Southwest

In an attempt to solve legal challenges to the Texas school finance formula, House Public Education Committee Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock has introduced a bill that would create 30 school finance districts across the state.

In a state with the nation's highest incarceration rate, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is calling on the state legislature to reduce the number of inmates through drug treatment and mental health programs.

Newly inaugurated Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who sued President Obama 31 times as attorney general, promised to continue fighting the federal government in his first speech as chief executive of the Lone Star State.

A report used to set local tax rates shows that Colorado property values rose 14.3% in two years. Lawmakers must return a portion of the rising revenues to taxpayers under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights.

Ten Texas financial advisors with Southwest Securities jumped to Samco Capital Markets after SWS was acquired by Hilltop Holdings Inc., the parent firm of First Southwest Co.

Sticking to his plan to cut income taxes, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco to cover a shortfall of more than $700 million over the current and coming fiscal years.

After a record year of debt issuance, the Texas Transportation Commission expects a significant reduction in borrowing costs for its Central Texas Tollway System as it issues $1.8 billion of refunding bonds.

In a farewell speech to the Texas Legislature that some saw as a prelude to another presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Perry highlighted his accomplishments after a record 14 years in office but did not mention prospects for a weakening economy.

The Texas economy will continue to grow in 2015 but at a slower pace than the past year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Beginning his second term, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper described his personal struggles and those of the state over the past four years while promising progress on water, transportation and environmental fronts.