By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX –
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is renewing her complaint that Gov. Rick Perry's decisions are driven by lobbyists.
Speaking at a meeting of Dallas County Republican women Tuesday, Hutchison backed her claim by pointing to the governor's failed attempt to require vaccinating sixth-grade girls against the virus that causes cervical cancer.
Tuesday is the three-year anniversary of Perry's executive order, which was overridden by state lawmakers. At the time, Perry's former chief of staff was a lobbyist for the vaccine manufacturer.
Perry defended his order Friday in a debate among the Republican candidates for governor. The primary is in one month.
A spokesman for Perry said Tuesday the governor "looked at this issue as protecting life.
Neiman Marcus To Pay $25,000 Judgement
Neiman Marcus Inc. has agreed to pay a $25,000 judgment after a court found the luxury retailer falsely advertising two coats as being "faux fur" trimmed when the items had Asian raccoon dog fur.
The U.S. Humane Society in 2008 filed suit in Washington against Dallas-based Neiman Marcus and other retailers over the misidentified fur.
The Dallas Morning News reports that the consumer protection judgment against Neiman Marcus awaits final court approval. Neiman Marcus spokeswoman Ginger Reeder declined comment Tuesday.
Saks Inc. and the Humane Society reached a $6,500 out-of-court settlement last week.
Animal rights group attorney Ralph Henry says manufacturer Andrew Marc and Lord & Taylor settled last year. Macy's Inc. remains a defendant.
Berry named editor of Tyler newspapers
Managing editor Dave Berry, with four decades of journalism experience, has been named editor of the Tyler newspapers. Publisher Nelson Clyde says the 61-year-old Berry will assume the top newsroom position following last week's retirement of A.J. "Jim" Giametta as executive editor.
Berry has served as managing editor of the Tyler Morning Telegraph and The Sunday Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph for 15 years.
Berry in 1970 received a bachelor's degree in journalism from Kansas State University, then went on to serve in Vietnam as an Army combat photojournalist, before returning to commercial journalism.
Berry is immediate past president of the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors and is a member of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the national APME.
Texas tells lotto watchdog to give up Web sites
The Texas Lottery Commission has had a law firm send letters telling lotto watchdog Dawn Nettles and others to turn over their Web site names to the state agency.
Nettles, who operates several lottery-related Web sites, says commission officials are being "domain bullies." She has challenged Lottery Commission practices and has brought attention to missteps like inflated jackpot estimates. The Dallas Morning News reports the letters were dated Jan. 22.
The state argued eight years ago that two Web site domain names Nettles still owns - lottotexas.com and lottotexas.net - should be turned over to the commission.
A lawyer replied that the Lottery Commission had no legal standing due to disclaimers on the Nettles site, the generic words and the noncommercial content.