By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Let the buying begin for the thousands of Texans who got through to register for a rebate program that left out millions of others out of luck. Texans who registered April 7, via overwhelmed phone lines and computer systems, began buying their appliances Friday.
The Texas Trade Up program involves more than $20 million in federal stimulus funds. Rebates are for consumers who buy certain energy-efficient appliances.
The Texas comptroller's office says 38 million Web hits were recorded in the hours before the program filled up. The agency says nearly 39,000 rebate reservations were guaranteed.
The purchase period ends April 25 for refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners. For central air conditioners, hot water heaters and air-source heat pumps, the purchase period ends 60 days from the rebate reservation or waitlist request date.
Repeat DWI driver indicted over double fatals
A repeat convicted drunken driver has been indicted over an Easter traffic wreck in Lewisville that left a woman and her daughter dead and three relatives hurt. A Denton County grand jury indicted 30-year-old John Patrick Barton of Lewisville on two counts of murder and three counts of intoxication assault. Barton initially was charged with intoxication manslaughter.
Lewisville police believe Barton was driving drunk during the April 4 accident that killed 33-year-old Kandace Hull and 13-year-old Autumn Caudle of Argyle.
Barton was in the Denton County Jail on Friday on bail of $1 million.
Records show Barton, who was indicted Thursday, has three DWI convictions since 1997, including the last one in 2006. He was sentenced to three years in prison and was paroled in early 2009.
Judge nixes publicizing some State Farm rates
A judge in Austin is blocking Texas regulators from publicizing some documents on two rate hikes by State Farm Insurance.
District Judge Stephen Yelenosky issued a temporary order sought by State Farm, which cited competitive reasons to keep private the information on homeowners rates.
The Dallas Morning News reported Friday that the judge did not rule out changing his mind if Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin formally decides that the twin rate filings are "insufficient" without the documents.
Company spokesman Kevin Davis says State Farm appreciates Thursday's court ruling and awaits the next steps.
Department officials declined comment until seeing the judge's written order.
Texas in 2003 ordered State Farm to cut rates by 12 percent and issue refunds.
The lawsuit, filed in March, is part of State Farm's refusal. The company says its rates are fair.
Teacher suffers facial burns with sulfuric acid
South Texas authorities say assailants attacked an elementary school teacher with sulfuric acid after staging a fender bender in a sparsely populated area.
The woman and her 8-year-old daughter were leaving a school in the Rio Grande Valley town of Alamo on Tuesday when two men bumped the rear of her car. Police Chief Arturo Espinosa said that when the woman pulled over to inspect the damage, one of the men poured liquid on her face.
She began screaming and neighbors tried to help, but Espinosa says the liquid was sulfuric acid.
Doctors said Thursday the woman's face might be permanently disfigured. Her daughter was not injured.
Espinosa said investigators don't have a motive for the attack.