Big Ice in Big Texas

Perry will be the longest-serving governor in state history - 10 years - if he completes his term. But he also has been mentioned as a potential Republican vice presidential candidate in 2008.

The inaugural theme was "Texas: Imagine the Possibilities," but Perry's speech to legislators and political supporters struck a tone that stretched well beyond the state's borders, touching on such issues as the war on terror, AIDS in Africa, ethnic strife in the Darfur region of Sudan and immigration problems in the United States.

"We are now in an era of great global anxiety," Perry said. "Two conflicts on Israel's border, and one in Iraq, threaten the stability of the entire Middle East, as well as the safety of America's bravest men and women."

The Stokhaugs and at least 50 other motorists ended up in a convention center in Ozona, stranded there by storms that shut down businesses and schools across Texas, killed at least two more people and drove state inauguration ceremonies indoors Tuesday.

Stranded travelers at the convention center, described by motorists as a converted bingo hall, said folks were making the best of their situations overnight.

"These are areas of town which have older trees and where significant tree-trimming has not been completed in recent years," he said. "A majority of the outages require tree-trimming before the repair that ultimately restores power."

Clark said he could not estimate when power would be restored. About 30 repair crews and contract tree-trimmers are in service.

Meanwhile, more than 90 percent of flights at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport this morning were canceled because of a delay in the shipment of de-icing solution to the airlines, spokesman Jim Halbrook said.