By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Tom Leppert is running for U.S. Senate. The mayor of Dallas, whose resignation becomes effective at 5 o'clock today, is making his announcement on his website.
The former Turner Construction CEO says he's running for the Senate seat now held by Kay Bailey Hutchison because he brings a unique conservative approach. Leppert says he's created jobs, grown a business, and cut wasteful spending in both the public and private sector. And he says he's willing to make the hard calls that are lacking in Washington.
Link: http://www.tomleppert.com/_blog/news/post/Why_Im_Running/
Saudi suspect in terror plot appears in fed. court
A college student from Saudi Arabia charged with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction has made an initial appearance at a court in Texas.
Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari appeared in the U.S. Federal Court in Lubbock on Friday. He has retained counsel Rod Hobson.
Judge Nancy Koenig asked the 20-year-old if he understands the charges against him and ordered him to remain in custody until a March 11 detention hearing.
Koenig said Aldawsari faces a maximum penalty of life in prison if convicted.
The Justice Department says Aldawsari bought explosive chemicals online and planned to blow up dams, nuclear plants or the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush.
Aldawsari is legally in the U.S. on a student visa.
Texas inmate admits threatening Obama
A Texas prison system inmate has pleaded guilty to making a written threat against President Barack Obama.
Prosecutors on Friday announced 28-year-old Robert Lee Berkley Jr. of Rusk pleaded guilty to making threats against the president.
No sentencing date was immediately set by a federal magistrate in Tyler. Berkley, who pleaded guilty Wednesday, faces up to five years in federal prison. Investigators say Berkley last June was in the Hodge Unit when he wrote a letter claiming, when he's released, he planned to travel to Washington in order to kill the president and his family. Berkley was indicted last July.
A spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice did not immediately return a message Friday from The Associated Press to provide details on Berkley's state imprisonment.
Homicide ruling in East Texas house fire
The death of a man found in a burned house in East Texas has been ruled a homicide.
Tyler police on Friday announced autopsy results are pending on 28-year-old Harold Davinci Miller.
A neighbor on Thursday noticed a residence burning. Miller's body was discovered by firefighters.
Further details on the death were not immediately released.