(April 17, 2007)

AUSTIN (AP) - Governor Rick Perry today ordered that flags at
state buildings be flown at half staff through Sunday in memory of
the Virginia Tech shooting victims.

Also, the University of Texas in Austin announced it would
darken its tower -- beginning tonight through Thursday.

U-T is where gunman Charles Whitman climbed the clock tower and
shot 16 people to death in 1966 -- before he was killed by law
officers.

The U-T student government plans a vigil for Monday, when the
tower will again be darkened. The university's flags will also be
flown at half staff through Sunday.

The governor's flag directive applies to all U-S and Texas flags
under the control of the state.

The governor also is encouraging individuals, businesses and
local governments to fly flags at half staff.

President Bush, who spoke to Virginia Tech students and teachers
today, also ordered that flags be flown at half staff.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-04-17-07 1557EDT