Protesters rally to fire vet cemetery director

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's the Fourth of July and all across the nation people are turning out to celebrate America's independence. But there are some in Houston who say one of our guaranteed freedoms is still under fire.

A local congregation of pastors is calling for the removal of the director of Houston's National Cemetery because of what they call religious bigotry. A crowd of more than a thousand gathers in the hemicycle of the Houston National Cemetery. And this rally, on the country's 235th birthday, ironically is about independence. "Lack of religious freedom, lack of religious expression is not religious freedom; it is a form of tyranny unfortunately," protester Brett Meyer said. The rally was born after a lawsuit and several complaints were filed against Houston National Cemetery Director Arleen Ocasio. A local pastor got a restraining order against the cemetery after being told to edit "Jesus" from his prayer during the Memorial Day weekend. Other veteran groups complained after they too were told to refrain from using "God" or "Jesus" during funerals. They also allege Ocasio closed the chapel and turned it into a conference room. "I brought my Bible, because I think it's important. I need to stand up for God. I need to stand up for Jesus Christ. Somebody's got to do it. I'm here," protester Nolan Connally said. The director claims she was only trying to make prayers more inclusive of other religions but a backlash now has state and federal politicians calling for her to be fired. "She needs to be terminated and so that's my opinion. I hope the Veterans Administration terminates her and gets someone in here that actually believes in the First Amendment," Congressman Ted Poe said. "I just don't think that when you're in a position of public trust that she holds, that she represents the values of the people of this state and this country," Congressman Allen Fletcher said. And many feel what's happening in Houston is part of a much larger issue across the country. "There is very much and agenda to remove God and all types of Christian things from our nation," Connally said. A nonprofit has also filed a lawsuit against the Veterans Administration and the Houston National Cemetery alleging "religious hostility" and "unlawful censorship." Messages for director Ocasio were not returned. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Ex-port PR director gets $380,000 severance deal

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- If you quit your job, would anyone give you $380,000? That's the severance deal at the core of the growing scandal at the Port of Houston. And now, there are new major developments. The Harris County attorney's office announced Friday that a task force of investigators will examine the Port to see if it's cheating taxpayers.

[Madonna song and video from Evita Peron movie" 'Don't cry for me Argentina. The truth is I never left."] Maybe that's what Argentina James could be saying. "I wish to move on with my life as a private citizen and that's all I have to say," James told 13 Undercover. She was the PR director at the Port of Houston, and when she resigned last year, boy did she get a deal. "In a recession, the severance package they gave Argentina James, it was an embarrassment," Former Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt said. A severance worth $380,000. "No comment. Thank you," James told us. She got a $30,000 lump sum payment, $20,000 more for health insurance for an entire year and a $330,000 guaranteed consulting deal -- $15,000 a month. "It was way, way too generous," Harris County Judge Ed Emmett said. The Port O Plenty has plenty of good will; since January 2009, $1.7 million in donations, sponsorships and advertising, including here at Channel 13. The slogan, of course, "The Port Delivers the Goods". "Did you misuse any Port funds while you were there?" we asked James. "Wayne, I left the Port six months ago. I left the Port with a great track record, great work ethic, and no I did not," she replied. As Port PR chief, Argentina James helped decide who got the money, and it turns out, the Port gave tens of thousands of dollars to organizations James was personally involved in, like the Ensemble Theatre, and when her kids basketball team was thousands short for a tournament, emails show a Port vendor hired by James came through with a $1,500 donation A few days later the vendor asked James, "Were the Panthers happy with the sponsorship?" James replies, "Yup!" The donors to that basketball team included two PR firms with Port contracts. "I'm not familiar with any relationship between the former employee and any of our consulting arrangements. I can't comment on what the purposes were," Port of Houston President Alec Dreyer said. These documents show her using Port email soliciting money for some of her favorite organizations, including some folks with clear ties to the Port. "Nice ride, but I'm hungry. Where are the fajitas?" 13 Undercover wondered while aboard the SS Sam Houston. But it may have been a trip on the Port boat that caused her trouble. "Well, again, it's our practice. We don't discuss or disclose anything about former employees," Dreyer said. A was this catered trip for her kids' basketball team. And yes, there were fajitas. Heavily redacted Port legal bills show Attorney Gene Locke was paid $37,000 to handle the terms of her departure deal. "As part of my severance agreement, I agreed not to get into particulars and I wish to respect that and honor that," James told 13 Undercover. The Ship Channel is almost 100 years old. Maybe that's why history long-standing practice is so difficult to break at the Port. "It is a culture that's very, very difficult to break," Houston Mayor Annise Parker said. Take the Port's paid internship program. Summer employment for college kids for those who want to make the maritime business their business. "That's why it's been the Port Authority's practice for a number of years to recruit family members and friends to work as interns in our summer program," Dreyer said. And you know who made more than $4,000 last summer as a maintenance intern at the Port? Alec Dreyer's son. "I don't interview. I didn't hire. I don't handle any of the hiring of our interns," Dreyer said. And when we questioned those catered cruises with booze on the Sam Houston for the handpicked few... "Yes, there's alcohol provided on the MV Sam Houston. That's been a long-standing practice," Dreyer said. Tell that to the tourists and taxpayers who take the tour of the Ship Channel every day. "That's my money. They got it from me," taxpayer Sandy Waldmiller said. Harris Count taxpayers pay for the debt on Port projects and that's costing $10 million more than it did last year. This, while the port has more than $200 million in cash and investments on hand, and that is sparking talk it's time for the Port to pay its own way. State lawmakers are already talking about changes at the Port O Plenty. (Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)
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Mission Control named for 1st NASA flight director

  HOUSTON -- NASA has honored its first flight director by naming Mission Control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston after him.

Space program officials spoke Thursday at a ceremony at the newly-named Christopher C. Kraft Jr. Mission Control Center.

The 87-year-old Kraft attended the event. He was NASA's first director for human spaceflight and helped create Mission Control.

He also directed the Mercury and Gemini flights and helped put men on the moon during the Apollo program. He went on to serve as director of Johnson Space Center from 1972 to 1982.

"How can anybody not like a day like today when they named a mission control center after you," said Dr. Kraft. "It's a great building, full of great people and symbolic of a great organization here at the Johnson Space Center."

Dr. Kraft called the decision not to bring a retired space shuttle to the area as 'insignificant.' Although, he did say it seems to be in his opinion, a slap in the face. He says we need to look forward to what we can continue to do -- NASA's continued exploration of space.

It's a sentiment also echoed here today by legendary director Gene Kranz who said, 'We need to find the courage to continue the work that Dr. Kraft and so many began here at mission control over 50 years ago.'

Kraft detailed his time at NASA in his 2001 book, "Flight: My Life in Mission Control."

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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