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DALLAS (AP) A federal bankruptcy judge has approved three labor contracts that were ratified by union workers at American Airlines. The judge today approved deals with flight attendants, mechanics and maintenance clerks. The pilots rejected a contract offer from American and its Fort Worth-based parent AMR Corporation last month.

BEAUMONT, Texas (AP) Some rice farmers have challenged condemnation efforts by a Canadian company seeking to build a leg of the Keystone XL oil pipeline to the Texas Gulf Coast. A judge in Beaumont heard arguments today and said he will announce his decision September 24th. KFDM-TV reports some protesters outside the court house held signs saying "Stop Eminent Domain" and "Defend Texas Land."

DALLAS (AP) A woman on Texas death row for the stabbing and bludgeoning of a 71-year-old woman has received a January 29th execution date. Kimberly McCarthy was sentenced to die for the July 1997 killing of retired college professor Dorothy Booth during a robbery at Booth's home in Lancaster, about 15 miles south of Dallas. The Dallas County District Attorney's office disclosed the date today.

DALLAS (AP) Former first lady Laura Bush has announced the authors set to attend the Texas Book Festival and the lineup will include Jewel, Junot Diaz and Tim O'Brien. Bush also unveiled the festival poster today. She'll participate in the festival set for October 27th through 28th at the Texas Capitol.