Voter ID Fight Takes New Shape
from The Austin American-Statesman
State lawmakers, resuming a fight that cleaves Republicans and Democrats nationally, are set to clash again this week over whether voter fraud at the polls is a pressing problem and whether some Texans won't vote if required to present a photo ID or other documents. Supporters of voter identification say law-abiding citizens will have no qualms about proving their identity to protect the sanctity of the ballot box. Opponents counter that an ID mandate is intended to discourage voters sensitive to past discrimination at the polls. More

$117 Million in Farmers Refunds for Texans Has Been in Limbo for 7 Years
from The Dallas Morning News Trail Blazers Blog
Back in the fall of 2002, Farmers Insurance and state regulators agreed to resolve allegations that the company had overcharged customers with a $117 million settlement that included refunds and lower rates for nearly half a million policyholders. Shortly after the agreement was announced, it was challenged by a group of Farmers policyholders, who insisted it was a bad deal for them. Although a state judge upheld the settlement, his decision was overturned by an appeals court and then taken to the Texas Supreme Court - which sent the legal dispute back down for further deliberations. More

Oil Prices Reach Highest Level in 2 Months
from The Houston Chronicle
Oil prices rose to the highest level in two months as investors geared up for the potential of more OPEC production cuts. Benchmark crude for April delivery gained $1.55 to settle at $47.07 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. A barrel of oil, which last cost more than $50 in early January, had reached as high as $48.83 earlier in the day. More

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Late Mortgage Payments on the Rise in Texas
from The Dallas Morning News
The number of Texans who are late with their mortgage payments rose in the fourth quarter of 2008. During the final months of the year, just over 9 percent of Texas homeowners with loans missed a payment, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday. That's up from 8.4 percent in the third quarter. More

Recession Hits Texas as Perry Faces Off With Challengers for Governor
from The Dallas Morning News
Throughout his tenure, Gov. Rick Perry has been bullish about taking credit for every uptick in the Texas economy. But with the recession finally hitting Texas, Perry faces a potential problem in next year’s re-election campaign: how to avoid the blame. More

Green Homes Means Platinum in Fort Worth
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
A few years ago, Trey Neville immersed himself in learning everything he could about sustainable development, or “green” building. Neville, a commercial real estate broker, delved into it so much that a year ago, he received his LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. He then set out to build the greenest home he could. More

With Radiant Barriers, High Expectations of Lower Bills
from The Dallas Morning News
Still stinging from summer utility bills the size of a hefty car payment and looking toward another long cooling season, North Texans want relief. But can radiant barriers provide it? More

Homeowner’s Group Sues Man Over Energy Efficient Roof
from The Austin American-Statesman
Joe Sigal put a metal roof atop his West Austin house in 2007 to cut energy use and improve the home's look. Now it has landed Sigal in court, facing a suit by a homeowners association that says he violated its rules. More