Texas Headlines

GAS PRICES

Texas gas prices up penny

HOUSTON (AP) - The price of gasoline in Texas rose slightly to

average $3.17 per gallon this week.

AAA Texas today reported the penny increase. Nationally, the

average price for gasoline held steady at about $3.27.

AAA Texas says El Paso has the lowest average in the state

survey, at $3.12 per gallon.

Gasoline in Galveston listed the highest average price at $3.19

per gallon.

AAA Texas spokeswoman Rose Rougeau (roo-ZHOH') says it's unclear

whether the slight price declines in the last couple of days signal

that we've reached a peak - or just a plateau.

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On the Net:

www.aaa-texas.com

LAWMAKERS RENT

Ex-lawmaker Goodman fined $10K by ethics commission

AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas Ethics Commission has fined former state

Representative Toby Goodman $10,000 for using campaign donations to

buy real estate.

Those same allegations shadowed the Republican's failed 2006

re-election bid.

The Arlington lawyer denies wrongdoing and says he'll appeal.

The commission alleges Goodman, while living in Austin during

legislative sessions, used campaign money toward purchases of

Austin real estate by paying his wife -- rent on property.

The commission previously said lawmakers could use campaign

funds to rent from a spouse who had sole ownership of a property.

But the 2007 Legislature tightened the law to make such

arrangements illegal. State law prohibits the use of campaign funds

for personal use, including buying property.

In Goodman's case, the loans for the properties bought in 1998

and 1999 remained in both their names.

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Information from Austin American-Statesman & Fort Worth

Star-Telegram:

www.statesman.com & www.star-telegram.com

SEX OFFENDER-CANDIDATE

Registered sex offender runs for mayor of Wilmer

WILMER, Texas (AP) - A registered sex offender is running for

mayor of a Dallas-area town.

James Brian Sliter (SLY'-ter) wants to be mayor of Wilmer

(WIL'-mer).

Records show Sliter was arrested four years ago for arranging

sex with whom he thought was a 15-year-old girl on the Internet.

But when Sliter got to the meeting place, he was greeted by

police instead of a teenager.

Sliter, who is now 42, says he needs to prove he can be an asset

to his community. He says he's truly sorry and hopes voters realize

that people make mistakes.

According to state records, Sliter was charged with attempting

to commit sexual assault of a child and placed on 10 years

probation. He's eligible to run because he received deferred

adjudication and not a conviction.

The election in Wilmer is May 10th.

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Information from Jay Gormley of KTVT-TV: www.cbs11tv.com

AIRPORT-CASH

Texan sentenced in Georgia for money laundering

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (AP) - A Texan arrested at a northeast Georgia

airport with 1.3 million dollars has been sentenced to 17½ years in

prison for money laundering.

U.S. District Judge William C. O'Kelley yesterday sentenced

60-year-old Kevin Felts of Brazoria.

A jury in December convicted Felts of money laundering and

weapon charges.

Prosecutors say Felts handled close to seven million dollars in

drug money that was linked to Mexican drug trafficking.

He was caught with the money in March 2005 after drug agents

received a tip that a plane would fly to the Gainesville, Georgia,

airport for a cash pickup.

Last year, 34-year-old Nora Aguilar pleaded guilty to drug

conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 21 years in prison. She was

hiding in the plane when Felts was caught.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.gainesvilletimes.com

MESQUITE-BODY FOUND

Counselors will help deal with Mesquite student's flood death

MESQUITE, Texas (AP) - Counselors will be on hand at school to

help students and staff deal with the flood-related death of a

14-year-old Mesquite boy.

Officials say a body recovered yesterday from a creek was Shaun

Hebert (hay-BEAR').

Searchers recovered the body downstream from where Hebert ended

up in the flooded creek on Tuesday -- when heavy rain pounded the

Dallas area.

The teen attended West Mesquite High School.

SUBMERGED BODY

Texan missing since Mardi Gras found in canal in SUV

METAIRIE, La. (AP) - The body of a Dallas-area man who'd been

missing since Mardi Gras has been found in a submerged sport

utility vehicle in a canal.

Officials in Metairie (MET'-uh-ree), Louisiana, believe the body

may have been in the water for weeks because nobody investigated a

damaged guard rail.

Authorities suspect 44-year-old John Paul Delatte's vehicle

crashed through a metal barrier.

Delatte was a New Orleans area native who moved to Mansfield,

Texas, after 2005's Hurricane Katrina. He was reported missing

February 5th.

There were no signs of foul play when the body was recovered

yesterday.

Delatte, who was in the New Orleans area with his family,

disappeared after visiting a friend who worked at a bar in the

French Quarter.

Deputies located Delatte's vehicle after a resident who noticed

the damaged guard rail called 911 on Wednesday.

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Information from: The Times-Picayune,

http://www.timespicayune.com

AT&T-AUCTION PAYMENT

San Antonio-based AT&T to pay FCC $1.3B down payment

NEW YORK (AP) - AT&T will pay an initial down payment of 1.3

billion dollars to the Federal Communications Commission for its

portion of wireless spectrum licenses it won.

San Antonio-based AT&T says it will make the down payment, of

which 500 million dollars was paid prior to the start of the

auction, within the next 10 business days.

The remaining balance of 5.3 billion dollars will be paid on or

before April 17th.

AT&T says it will use funds from operations and either

short-term or long-term debt to fund the purchase price.

The FCC yesterday announced winners of a record-setting auction.

The spectrum was made available thanks to the transition to digital

broadcasting.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)