Superintendent gets raise, contract extension after receiving strong support from parents Board backs district leader ROUND ROCK Superintendent considers the vote a strong sign of support. Man dies a er falling under bus SOUTHEAST AUSTIN By Patrick George A man was killed after falling underneath a Capital Metro bus early Friday morning, marking the second pedestrian death involving the agency this year. Andy Ching-Nien Wang, 22, died at University Medical Center Brackenridge, where he was taken after the bus rolled over him, police cials said. The accident happened in Southeast Austin at a bus stop in the 1300 block of Crossing Place just after 2 a.m., police said.

Investigators said the bus picked up Wang and another person in downtown Austin as part of its normal route. Police said witnesses told them that Wang ap peared very intoxicated and had to be supported by his companion when he walked. When the bus stopped on Crossing Place, Wang and his companion exited the back of the bus. Witnesses said Wang lost his balance and fell backward and underneath the bus as it was departing, police said. Wang is originally from Katy, west of Houston.

His father, Gi Capital Metro vehicle rolled over passenger after he exited, fell Friday morning, police say See DEATH 1 mile 18 3 35 American-S tatesman Man killed 1300 block of Crossing Place Willie Nelson bronze unveiled in fete Downtown Austin By Benjamin Wermund There was something in the air Friday afternoon as the Headed took the stage at the bottom of the steps to Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater downtown. Willie Nelson was standing next to an 8- foot-tall bronze likeness of himself unveiled just moments before. time is Nelson, 78, asked the crowd of hundreds that had gathered at the intersection of Second Street (also known as Willie Nelson Boulevard) and Lavaca Street. Mayor Lee Le ngwell, City Manager Marc Ott and members of the Austin City Council sat in the front row. It was just after 4:20 p.m.

April 20 a counterculture holiday closely tied to marijuana use. That was when the nonprofit Capital Area Statues decided to present its latest statue to the city, and the timing was lost on nobody. knew it would be on Austin-based journalist Lawrence Wright, who is also the president of Capital Area Statues, asked before the unveiling, insisting it was a and utter The statue near the home of Austin City Limits, the 1974 pi Jay Janner photos Willie Nelson smiles at the audience moments after the unveiling of his bronze likeness at the corner of West Second (Willie Nelson Boulevard) and Lavaca streets Friday. The statue was donated by the nonprofit Capital Area Statues. Hundreds of fans watch as the Willie Nelson statue is unveiled near ACL Live about 4:20 p.m.

Friday. The bronze was presented to city officials. See STATUE back page Watch video of the unveiling of the new Willie Nelson statue, see photos of him throughout the years and enjoy your favorite songs on our playlist at statesman.com. References to marijuana use abound as nonpro presents 8-foot statue of country legend to city Man accused in cabdriver death had prior charge By Claire Osborn A man charged with the capital murder of an Austin cabdriver had a previous aggravated assault charge dismissed because witnesses could not be found after the incident, a prosecutor said. Travis County prosecutor Joe Lopez said this week that he also dismissed the May 2010 charge against Eldon Alanson Decker III because the 911 calls consistent with witness statements taken at the scene.

Decker, 50, had been accused of waving a silver revolver and threatening a couple at the apartments where he lived, according to an arrest warrant. He is now in jail, charged with the April 9 shooting death of cabdriver Larry Garcia. Police say he used the same revolver that was mentioned in the May 2010 charge to kill Garcia, according to an arrest warrant. Decker pointed a gun at Garcia at the Palazio Club in South Austin and yelled, is a police said. Garcia, 49, lunged at him, according to the warrant.

Decker shot Garcia and then pointed the gun at an employee, grabbed money from a cash register and ed, the warrant said. Police arrested him the same day after he had arrived at St. Medical Center complaining of nausea and saying he had killed someone, the warrant said. relatives declined to comment this week. He had worked as a bus driver for the Austin school district since the summer of 2011 but was on leave when the shooting happened, a district spokeswoman said.

A friend of who is also a cabdriver said he was waiting in his cab outside the club when Garcia got shot. saw Larry go inside, so I gured he was waiting for a customer, and then I heard a Larry Luxton said. was very near and dear to a lot of people; that is the tragedy of Luxton said. Garcia had given rides many of them Aggravated assault count from was dismissed, but police suspect same gun used in both cases See CHARGE back page AUSTIN Cabdriver Larry Garcia was killed trying to stop a gunman April 9 at Palazio club. Business News: or 512-445-3851 Subscribe: statesman.com/subscribe Metro State Real Austin.

Real News. Saturday, April 21, 2012 Caldwell County wrongfully fired jailer in 2009, but discrimination a factor, jury says. B3 Filmmaker Richard Linklater is suing his insurer over property lost in the Bastrop County fires. B5.