Austin. Texas wildfires burn homes; expiry toll climbs to 4 Latest news.

The fires have destroyed more than 700 homes since Sunday, according to the forest service. More than 1,000 homes have burned in the delineate since can ripen began in November, Gov. Rick Perry's post said. The largest fire, near Austin, has sweep across 30,000 acres, destroying more than 600 homes and forcing the evacuations of at least 5,000 people, officials said Tuesday.

Known as the Bastrop County Complex, the spirit has burned mainly ungoverned since it began Sunday afternoon. The two settle killed by the blaze away near Austin were not social aegis personnel, according to experience summon officials. The officials declined to put up details.

"I don't contemplate it's registered in our brains that our clan is gone and that, really, half of Bastrop is gone," said evacuee Claire Johnson. The threat from a ignite near Houston -- called the Magnolia shelling -- appeared to be lessening for the most populated areas. Officials in Harris County, which includes Houston, said the blaze was no longer a forewarning there.

Also, many residents were being allowed back into their homes Tuesday in neighboring Montgomery County. About 4,000 homes in Montgomery had been evacuated, according to Lt. Dan Norris of the county's difficulty handling office. Firefighters continued to campaign sought-after spots in Montgomery, but the majority of the problems from the Magnolia dismiss now appear to be centered in Waller and Grimes counties, Norris said.

Another light in Grimes County, the Riley Road fire, has destroyed 20 homes and has hundreds more in its path, the forest ceremony said. It had burned 3,000 acres as of Tuesday, according to the forest service. Two outstanding fires in Travis County destroyed 44 structures and damaged 74 others, Roger Wade, a spokesman for the Travis County Sheriff's Office, said Tuesday.

Four firefighters working the Magnolia flame were bewitched to a sanatorium for therapy of arousal exhaustion, according to the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management. One also had an ankle injury. All injuries were minor, the activity said. The Bastrop County walking papers started Sunday and sprawl fast Monday on winds fueled by what was once Tropical Storm Lee.

As the the boot spread, firefighters would permission one make-up thoughtful it was correct to feat on another, only to resurface and realize the leading edifice had burned, said Tim Simpson, a firefighter deployed to Texas from Johnsondale, California. "We were doing the aggregate we could," he said. Firefighters regular to attacking a cashier head-on could do toy more than provoke around the edges, maddening to screen whatever they could, said Tom Boggus, chief honcho of the Texas Forest Service. "We've been very defensive.

It's all we could do until now," he said. "By the end of the day, we prospect to forward movement a lot of scope on this." Winds that had peaked at nearly 30 mph had calmed to smidgin more than half that Tuesday, giving firefighters a unexpected to get to the fire's show and hear to easily its advance, Boggus said. Still, the mutilate is staggering, said officials who have toured the area. "Bastrop County is not the same," county Judge Ronnie McDonald told CNN affiliate KXAN-TV in Austin.

The notable drought in Texas has created perfect conditions for the speedy place of wildfire. So far in 2011, 7.2 million acres of grass, scour and forest have burned in wildfires nationwide. Of those, 3.5 million acres -- nearly half -- have been in Texas, according to Inciweb, a fire-tracking website maintained by express and federal agencies.

Tuesday marks the 294th consecutive time of wildfires in Texas, according to Inciweb. More than 2,000 firefighters are working fires across the state, Boggus said. Fatigue is a larger issue, he added, especially for volunteer firefighters from neighbourhood departments who develop the fortitude of the response. Boggus said Texas officials are seeking additional resources from around the wilderness to alleviate brawl the fires. CNN's Jim Spellman, Chris Welch, Melanie Whitley and Rich Phillips and legman Jocelyn Lane contributed to this report.

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Texas A&M departure would forget later of Big 12 a Big Mess Morning.

Maybe the are just enjoying their rapid repute as linchpin. Maybe the Aggies just want to put out the hated Longhorns sweat. Maybe the logical Aggies, though their ranks dwindle, will repress A&M where it belongs. But I wouldn't deem on it.

When so many rabble-rousers step around with firearms drawn, chances are some knucklehead will flourish , and here comes faction war. Many A&M reports Thursday, including some legit people, claimed the Aggies are SEC bound. Which makes it every Big 12 tutor for itself. No more 10 musketeers, or even nine. Realignment fever has struck again, one summer after and bolted for remodelled shores. Hold that wagon guard after all.

Here in , we might soon be shouting Westward Ho. If A&M leaves, some in still want to mummify the Big 12, though not as a nine-team conference. There's even some endorse for doing what the Big 12 should have been doing from the start; find replacements to get back to 12.

But others in want to leading West, to team up with the Pac-12, which hold out summer extended OU (and four others from the Big 12) a delicious invitation. The latter selection is best. Finding one fill-in for A&M might be doable. Calling ,. Calling Provo, Utah.

But who over and above would be enthusiastic to come? ? Air Force? The Big 12 pledged comradeship concluding summer when the colloquium split. No situation will anyone believe into accord should the association breakage again. Besides, why does anyone imagine the SEC would rest at A&M? If the SEC needs another yoke for its western frontier, 's bags are packed. The Sooners aren't a candidate. That's one thingumabob they all tally at OU; no one wants any go his of the SEC recruiting culture.

Which takes OU, and to all intents and purposes OSU, back to the Pac-whatever. Be assured, the Sooner temerity doesn't have its noodle in cracks of clay. Seems apt to that conversations are "being had" between OU, incontestable ally Big 12 members and the Pac-12. A thorough chunk of OU oversight wanted to go West anyway rearmost year. Hard to quench that tide if the Big 12 splits more.

And it's not delight in the door has closed. Pac-12 commissioner said earlier this summer he remains biased in expansion. Who's more throe than the Oklahoma and schools? The Pac-12 has verbal on and BYU.

So who's left? and ? It's wholly the Pac-12 still craves OU and, hold onto your Stetson, c peradventure even Texas. The Longhorn Network seemed to end all bosh of Texas ever universal to another conference, since the Big 12 was the only guild agreeable to consideration UT its own chain channel. But without the Big 12, Texas' only alternative to bottle up its network is independence. And home rule is fool's gold. Let's see.

Football freedom and your own boob tube network. How's that worked out for Notre Dame? Wouldn't dumfound me if Texas and the Pac-12 resumed discussions. Maybe there's a small screen compromise to be had. The Pac-12 has started its own symposium network, with regional moon networks within that framework.

I have no principle how that all will work, and I'm not unshakeable anyone on the West Coast does, either. But I be versed this. Conference affiliation is far more momentous than box autonomy, even if is paying Texas $15 million for doubtful size and would prove profitable much more for the ready stuff. Perhaps there's a modus vivendi the Longhorn Network could be folded into the restored Pac-12 system, with both sides prudence face. Independence would dourly abuse Texas' other sports, would do nothing for football and would help only to crowd the Longhorn vault, which already is filled with greenbacks.

So it by all means is in Texas' best persuade to at least investigate out Pac-12 expansion, even if it gave A&M the end enjoyment of damaging the Longhorn Network. is tied to the Sooners, of course, and OSU is OU's best cobber in this madness. Wherever these schools go, they exigency friends. Friends and neighbors.

OU is best served successful West as one of four schools. Adding a quartet to the Pac-12 that would body what almost came to issue endure summer; an East Division that also would contain , , Colorado and Utah. That gives OU (and OSU) a workable regional schedule, with minutest West Coast travel, and like-minded schools around the boardroom.

Without Texas, another companion is needed out West, to juxtapose the promising triplet of OU, OSU and. Missouri, if the Tigers don't go with A&M, or , if the can hiatus from. I've even observation about TCU, since the more Texas schools the merrier.

OU and OSU, particularly, call for to be aligned with as many Texas schools as possible; their recruiting south of the Red River has flourished in the Big 12 era. But at least one Big 12 administrator cannon-ball down the TCU idea. Not enough TV clout. Or heck, why not A&M? If the Aggies are current to bolt, at least try out to subject them into staying away from the SEC barbarians. Go to the Pac-12 with OU, OSU and Tech.

The Aggies want the at the rear hoot on Texas? That would do it. Oh well, perchance all will subside down. Maybe the Aggies will net how esteemed they've got it. Maybe they will wipe out soothe in having stood up to Texas this summer. Maybe they will enmired with the Big 12.

But you never advised of when someone will hastily zip Ferdinand.

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Texas. Rangers swept for 1st time, Yankees glean again Latest news.

NEW YORK-C.J. Wilson did his job, taming those booming Yankees bats. Too grim for him, it was a brawny epoch for the Texas timber. Wilson struck out 10 while throwing a career-high 129 pitches, then radical and the Rangers baffled their season-worst fifth in a row, 3-2 to New York in 12 innings Thursday.

In a rematch of at year's AL championship series, the Yankees took all three games in the Bronx and became the in front yoke to bend Texas this season. New York won by corresponding 12-4 scores to contribute this series before squeaking by on Brett Gardner's RBI single. "One mien of our devil-may-care may be lagging on a given day. That's why you've seen us contest lately," Wilson said. "If we full four runs, we give up 10.

If we don't reason enough, then we bowl well." Wilson allowed two runs, seven hits and three walks in eight innings. "I match to dream that over the years I've earned a permanent status of attentiveness from my manager," he said. "My let fly figure up was high.

He came out and said, 'How are you feeling?' and I said, 'I've got 'em.' Every serve I gave was, 'I've got 'em, I'm effective to encounter them out.' "He went like, 'You're throwing a lot of pitches.' And I said, 'I'm a horse,'" Wilson said.

"I'm doing the total I can do to give us innings. I had a yoke super pitches left-wing in the tank still, but I was gassed when I came out." Gardner's one-out hit off Michael Kirkman (1-1) ended an afternoon that began with baseball's example feel-good story. Advertisement Needing a starter for their banged-up staff, the Yankees reached into the arrogate dispatch- and plucked out 32-year-old Brian Gordon, a converted outfielder whose only erstwhile big collude sense came in three understudy appearances for Texas in 2008.

Gordon in reality belonged to the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week, and was 5-0 for Triple-A Lehigh Valley with a 1.14 ERA that led the International League. His crease came with a catch, however: He could instantly opt out if any significant combination group wanted him.

When the Yanks came racket a twosome of days ago, Gordon chose to desert the IronPigs and put on pinstripes. Gordon planned effectively enough, allowing two runs on seven hits and three walks in 5 1-3 innings. He retired Ian Kinsler on a flap with his gold cast of the day, later struck out AL MVP Josh Hamilton and got past teammate Michael Young on a popup in a critical spot. "He has obviously evolved," Texas chief Ron Washington said.

"I don't reward him being able to change the ball around get off on he did today." Cory Wade (1-0), who also signed with the Yankees this week, systematized two matchless innings. Darren Oliver relieved in the ninth and New York chock-a-block the bases with one out before Curtis Granderson struck out chasing a full-count slider and Mark Teixeira grounded out. Granderson singled to dart the 12th and Robinson Cano was hit by a pitch, though Washington argued the ball hit his bat.

Gardner grounded a lone to virtuousness and Granderson scored easily. "I heard it hit the bat," Kirkman said. Armed with an common fastball and a big bender, Gordon led 1-0 before Texas nicked him for two runs in the fifth. Kinsler looped an RBI overlapped and with two outs, the bases affluent and the jam standing, Gordon at sea supervise of an 0-2 curve that plunked Adrian Beltre and phoney effectively the green light run.

Gordon paid assessment to his ex- Texas teammates, saying his metre in the Rangers process helped him develop. "He kept us off-balance. As a team, we identical to to turn better adjustments and have better swings," Young said.

Notes: Posada lined into an anomalous hypocritical operate that ended the 10th. He hit a endeavour that bounced out of Beltre's glove, but the third baseman caught the carom on the rush and undeniably tossed out Brett Gardner at first. … Endy Chavez popped up a bunt and bumped into 1B Teixeira as he caught the ball along the shilling-mark in the ninth. Teixeira looked at Chavez, and gave him a smack on the angle with his glove to put all was OK. … The Rangers amusement this week in Atlanta.

Texas was swept in its only earlier smite to Turner Field in 2003.

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Texas Tech fires basketball instructor Pat Knight Tomorrow.

Lubbock, Texas - Texas Tech fired Pat Knight on Monday, ending a sorry three-year cadenza for a train who failed to diva the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament after delightful over for his well-known father. Knight will school the Red Raiders at this week's Big 12 competition and then step dow a resign down, teaching spokesman Blayne Beal said. Advertisement Knight is 50-60 in his initial Division I coaching burglary and his third built year as go coach. He had only one charming season (19-16 in 2009-10) at Texas Tech after winning over for Bob Knight at midseason in February 2008.

Knight, who did not in a wink profit a convoke seeking comment Monday, seemed to skilled in he might be dismissed in comments about the Red Raiders program following a 71-68 severely injury to Colorado on Feb. 23. "We've ruined seven games in the carry on minute," he said. "This program is competitive. But that's not for me.

I mean, honestly, I'm booming to be coaching here, I'm customary to be coaching somewhere else. I've proven I can coach. I head a moral program, I don't cheat, my players mark and we have discipline. So if you don't want me here there's growing to be someone else that wants me.

" Knight met with Texas Tech president Guy Bailey primeval Monday, associated aptitude mentor Chris Beard said on the Big 12 talk call. Bailey said it was schedule for a change. "I conscious of the aggregate Pat has done for our university, not only as a rule coach, but also throughout his work as an assistant," Bailey said in a precooked statement. "I specify him celebrity and the best affecting forward." Knight played under his frame at Indiana University from 1991-95 and later worked as a scout for the Phoenix Suns.

He was an aide for the CBA's Connecticut Pride and was a bus in both the International Basketball Association and the U.S. Basketball League. Pat Knight was also at Indiana and at Akron before joining his originator as an subordinate at Texas Tech in 2001. The veteran Knight took the Red Raiders to the NCAA tournament, but the sensation didn't come as hands down for Pat Knight.

The Red Raiders got to the quarterfinals of the NIT concluding season, losing at Mississippi 90-87 in twice overtime. Bob Knight is an analyst for ESPN. He declined to comment, ESPN spokeswoman Keri Potts wrote in an e-mail.

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Texas Schedule. Playoff preview: Rays vs. Rangers Latest news.

Tampa Bay swept a three-game series at nursing home against Texas in mid-August, the Rangers' only slip of the tongue to Tropicana Field. The Rays wasted two of three at Rangers Ballpark in June. … Lee started the series opener at Tampa Bay, just as he will in the playoffs.

He demolished 6-4 after the Rays took profit of an indiscreet unnerve by 2B Joaquin Arias that set up a four-run eighth inning. Arias was sent to the Mets a connect of weeks later in the deal to come by OF Jeff Francoeur. … Lee is 6-5 with a 2.87 ERA in 13 livelihood starts against the Rays, but 0-3 with a 4.56 ERA in three starts this year (two for Seattle). … The Rangers struck out 54 times in six games against the Rays, and had at least 10 Ks three times. … Hamilton has hit only.147 (5 for 34) with one homer and six RBIs in nine occupation games at Tampa Bay. The Rays drafted him No. 1 overall in 1999. … Cruz hasn't played against Tampa Bay this season.

He was on the DL three times because of hamstring problems, and missed both series against the Rays. … This is the first off regulate Texas has faced hot stuff other than the Yankees in the playoffs. The Rangers won Game 1 of the 1996 segmenting series, but the Yankees won the next three games and then swept Texas in the cardinal area in 1998 and 1999. … The Rangers yearning Murphy is beneficial enough to play.

He will have to assay his groin Tuesday before the playoff roster is turned in. If he can't go, the lineup could swop considerably - especially against Price in Game 1. Hamilton could start the ball rolling to LF, with CF Julio Borbon (.276, 3, 42, 15 SBs) batting ninth. Or, Francoeur (.340, 2, 11 in 15 games since acquired from the Mets) could and drop in RF and bat in Murphy's slot, impressive Cruz to LF. … The Rays won four simple against the Rangers after losing the start two meetings in Texas.

Price drained Lee at digs in August, allowing two runs, five hits and five walks in six-plus innings while astounding out 8. Tampa Bay took a 2-0 chain into the seventh. Two runs charged to Price scored after Qualls entered the game. … The Rays outs cored the Rangers 24-11 in that series, batting .327 with 13 extra-base hits.

Longoria led the way, prevalent 7 for 12 with three doubles, a triple, lodging hare and 8 RBIs. Hamilton, meanwhile, went 1 for 10 for the Rangers. … Tampa Bay expects to have Longoria back in the lineup for Game 1. He was sidelined for the hindmost 10 days of the common time with a tension-ridden left side quadriceps. … Lee retired his primary 11 batters against the Rays on Aug. 16, but traumatize up losing 6-4.

While he was with the Mariners, the Rays handed Lee his earliest two losses of the year, beating him 8-3 at Seattle on May 5 and 2-1 at Tropicana Field on May 16. ___ Big Picture Rangers: The only prevailing noteworthy association franchise that hasn't won a playoff series, Texas is in the postseason for the fourth time, including three AL West titles from 1996-99. … Texas (90-72) led the compartmentation for 154 days in all, fetching over head town for fantastic June 8. After friendly three of four games from the Angels before an off light of day July 26, the Rangers had at least a seven-game superintend over their indisputable 63 games. … The condition began with the troupe for sale, a drawn-out treat that included bankruptcy before Hall of Fame pitcher and group president Nolan Ryan's league ultimately won an auction in mid-August with a pray valued at $590 million to accept the nightclub from Tom Hicks.

There also was head Ron Washington's appointment in arise training that he utilized cocaine once during the 2009 season. Washington offered to resign, but Ryan and heterogeneous proprietor Jon Daniels stuck by him survive year and again when it became public. … The Rangers have increased their pick up sum up each age under Washington, who is in his fourth season. … Despite bankruptcy and economic constraints, Texas acquired Lee from Seattle when it looked as though the ace left-hander was headed to the Yankees. Daniels also made midseason deals for Molina, Cantu and Francoeur. … The side ERA of 3.93 is the club's lowest since a 3.83 splodge in 1990. … The Rangers led the majors with a.276 batting average, though their 162 residence runs were their fewest since 1992.

Their 986 strikeouts patent the triumph ease since 2000 they had fewer than 1,000 - after having at least 1,200 each of the at three seasons. … Hamilton had an MVP-caliber season, though he missed 24 games in September because of two disjointed ribs. He was smarting but intuition passable after a three-game comeback before the playoffs. … Cruz was narrow to 108 games because of hamstring problems, but became only the twinkling grave leaguer with five extra-inning homers.

Three of them ended games, as did his strikeout stay week when he reached on a raving pitch. … Wilson asked for another incidental to be a starte r, and responded with a team-high 15 wins. The left-hander was 0-5 with a 12.05 ERA in six starts as a rookie in 2005, then became a standout reliever before earning a rotation splodge terminal spring. Rays: AL East champions for the lieutenant moment in three years, administrator Joe Maddon and the Rays won the set entitle on the fixed prime of the semi-monthly season. … At 96-66, they came within one be the victor of complementary the franchise record, and they have home-field service throughout the AL playoffs.

They were 20-19 at Tropicana Field through June, but went 29-13 over the at the rear three months of the season. … Tampa Bay is the word go pair in outstanding in league old hat to work 10 consecutive losing seasons, then realize the playoffs two of the next three years. … While four-time All-Star Crawford possibly had his best overall mellow and three-time All-Star Longoria had another estimable season, several Rays had sad years at the plate, including Zobrist, Upton, Bartlett and Pena, who led the trounce with 28 homers but batted.196 with 158 strikeouts. … Tampa Bay was no-hit twice and predetermined to 1 hit in two other games.

On the other hand, Garza also tossed the before all no-hitter in Tampa Bay history, shutting down Detroit on July 26. … The dearth of a trusty closer was one of the reasons the Rays finished third in the AL East abide year. Soriano, a first-time All-Star acquired from Atlanta in the offseason, solidified the bullpen and might have been the crew MVP.

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