18-wheeler plunges into San Marcos River

An 18-wheeler crashed through a guardrail and into the environmentally sensitive San Marcos River, forcing officials to shut down some nearby roads. Emergency crews spent about 10 hours removing the truck while cleanup crews focused on removing the truck's fuel from the river, home to eight endangered or threatened species.

The 210 take: While the crash was bad news for commuters, it was good news for the 18 people who got free tubes out of the deal.
 
First rule of La Vernia fight club: Post videos

A group of students have been filming fights in the boys' bathrooms at La Vernia High School and posting the videos on YouTube. Responding to parents' concerns that the fights went on unnoticed, La Vernia Police Chief Bobby Hyatt said that everyone had learned a valuable lesson. “I guess we're learning we're going to have to check the Internet more,” he said.

The 210 take: In Hyatt's defense, before this, the only videos that came up in a YouTube search of “La Vernia” were tipped cows.
 

President Bush really happy to see pope

President Bush is pulling out all the stops for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the White House. Bush is driving out to Andrews Air Force Base to meet the pope's plane, bringing an audience of 12,000 to the South Lawn and hosting a fancy White House dinner.

The 210 take: After he got so excited about his visitor, no one had the heart to tell Bush that he was not, in fact, meeting the guy who came up with eggs Benedict. 
 

Judge won't let clubs get stripped of rights

A $5-per-customer fee on Texas strip club patrons dubbed the “pole tax” has been declared unconstitutional. The charge went into effect in January and was expected to raise about $44 million for sexual assault prevention programs and health care for the uninsured. Judge Scott Jenkins wrote that the fee, “while furthering laudable goals, violates the First Amendment.”

The 210 take: A courageous judge standing up for our unalienable right to a tax-free lap dance.
 

UT-Austin, Dr. Evil cheer new super laser

Researchers at UT-Austin have built the world's most powerful laser. The “Texas Petawatt Laser” is 2,000 times more powerful than all the power plants in the United States and brighter than the surface of the sun. Scientists built the laser in hopes of recreating astronomical phenomena like supernovas.

The 210 take: And as an added bonus, it also means that in case of an alien attack, at least Sixth Street will be safe.

With staff and wire reports