Want to break the habit? Here's a pill

A single pill appears to hold promise in curbing the urges to both smoke and drink, according to researchers trying to help people overcome addiction by targeting a pleasure center in the brain. The drug, called Varenicline, already is sold to help smokers kick the habit. But new research suggests it could gain a second use in helping heavy drinkers quit, too. It might also be considered as a treatment for addictions to everything from gambling to painkillers.

The 210 take: Ummm, thanks?

GOP sets its sights on Hispanic voters

The contentious debate over immigration reform is posing a dilemma for the Republican Party. The GOP is looking for ways to attract Hispanics — the fastest-growing segment of voters — while appeasing Republicans who want to take a hard line on what to do about the millions of undocumented people already living in the U.S.

The 210 take: What's really angered Latino voters is the GOP's proposal to build nine-foot fences around any primarily Hispanic polling place.
 
Outdoor tourism in San Antonio is all wet

Wetter-than-normal weather in May and June and a rainy start to July have meant outdoor entertainment venues like Schlitterbahn and the San Antonio Zoo have seen an overall drop in visitors. Many others who make their living outdoors are struggling, including roofers, mowers, house builders and gutter installers are also struggling.

The 210 take: And the ultimate injustice is that as these hard-working folks suffer, Rihanna's “Umbrella” song just keeps scaling the charts.

A sinking feeling about USS San Antonio

Eighteen months after it was commissioned in a festive ceremony at Ingleside, the long-troubled USS San Antonio still can't pass a routine Navy sea trial. The latest inspection gave the ship failing or barely passing grades in everything from its steering, computer and magnetic compass systems to the coffee machine in the chief's mess. The ship's $1.85 billion price tag is nearly three times what was projected.

The 210 take: Sadly, the USS San Antonio will spend the rest of its life as a River Walk tourist barge.
 

Gator miscreant now just boots, or a purse

A Texas Parks and Wildlife Game Warden shot and killed a 9-foot-long alligator on the South Side. The animal was lurking in an area close to several residences, showed “aggressive tendencies;” and was unafraid to approach humans. It likely was the same gator that tied up traffic on 410 in April and took a chunk out of a police cruiser.

The 210 take: Crickey, it's times like these that we really miss Steve Irwin.

With staff and wire reports