A Democratic group has filed a formal ethics complaint against state Sen. Kim Brimer, alleging that the Republican lawmaker from Fort Worth profited by renting an upscale Austin condominium from his wife.

The complaint was filed by the Texas Values in Action Coalition. The group's executive director, Russell Langley, has received at least $26,000 in the last year for consulting for the Wendy Davis campaign. Ms. Davis is challenging Mr. Brimer on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Mr. Brimer's campaign spokesman, Jarod Cox, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the complaint.

Though elected officials were prohibited years ago from using campaign money to buy real estate, many made payments to their spouses for the use of homes and offices. The Legislature closed the loophole last year and made it illegal for elected officials to rent property from companies they own or control.

Mr. Brimer quit paying campaign rent for a condo listed in his spouse's name, records show. He had made more than $150,000 in rent payments and related expenses to his wife since 2000, records indicate.

The Associated Press

The Denton County Transportation Authority has chosen a contractor for its 21-mile passenger rail project and has bought 15 acres in southeast Denton for its bus operations and maintenance center.

The transit authority plans to begin operating a commuter rail line, known as the A-train, by the end of 2010. That line would run between Denton and Carrollton and would link up with Dallas Area Rapid Transit.

Last week, the board of directors chose the North Texas Rail Group as contractor for the A-train, its rail stations and adjacent bicycle and pedestrian trail, according to a DCTA news release. That group is led by Herzog Contracting Corp. and Archer Western Contractors, who will help with the final designs, serve as general contractor during the construction, and operate and maintain the system for the first five years, according to DCTA leaders.

Early cost estimates are around $315 million, including purchase of the vehicles, said Dee Leggett, DCTA's director of transportation services. The rail vehicles are expected to cost $75 million to $80 million, she said.

BJ Lewis, Denton Record-Chronicle

More than 160 babies will be remembered in the 12th annual Mommies Enduring Neonatal Death (MEND) "Walk to Remember" at 2 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Church, 4401 N. State Highway 161 at Walnut Hill Lane in Irving.

The ceremony is a way for families to celebrate the life and grieve the death of a baby who was lost through miscarriage, stillbirth or early infant death. To symbolize the life and death of their baby, families will place a porcelain angel ornament on a lacebark elm tree at the church. About 450 people are expected to attend.

The Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of MEND is a nonprofit Christian support group that holds several monthly meetings for families in the area.

Families wanting to attend the event should contact Rebekah Mitchell at 972-506-9000 or rebekah@ mend.org.

Visit www.mend.org.

Misty Dean