By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Gov. Rick Perry is calling the nation's economic turmoil a national nightmare. But he's also saying the country's brightest days are ahead.
His optimistic tone in a speech to a conference of state legislators made him sound very much like the GOP presidential candidate he's all but certain to become in the coming days.
Perry promised to work with governors and lawmakers to -- in his words -- return power to the states, where he said it belongs.
He called himself a West Texas optimist during one of the country's darkest hours. And he said "our brightest hour is just around the corner."
State Revokes Approval For ATI Programs
The Texas Workforce Commission is revoking the certificates of approval for 22 programs taught at career schools run by ATI Enterprises, Inc.
The agency said the company misreported the employment rates of graduates in those programs, with a review finding rates below 60 percent minimum rate.
The agency is requiring that ATI either refund tuition of those enrolled in the programs or offer them options to complete their training in compliance TWC.
TWC has set terms, agreed to by ATI, that require it to ensure accurate reporting of graduate employment rates in the future.
ATI said that they've taken the matter seriously and worked with the agency to come to an agreement. They say they will also continue to teach students in those programs and seek re-approval.
Dallas police: Man jumped to death at Galleria
Police say they believe a man jumped to his death when he fell from the third level of the Galleria onto an ice rink surrounded by restaurants.
Dallas police Cpl. Kevin Janse said Wednesday the incident was being investigated as a suicide. The 42-year-old man has not been identified.
Fire officials said the man was unresponsive when medical personnel arrived at the mall Tuesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at Medical City Dallas.
Janse said police would have no further comment as the investigation proceeds.
The ice rink is located in the middle of the shopping center, with the mall's three levels overlooking the rink, which is below ground level.
Texan gets 4 years for restaurant-related fraud
An East Texas man has been sentenced to four years in prison over credit card numbers scammed from a restaurant and the Internet.
The U.S. attorney's office says 26-year-old Christopher Michael of Malakoff pleaded guilty in May to access device fraud. Michael, who was sentenced Tuesday in Tyler, also must pay nearly $95,000 in restitution.
Law officers, during a raid last August at Michael's home, seized counterfeit charge card making equipment and hundreds of fake cards.
Prosecutors say three other people, including an employee at a Chicken Express in Tyler where customer credit card numbers were stolen, have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.