June 18, 2013

Gov. Martinez's ex-campaign manager pleads not guilty

The political insider accused of stealing the emails of Gov. Susana Martinez and her aides pleaded not guilty Monday morning.

Defendant Jamie Estrada answered a few perfunctory questions during his arraignment in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque but said nothing to reporters assembled outside.

Estrada's lawyer, Zach Ives, made the only comment.

"Jamie Estrada is not guilty of the charges against him. This is just the beginning of a process that should allow us to expose the significant legal and factual problems with the allegations against Mr. Estrada," Ives said.

More at http://elpasotimes.typepad.com/newmexico/ .

Related thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1067325

June 17, 2013

Two executives at Dallas medical insurance firm accused of running a $10 million Ponzi scheme

Federal prosecutors and securities regulators have accused two Dallas executives of a medical insurance company of operating a $10 million Ponzi scheme involving at least 80 investors.

The complaint by the Securities and Exchange Commission was filed today, along with a criminal charges filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.

According to the SEC complaint, Duncan J. MacDonald III and Gloria Solomon solicited investments for Global Corporate Alliance by falsely promoting the company as a proven business with strong revenue. In reality, the business was a startup with no operating history and virtually no sales, the SEC complaint alleges.

The two created fake monthly statements to support their claims that GCA was a thriving health insurance company. The two solicited investments between 2008 and 2011.

More at http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2013/06/two-executives-at-dallas-medical-insurance-firm-of-running-a-10-million-ponzi-scheme.html/ .

June 17, 2013

Komen names new CEO to replace Nancy Brinker

DALLAS (AP) — Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced Monday that it has a new CEO.

The breast cancer charity named Judith A. Salerno to replace founder Nancy Brinker, whose promise to her dying sister began a fundraising powerhouse that invested hundreds of millions of dollars in cancer research. Brinker announced last summer she would step down following an onslaught of criticism over Komen’s quickly reversed decision to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings.

Salerno, 61, is executive director and chief operating officer of the Institute of Medicine, a prestigious independent group that advises the government and private sector about health and science.

“Komen’s commitment has helped countless numbers of low-income and medically underserved women and men get care they might otherwise have gone without, and Komen’s research program is one of the most highly respected in the nation,” Salerno said in a statement released by Komen.

More at http://www.dallasnews.com/business/headlines/20130617-komen-names-new-ceo-to-replace-nancy-brinker.ece .

June 17, 2013

Tropical depression could cause rough waters on South Texas beaches

COASTAL BEND — The National Hurricane Center is keeping an eye on tropical depression No. 2, which is expected to move inland over southern Belize Monday afternoon.

As of Monday morning, the National Weather Service reported winds of 35 mph and the fast moving storm (13 mph). The depression is expected to reform in the Bay of Campeche Tuesday. When it does, the depression could strengthen into a tropical storm and would be given the name Barry.

Most forecast models show the storm continuing from the Bay of Campeche into northeastern Mexico, more than 100 miles south of the Texas border. If the depression strengthens into a tropical storm, the beaches along South Texas would likely see an increase risk of rip currents and wave heights increasing to six feet starting Wednesday.

Source: http://www.caller.com/news/2013/jun/17/tropical-depression-could-cause-rough-waters-south/

June 17, 2013

House Democrat seeks to restore funding for Public Integrity Unit

A Democratic member of the Texas House on Monday repeatedly reminded the body that the Public Integrity Unit, which investigates politicians’ ethical breaches and motor fuels tax and insurance fraud, has 400 active cases and needs continued funding.

State Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, told the Texas House that he intends to ensure the Public Integrity Unit gets the money it requires to operate, despite Gov. Rick Perry’s veto Friday of the state’s $7.5 million appropriation to the office.

Turner has been fighting attempts for 10 years to move, de-fund and outright kill the Public Integrity Unit, which is based in the Travis County District Attorney’s office, he said.

But this year, the effort has been especially challenging since Travis County D.A. Rosemary Lehmberg was arrested and served time in jail for drunken driving.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/house-discusses-funding-public-integrity-unit/nYNCZ/ .

June 17, 2013

OneWest Bank to lay off 725 workers in Austin

OneWest Bank said it will lay off 725 workers in Austin following the announcement last week that part of its business is being acquired by Ocwen Financial Corp.

The layoffs at the Austin facility, which is in the Domain development in North Austin, will begin on Aug. 31, according to a WARN letter the company sent to the Texas Workforce Commission. A WARN letter — which stands for the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act — is a federally mandated notice employers must provide to state governments in the event of major layoffs.

The majority of the 725 people being laid off are call center employees, said Elizabeth Chrisman, first vice president of employee relations and recruiting for OneWest Bank. She said about 150 employees would be retained at the Austin facility.

The Austin facility served as headquarters for the Pasadena, Calif.-based bank’s home loan servicing business.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/business/onewest-bank-to-lay-off-725-workers-in-austin/nYM58/ .

[font color=green]No union representation for these unfortunate people. However, we have an idea which business won't receive the Austin American-Statesman Top Workplaces award that I posted about in this thread (and didn't receive any replies):[/font]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10789515

June 17, 2013

5-year-old stands up to church of hate

A round of applause to young Jayden Sink, a 5-year-old girl in Topeka, Kan., who is making a stand with a lemonade stand against hate.

Jayden set up a lemonade stand on Friday across the street from the controversial Westboro Baptist "Church" and raised more than $10,000 in the name of peace.

Westboro is hardly a church, but an extended family that has gained national attention by mocking or threatening to mock funerals of fallen soldiers over the years. Their message is the soldiers deserved to die because God is punishing the United States because of a tolerance of gays.

Jayden, with a big assist from her father, Jon, sold "Pink Lemonade for Peace" from her stand outside the Equality House, a rainbow-painted building across the street from the controversial "church's" headquarters.

More at http://amarillo.com/blog-post/jon-mark-beilue/2013-06-17/5-year-old-stands-church-hate .

June 17, 2013

Jury: No medical negligence in penile implant that left patient with an 8 month erection

WILMINGTON, Del. — A jury in Delaware says there was no medical negligence in a penile implant procedure that the patient said left him with an 8-month erection.

The New Castle County Superior Court jury decided that urologist Dr. Thomas Desperito was not negligent in the procedure he performed in December 2009 on 44-year-old truck driver Daniel Metzgar.

The News Journal of Wilmington reported (http://delonline.us/11KM4Z8 ) that during the weeklong trial, Metzgar testified that his constant erection drew taunts from family and friends, as well as stares, slurs and threats from strangers. He testified that the procedure caused him to withdraw from much of life, wearing long, baggy sweat pants and a long shirt to hide his condition.

Metzgar had the prosthesis removed in August 2010, after tubing from the device punctured his scrotum.

Source: http://amarillo.com/news/national-news/2013-06-17/jury-no-medical-negligence-penile-implant

June 17, 2013

Chad Johnson released from jail after just one week

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A contrite Chad Johnson apologized Monday for disrespecting a judge when the former NFL star slapped his attorney on the backside in court last week and was released from jail after only a week instead of 30 days.

Broward County Circuit Judge Kathleen McHugh accepted Johnson's apology and cut back his jail term for a probation violation to the seven days he had already served since the rear-swatting. Johnson, a flamboyant wide receiver formerly known as Chad Ochocinco, said in court that he'd had time to think about why his flippant attitude was wrong — especially in a domestic violence case.

"I just wanted to apologize for disrespecting the court last time," said Johnson, wearing a tan jail jumpsuit with his hands shackled at the waist. "I apologize. I did have time to reflect on the mistakes I made in this courtroom."

Johnson walked out of jail shortly after 4 p.m. and was met by his attorney, Adam Swickle, and sports agent Drew Rosenhaus. Johnson told reporters he was thankful to McHugh because she was the first person to get him to slow down and think about the path his life was taking.

More at http://amarillo.com/news/latest-news/2013-06-17/chad-johnson-released-jail-after-just-one-week .

[font color=green]He did receive preferential treatment, but at least he will be available for training camp if a team decides to sign him as a free agent.[/font]

June 17, 2013

Texas Democrats complain about ethics vetoes

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas House Redistricting Committee has rejected proposed changes to the state's political maps, pushing any final votes to a meeting of the full House later this week.

Lawmakers returned to the special legislative session in Austin on Monday to consider adopting a redistricting plan drawn by a federal court in San Antonio.

The court intended for the state to use those maps only for the 2012 election. But after losing its case in Washington, Attorney General Greg Abbott asked the Legislature to make the temporary maps permanent.

Democratic lawmakers representing minority districts suggested several changes to the temporary maps to avoid any future court cases. But the Republican majority on the committee rejected all the proposals.

More at http://www.reporternews.com/news/2013/jun/17/texas-democrats-complain-about-ethics-vetoes/ . (Abilene)