Fresh leads sought in mansion fire

AUSTIN (AP) - As construction and fundraising to repair the fire-damaged Texas Governor's Mansion continue, an investigation into who started the blaze more than half a year ago drags on with no arrest -- despite $50,000 in reward money.

So the Texas Department of Public Safety, whose Texas Rangers are leading the arson investigation, is making another plea for members of the public to come forward with any useful tips.

DPS spokeswoman Tela Mange said in an interview about the mansion arson case this week. "We are continuing to pursue leads but there's been nothing fruitful thus far. It just takes one good piece of information to turn it around, and the question is when we're going to get that."

Mange says that though few solid leads are coming in, there are no plans to increase the $50,000 reward money that has been in place since last summer shortly after the June 8 fire. She says there is no reason to believe someone close to the arsonist would turn that person in for an additional amount of cash.

But, she says, if a private-sector company wants to offer more reward money, the DPS is open to the idea.