The U.S. Postal Service and the Austin-based Bat Conservation International have teamed up to honor the noble bat in a new series of stamps. The stamps were designed using photographs taken by BCI founder Merlin Tuttle. (Ironically, however, none of the featured bats are the Mexican freetail, the species of the famed colony living under the Congress Avenue bridge.) The stamps are now available at post offices everywhere.

Michael Scott received a life sentence for his role in the yogurt shop murders (see Scott Locked Down).

Austin Congressman Lloyd Doggett blasted President Bush’s drive for war against Iraq, and at press time there was some positive movement in Congress against the White House request for a supporting resolution (see War Drums).

The statewide election campaigns entered their stretch runs, with early voting for the Nov. 5 election only three weeks away (Oct. 19). Voter registration deadline is Oct. 7 (see Austin Stories).

Testimony was suspended in the APD/Timothy Enlow arbitration case, as a state district judge granted a temporary restraining order to allow cameras into the hearing — an order to be contested Oct. 4 (see Matters of Perception).

Travis Co. Commissioners approved a two-cent tax increase Tuesday, raising the county’s property tax to 46.6 cents per $100 valuation.

Hurricane Isidore mostly missed Texas, and was turning toward New Orleans as of press time.

State Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander issued a draft performance review that both praised Austin Community College for academic successes and blasted its leadership for overcentralization and poor communication (see Austin Stories).

This article appears in September 27 • 2002.

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Contributing writer and former news editor Michael King has reported on city and state politics for the Chronicle since 2000. He was educated at Indiana University and Yale, and from 1977 to 1985 taught at UT-Austin. He has been the editor of the Houston Press and The Texas Observer, and has reported and written widely on education, politics, and cultural subjects.