Texas

San Antonio’s hopes to build a streetcar line that could lead to more rail projects suffered a setback after two leaders of an advisory commission resigned recently.

Voters in San Antonio’s North East Independent School District will consider $399.4 million of general obligation bonds in November after unanimous approval of the issue by the board of trustees.

DALLAS - With its federal funding restored amid efforts to regain public trust, the Harris County Metropolitan Transit Authority in Houston is preparing a $511 million deal to get its belated light-rail expansion back on track.

DALLAS — Trustees of the Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio have launched a probe into work financed with bonds authorized by voters in 2006 and 2009 to determine if costs are appropriate.

DALLAS — An environmental lawsuit by the Sierra Club could impede bond issuance for one section of a 170-mile toll loop around the Houston area known as the Grand Parkway.

DALLAS — Despite Texas Gov. Rick Perry's claim that "government doesn't create jobs," the state capital owes its top debt rating and stable outlook in large measure to government employment, analysts said.

DALLAS - Travis County, Texas, commissioners Tuesday set a Nov. 8 election for a two-part request for $214.9 million of general obligation bonds.

DALLAS - Standard & Poor's on Tuesday downgraded $7.9 million of revenue bonds for a speculative West Texas jail to CC from A-minus after Jones County officials indicated plans to default on the debt if they cannot find a tenant for the facility.

Travis County commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday night to call a Nov. 8 election on a bond referendum totaling at least $194.3 million.

The North East Independent School District's citizens planning and advisory committee has recommended that the San Antonio district call a general obligation bond election in November.

Texas sales tax revenues totaled $1.86 billion in July, up 10.3% from collections in July 2010.

DALLAS - Last week's downgrade of the United States' credit by Standard & Poor's is a sign that "our nation is in trouble," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday in a speech in San Antonio to a national convention of 1,300 state legislators.

DALLAS - A lawsuit filed before the Texas Supreme Court seeks to strike down the state's tax on business, claiming it violates the constitution's prohibition on levying a personal income tax without voter approval.

DALLAS - A year before opening a $60 million stadium that has become a symbol of Texas' zeal for high school football, the Allen Independent School District is turning its attention to classrooms and the deepest budget cuts in state history, experts said.

DALLAS - Dwight D. Burns, former executive director of the Texas Public Finance Authority, has joined TKG & Associates LLC as a principal at the firm's Dallas office.

DALLAS - The South Texas town of Donna has become a growing crossroad for international business since the opening of the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge over the Rio Grande last December.

DALLAS - A majority of the East Baton Rouge Metropolitan Council backs a plan to study the parish's law enforcement needs and seek voter approval if a tax hike is needed to finance improvements.

DALLAS - With more than $1 billion of road and rail projects in the works, the Dallas suburb of Irving is pressing ahead with the nation’s largest transit-oriented development despite economic challenges.

A group of Austin business executives and lawyers have formally asked the state for $25 million of funds each year over the next 10 years to cover costs associated with a series of Formula 1 auto races at a track under construction in southeast Travis County.

DALLAS - The West Texas town of Littlefield raised $6 million to pay bond debt Thursday by auctioning a private prison that stood empty for nearly two years.