By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Jurors in the money laundering trial of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay have resumed their deliberations. The jury continued working on Wednesday, a day after asking various legal questions that prompted the judge to say they weren't on the right track. But at the end of Tuesday, jurors indicated they were making progress.
Deliberations began on Monday.
Prosecutors allege DeLay helped illegally funnel $190,000 in corporate campaign donations to Texas legislative races in 2002 in a move that ultimately helped send more Republicans to Congress.
DeLay has denied any wrongdoing, saying no corporate money went to Texas candidates.
The former Texas congressman is charged with money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces up to life in prison if convicted.
Farmers Insurance files for Texas rate hike
Farmers Insurance has filed for a 3.9 percent rate increase in Texas.
The Dallas Morning News reports that Farmers' filing on Tuesday with the Texas Department of Insurance will affect about half the company's customers in Texas.
Farmers' spokesman Luis Sahagun says the rate hike is needed to handle the increasing cost of claims in Texas.
The new rates will go into effect in March. It will affect customers who have either the Texas Family Home Policy or the Farmers Next Generation Homeowners Policy. About 324,000 customers have those policies.
A state insurance department spokesman says actuaries will review the company's filing to make sure the rate hike is justified.
An insurer can increase premiums once it notifies the agency.
Mother charged with endangerment after child dies Tyler police have charged a 19-year-old woman with endangering a child after her 1-year-old son was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Police spokesman Don Martin told the Tyler Morning Telegraph that Emma Torres left the boy and another child at home alone while her boyfriend took her to work Tuesday.
Martin says the boy was pronounced dead on arrival at Mother Frances Hospital after being taken there by an aunt. He said the woman had been contacted by the boyfriend.
Martin says the boy showed signs of physical abuse. The cause of death has not yet been determined and an autopsy has been ordered.
Martin says the other child is 4 years old. He declined to say whether that child showed signs of abuse.
Nation's largest VA clinic provides more services
Retired Air Force Staff Sgt. Shalum Scott is only 31, but for years his life has revolved around appointments at Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics several times a week. He's had two hip-replacement surgeries after complications from diabetes and osteoarthritis.
But he no longer has to wait for hours in crowded waiting rooms. He now gets all of his treatment at the recently expanded VA clinic in Fort Worth. The 239,000-square-foot facility is the nation's largest outpatient clinic for veterans.
The new center is expected to serve nearly 22,000 veterans next year - about 1,600 more than were treated at the Fort Worth VA clinic this year before its expansion.
VA officials say the larger clinic will cut down on patient waiting times and provide more services.