It’s Thursday, January 10th. I'm Elise Randall, and here's your local news from the Austin American-Statesman. Our top story is: The Travis County Historical Commission voted last night to write a letter to several state agencies recommending removal of a plaque at the Capitol that honors the Confederacy, and says that slavery was not a cause of the Civil War. The commission’s decision comes as the State Preservation Board is expected to consider the issue at its Friday meeting.