By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
Terry Sullivan is managing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's campaign for the 2010 Republican nomination for governor.
Hutchison announced Sullivan's appointment Monday.
Sullivan filled the same post in 2006 when Hutchison considered running against Gov. Rick Perry in that year's Republican primary for governor. This time she's more serious and says she'll formally announce in August that she's running.
Hutchison also announced Monday that campaign veteran Jennifer Coxe-Baker will be her senior communications adviser; Jeff Sadosky, who works in the senator's Washington government office, will be press secretary; and Joe Pounder will be deputy communications director.
State sues over alleged college entrance exam scam
The Texas attorney general's office has filed suit against a suburban Dallas couple, accusing them of scamming college entrance applicants and their families with their entrance exam prep kit.
The lawsuit names as defendants James Joseph Stuart and his wife, Frances Stuart, both of Cedar Hill, and their SAT and ACT Prep Center.
The lawsuit alleges that the Stuarts' business marketed a CD ROM of test preparation materials for parents of college applicants for $120. The AG's staff says the same materials were outdated and available elsewhere for $10 or less.
The lawsuit says the state attorneys will ask a Dallas County state district judge to order the Stuarts to make restitution and to pay civil penalties of up to $20,000 per violation. The Stuarts' attorney Mark Hill of Dallas says his clients deny any "intentional or systematic wrongdoing" and expect to be exonerated.
Man arrested for Craigslist robberies
Irving police have arrested a man accused of robbing sellers and buyers who used the Internet site Craigslist.
Twenty-year-old Kenneth Hawkins was arrested Friday during an undercover operations and is charged with aggravated robbery. He's accused of robbing three residents of their cash or the items they were trying to sell.
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports an undercover officer posed as a buyer on Craigslist and arranged a meeting with Hawkins to buy some items. Police say Hawkins was armed with a handgun when he was arrested.
Hawkins was in the Irving Jail Monday with bail set at $25,000. Investigators are looking into whether he is responsible for other holdups in North Texas.
Peer program helps reduce Texas crashes
A newly released study found that fatal crashes involving teenage drivers have declined faster in Texas than in other comparable states.
Those who did the research say that's likely because Texas' graduated driver license law is boosted by peer education programs. The Texas Transportation Institute is part of the Texas A&M University System. According to the study it released Monday, federal statistics in recent years show a nationwide decline in teen crash fatalities. But in few states has that decline been sharper than in Texas.
The study compared Texas to other states with at least five years of graduated driver license law data. Graduated licensing refers to levels of increased driving privileges as a young motorist gains experience.
IG blames system failure in death
A review finds military leaders and contractor KBR failed to protect a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering in his barracks in Iraq.
The Associated Press reports the Defense Department's Inspector General report was being released today. A spokeswoman for Houston-based KBR didn't immediately comment.
The 2008 death of Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth of Pittsburgh triggered an investigation of 18 electrocution deaths in Iraq. Maseth was showering when he came in contact with an energized metal shower and hose caused by the failure of an ungrounded water pump on the roof.
The inspector general found KBR did not ground equipment during installation or report improperly grounded equipment during maintenance.
The review also found military commanders and key decision makers failed to ensure that renovations were properly done.