Perry, Hutchison Trade Jabs Over Time in Office

The sniping between Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison over which Republican has been in office too long has continued, with Hutchison saying Perry was bad for business and the governor questioning his rival's understanding of issues facing Texas. More

Countrywide Loses Ruling in Loan Suit

A federal judge in Manhattan has rejected an argument by Countrywide Financial seeking certain protections from investor lawsuits under new legislation intended to encourage modifications of home loans. Countrywide, the big mortgage company, had argued that the legislation automatically voided its pledges to buy back loans from investors if those loans were modified for troubled borrowers. More

Tax Return Demand Comes From Above

Rick Perry is challenging Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison to release her income tax returns – even taking the message to the skies. As Hutchison held a rally Tuesday evening at Eddie Deen's Ranch in downtown Dallas, a plane hired by Perry's campaign circled above, pulling a banner that read: "Kay come clean – release your taxes!" More

Shareholders of Centex Approve Sale to Pulte, Names Won't Vanish

After almost 60 years in business, Dallas-based Centex Corp. shareholders voted Tuesday to sell the company to Michigan's Pulte Homes Inc. But don't expect to see the Centex name disappear. Pulte plans to keep using the Centex and Fox & Jacobs brands on projects across the country. More

Ex-GOP Chair Says Perry Risks Losing

Former Texas Republican Party Chairman Fred Meyer said that he supports Kay Bailey Hutchison for governor because "I'm worried about November." Republicans risk losing the Governor's Mansion if they nominate Gov. Rick Perry, Meyer said: "He's going too far to the right to win the general election." More

Perry Says He's Not Sure Hutchison is Running, Sparking War of Words

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is spending the week telling supporters around the state she's running for governor but Gov. Rick Perry said he's still not convinced anyone is going to challenge him in next year's primary. More

Residential Strategies Closing Austin Office

After five years and five days on the job, Mark Sprague will go to work for the last time Friday as the Austin partner for Residential Strategies Inc., a housing industry consulting and forecasting firm. The firm is closing its Austin office. Sprague said he's a casualty of the economy and tough times in the homebuilding industry. More

Roof Falls In for a Promising Builder

Not too long ago, a bright and prosperous future seemed in store for Greg Mikesell, an up-and-coming builder of expensive custom homes around San Antonio for whom clients and glowing testimonials were plentiful. But a couple of years ago, something went catastrophically wrong, and last year, Mikesell’s company, Definitive Custom Homes, folded under a wave of customer complaints, lawsuits and demands for payment from subcontractors. More

43 Percent of Texans Identify as 'Conservative'

Texas' identity as a solid "red" state is unlikely to change any time soon. According to a new Gallup Poll, 43 percent of Lone Star State residents identify as "conservatives" while just 16 percent identify as "liberals." Thirty-six percent of respondents described themselves as "moderates," in the poll of more than 9,100 Texans. More