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Study: More than half of pets overweight
AUSTIN, Texas, May 4 (UPI) -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry says his appointments haven't been influenced by nearly $5 million in campaign money he's gotten from people he named to key jobs.
Nearly half the money came from people Perry later named as higher education regents, including more than $840,000 from regents within the University of Texas System, a review of campaign finance documents published Monday by the Houston Chronicle revealed.
Political patronage is a legal and common practice in Texas, though it doesn't bode well for government, said Andrew Wheat, a spokesman for the watchdog group Texans for Public Justice.
"The reason people should care is that it would be nice to think that government functioned as a meritocracy," Wheat said.
Perry has rejected the idea that he considers donations in making appointments and, in fact, has appointed many non-donors, said Mark Miller, his spokesman.
The $5 million represents a fraction of the more than $60 million Perry has raised since becoming governor in 2000, Miller said.
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DETROIT, Feb. 14 (UPI) --
The Nigerian who tried to blow up a Detroit-bound jetliner on Christmas Day 2009 shouldn't receive life in prison for the failed attack, his legal adviser said.
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NEWARK, N.J., Feb. 14 (UPI) --
Dozens of fans stood in freezing temperatures along the sidewalks of Newark, N.J., to bear witness to the body of pop singer Whitney Houston being brought home.
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BAGHDAD, Feb. 14 (UPI) --
U.S. supermajor Exxon Mobil won't be able to take part in an oil and natural gas licensing auction scheduled for May in Iraq, a spokesman said.
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UPI horoscopes for Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012.
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