Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 152, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 2015 Page: 3 of 30
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STATE/NATIONAL
3A
Denton Record-Chronicle
Thursday, January 1, 2015
agency’s $105 million contract
Audit criticizes
AUSTIN (AP) - State audi-
tors this week criticized a Texas
agency’s contract with AT&T
that was initially listed as costing
$1 million and then swelled to
$105 million over the course of
seven years.
A report released Tuesday by
the State Auditor’s Office also
found the Health and Human
Services Commission contract
involved agency employees who
previously worked for AT&T, re-
presenting a conflict of interest.
The initial four-year contract
with AT&T for telephone servic-
es was signed in 2008 and cost
nearly $48 million. Three years
as an estimate on the cost of the
contract bidding process.
“We have new policies and
procedures in place that take a
very strict stance on disclosure
of potential conflicts of interest
and increase oversight and
transparency” Janek said, not-
ing the commission — which
has a $33 billion annual budget
— is “a big agency with a lot of
high-dollar contracts.”
The auditor’s office launched
its review in February after the
commission reported potential-
ly improper relationships be-
tween the company and two
state employees, agency spokes-
later it was amended to nearly
$81 million, but then later in-
creased to $105 million.
“The commission did not ad-
equately monitor and enforce
the terms of the contract or ade-
quately review payments,” audi-
tors wrote in the 59-page report.
“In addition, the commission
did not adequately estimate the
contract’s cost during planning
or ensure that employees ade-
quately completed conflict of in-
terest forms.”
Because contract managers
did not adequately track trans-
actions, the state does not know
how much it has paid AT&T, al-
though auditors estimated pay-
ments of at least $72.5 million
from August 2008 to June, the
audit said.
Additionally, contract man-
agers failed to verify perfor-
mance claims, including how
quickly AT&T responded to is-
sues and completed repairs, the
auditors said. The company
claimed to have met its targets in
each of the 12 months auditors
examined, but the search found
it didn’t meet any.
Kyle Janek, Health and Hu-
man Services executive commis-
sioner, said the $1 million figure
was included in early paperwork
woman Linda Edwards Gockel
said. An AT&T spokeswoman
said the company will cooperate
with the ongoing review.
The telecommunications gi-
ant was contracted to provide
services not only for Health and
Human Services but also the
agencies it oversees, such as the
Department of State Health
Services and the Department of
Aging and Disability Services.
In response to the findings, the
commission said it will re-bid the
contract and install new contract-
monitoring protections.
The audit follows a recent
controversy involving another
state contract. Two high-level
state employees quit under pres-
sure in December after newspa-
pers reported state officials
skirted procurement laws to
steer a $20 million Medicaid an-
ti-fraud contract to Austin cy-
bersecurity company 21CT.
The commission’s former
chief counsel, Jack Stick, who was
instrumental in orchestrating the
21CT contract, resigned Dec. 12.
That same day, the state canceled
a pending $90 million contract
extension with 21CT. One week
later the commission’s inspector
general, Doug Wilson, whose of-
fice signed the deal, resigned.
brings
cold to West
Storm
BRIEFLY
snow
STATE AND THE U.S.
Spokane, Wash.
Boy ‘unzipped’ special
purse gun pocket
l
on Adams said his 12- and 14-
year-old daughters were sled-
ding outside his home on body-
boards usually reserved for the
beach or pool. He said he has
never seen as much snow — half
a foot in some places — in the
two decades he has lived there.
“You’d think you woke up in
Tahoe or something,” Adams
said. “Our Old Town looks like a
ski town.”
In Flagstaff, Arizona, as
much as 15 inches of snow was
expected by New Year’s Day.
Pasadena city officials urged
parade-goers to come ready
with layers of clothing and foot-
and hand-warmers.
The cold snap could impact
the famous floral floats in the pa-
rade. Some of the tropical flow-
ers could turn black, and float
builders were using twice the
normal amount of glue to affix
flowers because of the cold, said
Charles Meier, creative director
for Paradiso Parade Floats.
“This is a very unique busi-
ness that really depends on one
day a year, and that one day we
have no control over the weath-
er,” Meier said.
By Amy Taxin
Associated Press
A blustery winter storm
dumped snow and ice across the
West on Wednesday, making
driving treacherous in the
mountains from California to
the Rockies and forcing resi-
dents and party-goers in some
usually sun-soaked cities to bun-
dle up for a frosty New Year’s.
Giddy residents in Southern
California foothills snapped
photos of snow-covered lawns as
kids tossed snowballs.
In suburban Phoenix, swim-
ming pools and cactus-lined
backyards were dusted with the
white stuff.
Those planning to usher in
2015 along the Las Vegas Strip
or watch flower-decorated floats
in the Rose Parade in Pasadena,
California, were bracing for
near-freezing temperatures.
Marco Berri, 26, of Brazil
said he would likely buy some
scarves and gloves to keep warm
in Las Vegas, but the cold
wouldn’t keep him inside.
‘We’re gonna be in the street.
It doesn’t matter how cold it is,”
said Berri, one of about 340,000
I1”
A 2-year-old boy removed a
9mm semi-automatic handgun
from his mother’s purse and
shot her in the head, killing her
instantly.
That’s according to new in-
formation released Wednesday
by the Kootenai County Sheriff’s
Office.
The bullet struck 29-year-old
Veronica Rutledge and killed
her on Tuesday morning inside
the Wal-Mart store in the town
of Hayden, Idaho.
The sheriff’s office says the
manager of the store stepped in
and removed the firearm from
the child.
The sheriff’s office says the
gun was in the woman’s purse,
which was new and was de-
signed to carry a concealed fire-
arm.
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The Sun, Rick Sforza/AP
A family plays in the snow after building a snowman in the Yucaipa community park in Yucai-
pa, Calif., on Wednesday.
_■-
along the panhandles of Texas
and Oklahoma.
Gusting winds toppled trees
throughout California, killing at
least three people in the state in
recent days. A harbor patrolman
and another person were killed
after winds broke boats loose
from moorings at Santa Catalina
Island off the coast of Southern
California.
More than 180 motorists
were rescued after they were
stranded by the snow on moun-
tain highways northeast of Los
Angeles.
Still, many Southern Califor-
nians were excited to see snow at
their front door.
Temecula City Manager Aar-
revelers expected to pack the
Strip and the downtown Fre-
mont area on New Year’s Eve.
The storm swept from Cali-
fornia into the Mojave Desert
and Las Vegas, bringing snow to
parts of northern Arizona and
New Mexico along the way.
Ice and snow also made
roads and highways dangerous
Detectives are analyzing vid-
eo from the store and continue
to examine the weapon and in-
terview witnesses.
Dallas
Domed ski resort
planned for North Texas
Texas skiers looking to hit the
slopes in the coming years could
find themselves traveling to a
Dallas suburb rather than the
mountains of Colorado or New
Mexico.
City leaders in Grand Prairie
are expected to vote in January
on a $215 million plan to build
the country’s first snow dome.
Grand Alps Resort would of-
fer seven slopes year-round, a
snowboard course and a Hard
Rock Hotel. The complex would
cover about 60 acres.
Sherman Thurston, presi-
dent of the Grand Alps Group,
says land purchases could start
by February with groundbreak-
ing in May. Developers are pro-
jecting a 2017 opening.
Providence, R.I.
Hasbro to replace
penis-shaped toy
It was an embarrassing
Christmas for Nivea Cabrera af-
ter she was accused by her fian-
ce’s mother of letting her 5-year-
old granddaughter play with a
sex toy. A mortified Carbrera
asked the child where she got
the penis-shaped plastic cylin-
OF THE
NEW YEAR
FIRST ONE DAY SALE
SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 SHOP 9AM-10PM (IT’S A SALE TOO BIG TO FIT IN A DAY!)
a i ouon cdihav i a kii i a d\/ o cdaiui m <i adiui HOURS MAY VARY BY STORE. VISIT MACYS.COM
ALSO SHOP FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 FROM 10AM-10PM & click on stores for local information.
FREE SHIPPING & FREE RETURNS AT MACYS.COM. FREE SHIPPING WITH $99 PURCHASE. FREE RETURNS BY MAIL OR IN-STORE.
U.S. ONLY. EXCLUSIONS APPLY; DETAILS AT MACYS.COM/FREERETURNS
10AM-2PM FRIDAY & 9AM-2PM SATURDAY
GET HERE EARLY, WHILE THEY LAST!
DOORBUSTERS
1
I
DOORBUSTER (
14.99 MEN'S SWEATERS
Reg. $60-$75, after 2pm: 19.99. *
From WP Weatherproof,
Geoffrey Beene & more.
★ 955408.
DOORBUSTER
19.99 DRESS SHIRTS OR TIES
Reg. $45-52.50, after 2pm:
22.50-26.25. From our Alfani Red
(★1592808) & Club Room. Van
Heusen dress shirts. Doorbuster
19.99. Reg. $45, after 2pm: 22.50.
DOORBUSTER
75% OFF CLEARANCE DRESSES
Doorbuster 17.25-49.50. Orig.* $69-
$198, after 2pm: 24.15-58.80. Wraps,
shifts, sheaths & more. Misses & petites
Women's prices slightly higher.
DOORBUSTER
89.99 COATS
Reg./Orig* $225, after
2pm: 112.50. Down
and wool-blend styles.
M isses. ★ 1538018.
i
0
i
DOORBUSTER
69.99 TOMMY HILFIGER
Reg. $295, after 2pm: 99.99.
Sportcoats. ★ 879915.
DOORBUSTER
65% OFF OUTERWEAR
Doorbuster 87.50-96.25.
Reg. $250-$275, after 2p
$125-137.50. Wool-blend styles
from Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger
and more4l530115.
DOORBUSTER
29.99 SELECT SHOES
Reg. $39-$99, after 2pm:
34.99-49.99. Only at Macy's.
From top: our Style & Co. Mabbel
★ 1491538) & Witty ★ 416651); &
Karen Scott Milann ★1491455).
DOORBUSTER
19.99 HANDBAGS
Reg. $58-$128, after 2pm:
41.40-76.80. From our
Giani Bernini &more.
★ 1670435.
a
m
4*
d
DOORBUSTER
69.99 DIAMOND BRACELET
Reg. $250, after 2pm: 93.75.
Victoria Townsend 1 ct.t.w.*
rose-cut in 18k gold over
silverplated brass ★1057515)
orsilverplated brass ★1057516).
DOORBUSTER
CULTURED
FRESHWATER PEARLS
DOORBUSTER
DOORBUSTER
2 FOR 24.99 select bras
Reg. $33-$40 ea., after 2pm: buy 1,
get 75% off 2nd. Vanity Fair®, Bali®
Maidenform® 8c more. Shown:
Vanity Fair® Body Caress.
★ 310350.
$69
$199
DIAMOND EARRINGS
Reg. $800, after 2pm: $420
TruMiracle® 1/2 ct. t.wJ in
14k white gold.
★ 1368261.
m.
Reg. $300, after 2p
11Z50. Only at Macy's.
Belle de Mer 54" 7-8mm
endless strand.★ 665187
m
$
DOORBUSTER
60% OFF ALL PILLOWS
Doorbuster 7.99-167.99. Reg.
$20-$420, after 2pm: 9.99-
209.99. All memory foam,
down, feather 8c polyester
fills.★ 139810.
DOORBUSTER
39.99 ALL 8-PC. BED
ENSEMBLES
Only at Macy's. By Fairfield Square
Collection. Reg. $100, after2pm:
59.99. Full-king. Shown: Norwood.
★616368. Twin also on doorbuster.
DOORBUSTER
17.99 KITCHEN CHOICES
Reg. 39.99, after 2pm: 29.99.
Black 8c Decker coffeemaker,
#DLX1050B ★833512)
or Bella skillet, #13820.
★ 721877).
DOORBUSTER
65% TO 75% OFF
ALL TAG LUGGAGE
Doorbuster 49.99-99.99.
Reg. $200-$300, after 2pm: 99.99-
149.99. Only at Macy's. Shown: /
Tag Coronado. ★325390.
der.
“It’s from my Play-Doh,” the
girl replied.
Hasbro, the Pawtucket-based
toy company, is now doing dam-
age control over the extruder tool
in its Play-Doh Cake Mountain
toy. The two-piece syringe-like
tool, which includes a tube with
corkscrew-type ridges around the
outside and a dome-shaped top
with a hole at the tip, can be used
to squeeze Play-Doh to look like
decorative cake frosting.
Complaints have been sur-
facing since at least November,
when Tulsa, Oklahoma, TV sta-
tion KTUL showed the tool to
parents and asked them what
they thought. The station
blurred the image of the tool
during the piece. One woman
told the station it was “a pretty
phallic cake-decorating piece.”
After Christmas, comments
started pouring in to Play-Doh’s
Facebook page, including from
Cabrera, of Lancaster, Pennsyl-
vania. She said Hasbro called
her after she posted a photo of
the tool and asked about the
shape on Christmas Day. She
said the company offered to
send her a replacement tool in a
different shape, which she has
not received.
SELECTIONS FOR HER:
FAMOUS MAKER & DESIGNER
COLLECTIONS FOR MISSES,
PETITES & WOMEN; DRESSES;
SUITS; CAREER SPORTSWEAR;
IMPULSE HANDBAGS_
OR, EXTRA SAVINGS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY UNTIL 2PM
SAVINGS PASS DISCOUNTS DO NOT APPLY TO DOORBUSTERS & DEALS OF THE DAY.
DOORBUSTER
DOORBUSTER
SELECTIONS FOR HER:
SPORTSWEAR FOR MISSES,
PETITES & WOMEN
25% OFF
20% OFF
REGULAR & SALE PRICES
REGULAR & SALE PRICES
★macys wowi $10 OFF
ALL $ALE 8c CLEARANCE APPAREL
AND SELECT HOME ITEMS!
CANNOT BE USED ON DOORBUSTERS
OR DEALS OF THE DAY
★macy£ WOW! $20 OFF
ALL SALE 8( CLEARANCE APPAREL
AND SELECT HOME ITEMS!
CANNOT BE USED ON DOORBUSTERS
OR DEALS OF THE DAY
Also excludes: Everyday Values (EDV), specials, super buys,
furniture, mattresses, floor coverings, rugs, electrics/
electronics, cosmetics/fragrances, athletic apparel,
shoes and accessories, Dallas Cowboys merchandise, gift
cards, jewelry trunk shows, New Era, Nike on Field,
previous purchases, special orders, selected licensed
depts., special purchases, services, macys.com. Cannot be
combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount
or credit offer, except opening a new Macy's account.
Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible
item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you
forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has
no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash, used
to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to
your account. Purchase must be $25 or more, exclusive of
taxand deliveryfees.
Also excludes: Everyday Values (EDV), specials, super buys,
furniture, mattresses, floor coverings, rugs, electrics/
electronics, cosmetics/fragrances, athletic apparel,
shoes and accessories, Dallas Cowboys merchandise, gift
cards, jewelry trunk shows, New Era, Nike on Field,
previous purchases, special orders, selected licensed
depts., special purchases, services, macys.com. Cannot be
combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount
or credit offer, except opening a new Macy's account.
Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible
item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you
forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has
no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash, used
to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to
your account. Purchase must be $50 or more, exclusive of
taxand deliveryfees.
$10 OFF
$20 OFF
YOUR PURCHASE OF $50 OR MORE.
VALID 1/2 'TIL 2PM OR 1/3/15 'TIL 2PM.
LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER.
YOUR PURCHASE OF $25 OR MORE.
VALID 1/2 'TIL 2PM OR 1/3/15 'TIL 2PM.
LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER.
00000302107518021116
00000302107518082117
★
the magic of
★
.com
★ |
Pit
Fine jewelry doorbusters are only at stores that carry fine jewelry. Returns must include 75% off 2nd bras. >- REG. & ORIG. PRICES ARE OFFERING PRICES AND SAVINGS
MAY NOT BE BASED ON ACTUAL SALES. SOME ORIG. PRICES NOTIN EFFECT DURING THE PAST 90 DAYS. ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 1/2 & 1/3/2015. intermediate
price reductions may have been taken. 4AII carat weights (ct. t.w.) are approximate; variance may be .05 carat. Jewelry photos may be enlarged or enhanced to show detail.
Fine jewelry at select stores; log on to macys.com for locations. Almost all gemstones have been treated to enhance their beauty & require special care, log on to macys.com/
gemstones or ask your sales professional. Extra savings are taken off already-reduced prices; "doorbuster" prices reflect extra savings. Doorbuster items are available while
supplies last. Advertised merchandise may not be carried at your local Macy's & selection may vary by store. Prices & merchandise may differ at macys.com. Electric items &
luggage carry mfrs' warranties; to see a mfr's warranty at no charge before purchasing, visit a store or write to: Macy's Warranty Dept., PO Box 1026, Maryland Heights, MO
63043, attn: Consumer Warranties. N4110096.
OPEN A MACY'S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy's credit card is available subject
to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants,
gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible.
★macyS
— The Associated Press
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Parks, Scott K. Denton Record-Chronicle (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 111, No. 152, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 2015, newspaper, January 1, 2015; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1124953/m1/3/: accessed June 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .