Six Cessna 172 Continental 0-300a 530163 Pushrod Housings. on 2040-parts.com

Fisker battles problems as the Karma finally lurches toward launch

All Henrik Fisker wants is to build his plug-in hybrid cars and deliver them to customers--some of whom have been waiting three years since plunking down $5,000 deposits. Instead, he has been fending off criticisms aimed at his green-car company as shipments of his $103,000 Karma plug-in hybrid sedan have been delayed by cash flow troubles, regulatory snarls and a recall. But when a startup such as Fisker Automotive accepts a Department of Energy loan in a down economy, having the company tossed around like a political football comes with the territory.

AT&T launches campaign against texting and driving

AT&T has launched an 11-minute video designed to augment its anti-texting-and-driving campaign launched in March. The video is intended to reach consumers before New Year's Eve. Called "The Last Text," the video tells stories about people whose lives were adversely affected by texting while driving, including the parents of Mariah West, who died after texting "Where u at?" to a friend.

Auctioneer Dean Kruse's money woes continue

Auburn, Ind., auctioneer Dean Kruse has been ordered by a local court to pay more than $1.3 million to an Indiana bank, and a leasing company has asked a federal judge to repossess Kruse's 1985 Cessna jet, which had been insured at $3.5 million. These two recent events are on top of several months' worth of financial woes for one of the classic-car world's best-known auctioneers. AutoWeek reported in August that people from across the country were complaining that they had not been paid for cars sold at various Kruse International auctions.