By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – A judge has ordered U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay to serve three years in prison for his role in a scheme to illegally funnel corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002.
The sentence comes after a jury in November convicted DeLay on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. DeLay was once one of the most powerful men in U.S. politics, ascending to the No. 2 job in the House of Representatives.
The former Houston-area congressman had faced up to life in prison. His attorneys asked for probation.
Senior Judge Pat Priest issued his ruling after a brief sentencing hearing on Monday in which former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert testified on DeLay's behalf.
Priest declined to hear testimony from the state's only witness.
Texas Revenue Down $7.8 Billion For Next 2 Years
Texas Comptroller Susan Combs says the state is projected to have $72.2 billion for general purpose spending over the next two years, a $7.8 billion drop from the last state budget.
But taking into account about $7 billion in federal stimulus money that will not be available, Texas faces a shortfall of at least $15 billion.
The shortfall estimate does not account for expected growth in the number of people on Medicaid rolls and increased demand for education, issues the Texas Legislature will begin to deal with on Tuesday. The revenue estimate does include a $4.3 billion deficit in the current state budget.
The numbers cover the state's 2012-2013 budget.
Life terms for 2 over East Texas church fires
A judge has sentenced two men to life in prison after they pleaded guilty in a series of fires at churches in East Texas last year.
Judge Christi Kennedy ordered the prison terms for 20-year-old Jason Robert Bourque and 22-year-old Daniel George McAllister on Monday.
Last month, Bourque pleaded guilty to five counts of arson and three counts of attempted arson. McAllister entered guilty pleas to two counts of arson and two counts of attempted arson.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives says Bourque also was sentenced to 20 years for attempted arson, to be served consecutive to the life prison term. McAllister received 20 years for attempted arson, to be served concurrently.
Nobody was hurt in the 10 blazes.
Reward For Would-Be Bank Robber
A reward of up to five thousand dollars is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a bank robbery suspect - who didn't get any CASH on his latest attempt.
Irving Police say the latest incident was December 30th when the man left a Chase Bank on North Beltline empty handed after a teller refused to hand over the money and activated the alarm.
Comparing bank surveillance video, police believe the man is responsible for bank robberies in other cities, and is seen on video apparently "casing" banks. He's described as African-American, 5'4" to 5'6" - last seen wearing a red the white "hoodie".