Lawmakers Questioning Whether Environmental Agency is Too Close to Industry
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Sen. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) and two other state senators urged Gov. Rick Perry to order a top-to-bottom review of the state’s environmental regulatory agency amid charges that is too close to industry and lax in enforcing pollution standards. The commission released a statement countering the criticism. More

Dallas Ranks 10th in Global Competitiveness Study
from The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas-Fort Worth area ranked 10th among 21 cities in a global competitiveness study released Monday by the Dallas Regional Chamber. Tied for 10th place in the chamber's report was a familiar rival: Houston. Tokyo topped the list, followed by New York and Paris, which were tied for second place. The chamber's goal was to benchmark Dallas-Fort Worth's economic attractiveness in the global economy. More

Perry and Radio Hosts Take Critical Look at Obama
from The Austin American-Statesman
Gov. Rick Perry joined three conservative talk-radio hosts Monday for a critical assessment of President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office. With about 1,500 people in a small indoor sports arena, Perry promised an objective discussion of the new presidency. But he soon said that Washington was "carving away" liberties, expanding government "regardless of what we may think about it" and intruding on free enterprise "like never before." More

Congeniality in Texas House will be Tested by Frantic Finish
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Every two years, the last month of the legislative session is often when the most bitter fights emerge in the state House. This time around, concerns that the session got off to too slow a start under new Speaker Joe Straus may be the catalyst. More

Judge’s Order: Hole in Wall
from The Brownsville Herald
The border fence on Eloisa Tamez's property may be complete, but the case is not yet closed, according to state District Judge Andrew Hanen. On Friday morning, Hanen held a hearing to discuss Tamez's request for a temporary restraining order - a request filed Thursday just as the government was beginning construction behind her El Calaboz home. More

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It’s the Season for Legislature's Lobbyists
from The Dallas Morning News
Corporate and trade group lobbyists, who just squeezed the House to write provisions in their favor into the state budget, are stalking House-Senate budget negotiators and looking for more in the big "sunset" bills lawmakers are considering. More

Opinion: Bleak Housing Data Has Silver Lining
from The San Antonio Express News
The recently released high foreclosure data provided by RealtyTrac combined with record low housing starts is a step in the right direction for bank balance sheets that have been clogged with illiquid mortgage-backed securities. More

Bank of America Retires Countrywide Brand
from The Houston Business Journal
The Countrywide brand is no more, as Bank of America rolled out its rebranded Bank of America Home Loans unit on Monday. Bank of America acquired Calabasas, Calif-based Countrywide on July 1, 2008, making BofA the country's largest mortgage lender. More

State Looks to Expand Broadband Access
from The Austin Business Journal
The Texas Department of Agriculture is seeking information from qualified contractors in preparation for the release of federal funding to enhance access to broadband. The department will take input on strategies to identify and extend service to areas of the state that are underserved or unserved by broadband providers. More

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