By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – The Texas Workforce Commission says the state's unemployment rate held steady at 8.1 percent in October as the number of jobs increased by 47,900. The agency said Friday the latest job increase pushed the number of positions added in the past year to 172,800.
Construction employment had its biggest increase since April with 8,800 new jobs. Professional and business services increased by 4,200 jobs.
The Texas jobless rate continued to track below the national rate of 9.6 percent.
Commission Chairman Tom Pauken says every major industry added jobs in October as the state matched its lowest jobless rate of the year.
Another Texas appliance rebate program Dec. 20
Texans are getting another chance to take part in an energy-efficient appliance rebate program.
Comptroller Susan Combs on Friday announced the purchase period will begin Dec. 20 for Texans to get a bite of about $10 million in rebate funds left over from the initial offer earlier this year. The purchase period will remain open until all funds are distributed.
Many Texans couldn't get through by phone or online to take part in the first part of the program in April.
Comps says that consumers this time around, after installation, should mail in their completed rebate application form and a copy of the receipt to be eligible for the rebates.
The rebates are good for a range of Energy Star rated appliances ranging from air conditioners and dishwashers to refrigerators.
Builder guilty in final Dallas corruption trial
A builder who was the final defendant to face trial in the Dallas City Hall public corruption case has been found guilty.
A federal jury in Dallas found housing developer Ron Slovacek guilty on Friday of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Slovacek faces a maximum of 35 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 4.
The jury found Slovacek guilty of funneling kickbacks from housing developers to former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, the No. 2 public official in city hall. Hill was sentenced earlier this year to 18 years in prison.
Authorities say the scheme involved city officials shaking down developers for hundreds of thousands of dollars in return for votes on their low-income housing projects in southern Dallas.
Plano officer tried to turn on gun light, not fire
An undercover Plano police officer told investigators that he meant to turn on a flashlight attached to his gun when he fatally shot a drug suspect.
The Dallas Morning News on Friday reported on the sergeant's written statement as part of documents released by Dallas police in response to a public information request.
The sergeant told investigators that he "never intended to fire" his weapon and accidentally shot 25-year-old Michael Anthony Alcala on Oct. 13 during an alleged attempt to buy heroin. The shooting took place in a North Dallas parking lot.
A grand jury that was considering manslaughter counts against the officer took no action this month. The officer, who remains on administrative leave, is not being identified because he works undercover and has not been charged.