The driver colored-name was a new feature.
If you're on driver duty, but not driving the designated vehicles (Taxi, Bus, or Train), your name will be white, otherwise it's green if you're driving the designated vehicles. I guess this was to prevent players about moaning because "drivers" are supposed to be serving the players with Taxi rides.. etc.
As for the Hitman contracts, if someone sets a hit on you, it would say "Someone is after you, get protection.." or something, but if someone sets a hit on someone, it would say "Someone set a hit on Tommy_Corleone for $1,000". You sure you didn't see it being set?