Southwest

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.

Higher contribution rates from employees and the state as a result of legislation that was passed earlier this year should reduce the unfunded liability of Kansas’ largest pension fund by $3.5 billion through 2033.

Revenue collections in July totaled $437.5 million, up 16% from July 2010, the Kansas Department of Revenue said last week. Collections topped expectations by $23.3 million.

A group of Little Rock residents have formed a political action committee, dubbed $500 Million Tax - Too Much, to oppose Mayor Mark Stodola’s proposal to raise the city’s sales tax rate by 1% to fund capital projects.

Arizona’s general fund collections rose 11.6% in fiscal 2011, ending an unprecedented three-year span of consecutive declines.

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.

The final official analysis of Kansas' fiscal 2011 general revenue shows collections of $5.88 billion in the year that ended June 30, up from $5.19 billion in fiscal 2010.