Monday News Rundown (11-3-14)

By Emily Parma
Assistant Web Content Manager

As the 2014 midterm elections come to a close, Republicans and Democrats are preparing for runoff elections in Louisiana and Georgia. This may mean that the Senate will not be determined until next year.

If members of the Senate aren’t chosen tomorrow, third party advertising may rise and there may be an increase of visits from high-profile surrogates and presidential contenders.

Through Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act, 29-year-old Brittany Maynard decided to end her life Sunday. Maynard was diagnosed with brain cancer last spring and was told by doctors she only had six months to live. Maynard recently made headlines when she announced her plans to die through the act.

The Death with Dignity Act allows individuals to take their own life by taking a dose of barbiturates. Doctors in Oregon are allowed to prescribe the medication to their patients.

Maynard became a prominent spokesman for the right-to-die movement when she advocated that terminally ill patients should be allowed to receive medication that will let them die on their own terms. Currently, Oregon is the only state that allows individuals to take their own life.

A Hays County teacher was arrested Friday for spreading rumors that there was a continuing threat at Hays High School in relation to a student accused of threatening to bring  a gun to school and that more people were involved in the supposed plot, officials said. Ricardo G. Sanchez, who teaches criminal justice, was charged with making false alarms or reports. The rumors were started by Sanchez on social media Friday, which led to some parents signing their kids out of school.

Sanchez is now placed on administrative leave and student James Archer is still under arrest. The day before Sanchez was arrested, Archer was arrested for making a terroristic threat. Archer admitted to investigators that the threat was made but did not intend to follow through with it.

The Heritage Association of San Marcos is getting ready for their “Homes for the Holidays Tour” early next month. The tour will feature five unique San Marcos homes that are known for their holiday displays each year. Further plans will include holiday music during the tour as well as holiday-inspired foods. For more information, visit the Heritage Association of San Marcos website.

Election Day is tomorrow. There are 39 voting locations in Hays County and 15 places in San Marcos. Some of those places in San Marcos include the Dunbar Recreation Center, Crockett Elementary and Horizon Bay. Polls open at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. For more polling locations you can visit the Hays County website.

A flash flood warning has been placed in effect due to a cold front making its way in. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding is possible across a good portion of South Central Texas Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Rainfall amounts will begin to decrease by Wednesday afternoon as the front moves south of the area. Average rainfall amounts of two-to-four inches with isolated amounts up to seven inches are possible across the watch area.