Texas Death Row Inmate Gets Execution Postponed: AP writer, Schuyler Dixon, reports that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals postponed Charles Dean Hood's execution, scheduled for Wednesday, because it wanted to reconsider whether the jury instructions were flawed. Hood is a former bouncer at a topless club who was 20 when he was arrested in Indiana for the fatal shootings of Tracie Lynn Wallace, 26, an ex-dancer, and her boyfriend, Ronald Williamson, 46, at Williamson's home in Plano in 1989. The lawyers of the death row inmate argued that a secret romantic relationship between retired judge Verla Sue Holland and former Collin County District Attorney Tom O'Connel tainted his trial. In an earlier ruling the Austin-based appeals court dismissed claims by Hood's attorneys citing procedural reasons for the rejection. But on Tuesday the Court said it would be "prudent to reconsider the decision we issued" in previously dismissing Hood's appeal that challenged jury instructions.

NYC Emergency Hot Lines Accepting Photos, Videos: According to a story from CBS online news, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that photos and video can now be transmitted to the hotline. Operators will notify the NYPD when callers have cell phone images of accidents or crimes. Callers with a cell phone video or photo of a crime also can notify the emergency operator, and a detective will call back to receive the images. Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said major improvements to technology within the department in the past six years have helped reduced crime, which is down more than 3 percent so far this year. While hundreds of cities around the country accept text messages to emergency hot lines, New York is believed to be the first with the capability to accept images, which may be used as evidence when prosecuting criminals, officials said.

Students Can Send Text Message Tips To Cops: CBS journalists, Rosalind Rossi and Frank Main, report that students who see a gun or overhear plans about an after-school fight can now tip off authorities by anonymously text-messaging police under a program announced Monday involving 10 Chicago public high schools. Crime Stoppers of Cook County is even offering rewards to tipsters whose information produces arrests. For murder cases, that can involve up to $1,000. "Practically every student these days has a cell phone. Students are texting each other messages faster than they can dial a number,'' Police Supt. Jody Weis said in announcing the pilot program with Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan.

Sex Offender Sent To Prison After Violating Probation Within 40 Minutes: A news story from the Poughkeepsie Journal reports that a convicted sex offender who violated the terms of probation less than an hour after he left the courtroom in July received 1 1/2 to five years prison sentence today. Walter Freeman, 72, of Lent Street, City of Poughkeepsie, had been placed on probation July 15 after he admitted he had failed to notify police he had changed his address, as required by state law for most sex offenders. Freeman acknowledged last month he had violated the terms of his probation by approaching two children in a bank in Poughkeepsie and offering to buy them ice cream. The incident occurred about 40 minutes after Freeman had been placed on probation. Under the terms of his probation, Freeman was prohibited from having any contact with children.