Five stories that have North Texas talking: the debate over new textbooks in Texas classrooms continues, how schools are coping with demographic changes, four photojournalists recount the Kennedy assassination, and more.

The Texas State Board of Education will have a preliminary vote today over which history and social studies textbooks will make it to classrooms statewide.

The 15-member board has more than 100 textbooks to consider, the Associated Press reports. Some academics and activists have criticized the books for exaggerating biblical figures on American democracy and downplaying the human role in climate change. On the other hand, some conservative experts say the books are too politically correct and ignore connections between radical Islam and modern terrorism.

Others have objected to outdated terminology the textbooks use to describe other religions. Manpreet Singh told The Texas Tribune she found at least 40 errors in the way the books covered the Sikh religion, saying the description of the religion as a blend of Hinduism and Islam is absolutely false.

The board's 10 Republicans and five Democrats are expecting to hear more public testimony before they vote.

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State Board Will Cast A Preliminary Vote On New History Textbooks

Punters enjoy the atmosphere at Riccarton Park Racecourse during NZ Cup Week.

Socialising during Cup and Show Week is vital to the racing industry, Canterbury Jockey Club chief executive Tim Mills says.

A 2012 economic impact report to Christchurch City Council estimated Cup and Show Week feeds $14.5 million into the Canterbury economy, including TAB racing turnover.

Last Saturday's New Zealand Cup Day at Riccarton contributed under 60 per cent of CJC's annual on-course revenue, Mills said. Much of that income was instead from club memberships, car parks, food and beverage and sponsorships.

Thoroughbred clubs like CJC only get 17 per cent of a betting dollar put through the TAB, so it was better for CJC to charge a flat ticket price than rely on the betting.

"If you're paying $80 to get your member's ticket, you've got to spend about $500 punting, for us to get the equivalent of $80," Mills said.

Cup Day on-course turnover was just over $1 million this year. This was similar to 2013 and more than the lightning-affected 2012, but down on the previous four-year average of $1.4 million.

Nationally, Cup Day is still one of the top two racing events, by reputation and on-course turnover, but increasingly racing clubs have to look beyond the horses for income.

"It's quite ironic because as the crowd has increased, the betting has sort of levelled off. And I think that's to do with the fact we're getting more of a social racing crowd as opposed to what you'd call the traditional racing or punting crowd," Mills said.

Riccarton Park sponsorship and marketing manager Chris Rowe said the CJC's Cup Day crowd of 18,000* was three times larger than any other Canterbury gallops meeting. The event caused vehicle jams at alcohol checkpoints near the entrances.

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The social side pays the bills during Cup Week

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AWARD-WINNING UPHOLSTERERS: Award-winning upholsterers: James Simons and Owain Jones, owners of Hawkes Bay Trim and Canvas, fit a seat into a car.

A small canvas-fabrication business has been recognised on the world stage for its craftsmanship. Hawkes Bay Trim and Canvas recently won an international industry award for excellence in specialty fabric application for its upholstery of a Chevrolet Bel Air car.

Owain Jones and James Simons started the Hastings-based company in 2012.

After a few years working in industrial textiles, the pair decided to go it alone, albeit on a shoestring budget.

Jones kept working at a local gibbing firm while Simons started working for the business.

"We just opened the door and saw what happened. We started pretty minimalistic with a bench, a compressor and a sewing machine and a few other tools."

Jones joined Simons about a year down the track, once there was enough work to keep them busy.

They do everything from auto and marine upholstery to shades, screens, umbrellas and gazebos. "Our strength is our ability to cover all those areas. When one thing slows down, another picks up."

Repairing upholstery for secondhand car dealers keeps them going during winter, then when the suns starts to shine, customers want work done on their boats or shade sails for the garden.

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Pair sew up major industry award

A plan to build condos on a north London estate is stirring opposition, with neighbours worried the move will harm the environmentally sensitive area.

One estate house sitting on 0.8hectares of land at 161 Windermere Rd. could give way to five condos too much housing, neighbours fear.

Such a project would change the character of this unique area, near the Medway Valley Heritage Forest and Medway Creek, Linda and Michael Grace say in letter to the citys environment and planning committee.

The committee is scheduled to hear a rezoning bid Tuesday to allow the development.

The area has large lots and the development could open the door to similar projects in the area, neighbours fear.

We have observed many deer, wild turkeys and even a fox on our properties, they say, adding the area has important natural features and should not be used for gazebos, fire pits, etc.

The site is home to a large stand of stately, mature trees that neighbours worry could also be lost.

The Windermere Rd. plan is one of four proposed condo developments on Tuesdays agenda, with 192 total units to be decided on.

City planninng staff is recommending the Windermere Rd. land be rezoned and the development allowed, since five detached condos on a large land parcel is consistent with infill development favoured by the city, said Terry Grawey, the citys manager of development services.

It is designated in the official plan for low density, and in its current state it is under-used and appropriate for infill, Grawey said.

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Residents up in arms over plans for estate

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An endurance organiser says she will never host FEI competitions again because of the behaviour of Group VII (Middle East) riders at her CEI in August.

A yellow warning card was issued to one UAE rider for incorrect behaviour, and anothers placing was demoted to completion after their altercations with road-crossing stewards at Barbury.

But organiser Linda Kidd believes further violations escaped censure because they were not reported within the FEIs 30-minute rule.

Organisers hand over their site to FEI officials an hour before the start. Mrs Kidd says inappropriate corral areas and gazebos were erected too close to the vet hold area, creating a potential health and safety risk. She also alleges that the new limit on crew numbers was not enforced.

We have run FEI events for four years, and this was the first time weve had Group VII, she said. Dealing with the Dubai Equestrian Club (DEC) took up 95% of my time.

Barbury was just eight days after the new FEI rules took effect on 1 August. You would have thought the UAE would try to respect them.

Mrs Kidd wrote to Endurance GB (ECB) chairman John Hudson, but says he didnt answer all her concerns. She also believes he understated rule-breaking during UK rides this summer in comments to H&H about the sponsorship EGB is discussing with DEC.

Mr Hudson said: EGB are fully aware of the issues that arose at the Barbury Castle event and accept that we did not publicly acknowledge this. We would like to reassure members that we have received a full report from the organiser and are taking this experience into account when planning FEI rides in 2015 and beyond.

Liz Finney, chief steward at Barbury, told H&H: We did not find more than the allowed number attending any horse. There was obviously a large contingent of UAE grooms in the crew area due to the number of UAE-trained horses competing.

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound magazine (13 November 2014).

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Organiser turns her back on FEI endurance rides [H&H VIP]

YORKS market has reopened under a new name following completion of the latest phase of a 1.6 million refurbishment.

Shambles Market has new-look stalls and kiosks and improved weatherproofing and lighting.

A dozen new traders have already signed up for regular pitches and a number of existing traders have requested extra space to expand their businesses.

Seven new-style kiosks, which are already oversubscribed, will open in the New Year with a mix of hot food outlets and products ranging from watch and watch repairs through olive oil to body art.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure at City of York Council, said the new traders would sell quilts and linens, woodcarvings and daily chinaware as well as beads and crafting materials.

The full works are expected to be finalised in the spring.

Stallholder Paula Hind, who runs Sheilas Fruit and Veg stall with her husband David, said the revamp still had a long way to go, saying some parts of the market were very untidy and some stalls were under grubby temporary gazebos.

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Yorks market reopens under new name

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