Morning Roundup: Cleaning up the mudflaps edition

Good morning, Houston. We're beginning today with news that's not happening in Texas, but could have had repercussions in our transportation industry: In Arizona, lawmakers just missed banning truck mudflaps with silhouettes of naked women on them. The ban came in a proposed amendment to a bill regarding the legal height of truck fender splash guards, and it took aim not at racist slogans and busty outlines on mudflaps. "I personally am tired of explaining to my 11-year-old son why [women] are depicted on mudflaps, but not all women are 36Ds. He's very confused by that," said state Rep. Theresa Ulmer, a Democrat who supported the ban. The amendment was rejected 31-19 in the Arizona House — that sound you hear is the collective sigh of relief of thousands of truckers happy that commerce can continue as usual. As long as no one goes after Yosemite Sam mudflaps, that is.

>> Let the gaming begin?: According to documents concerning the proposed sale of the Texas Lottery, the deal could involve legalizing video slots and home lotto ticket sales. The potential new games are just a way to sweeten the $14 to $28 billion deal, said Robert Black, Gov. Rick Perry's spokesman: "This is not unlike trying to sell your house." Assuming, of course, that gambling is legal in your living room. Any new form of gaming — and the lottery sale itself — would have to be approved by the Legislature.

>> Grounded: JetBlue, which began service to Houston not that long ago, called off today's flights to and from Houston and 10 other cities to help get back on track after a snowstorm grounded planes in the Northeast last week. It's not an ideal situation, but it's the best bet to get the airline on schedule, officials said. As for travelers, they've been left scrambling to adjust their plans: "It's been a terrible ordeal, I tell you," Maria Arbelo of New Haven, Conn., said. "I laugh about it because there's nothing we can do."

>> Off the menu: County health officials are recommending that anyone who ate or worked at the Pappasito's at 15280 North Freeway between Jan. 23 and 27, Jan. 30 and 31, Feb. 1-3 and Feb. 7 and 8 get a shot to fight Hepatitis A after an employee at the restaurant tested positive for the virus. The shots — which are effective within two weeks after a person is exposed to the virus — will be given for free from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday at the Mangum-Howell Center, 2500 Frick Road.

>> This week's weather: Wow, so how about that weekend, huh? Absolutely beautiful. You're going to want to look back on it fondly in the middle of this week, when our chances for rain increase (looks like we're most likely to see some showers Wednesday, though there will be fair chances Tuesday, Friday and Saturday as well). The good news: Temperatures will remain bearable — warm, even — finding their way back into the mid-70s before a cool front knocks them back around 67 on Sunday. Today, look for an afternoon high around 66 under partly cloudy skies, with a low of 60 overnight.

More news, you say? Right this way ...