New Jobless Claims and Total Benefit Rolls Drop
from The Associated Press via The Dallas Morning News
The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for jobless benefits dropped last week, and the number of people remaining on the rolls also fell, evidence that layoffs have eased. Still, both figures remain above levels associated with a healthy economy, and analysts expect the unemployment rate to keep rising. More

Dallas Home Prices Showing Gains, Fueling Optimism
from The Dallas Morning News
The outlook for Dallas home prices was brighter in two indexes, and the Federal Housing Finance Agency said that Dallas-area prices were up slightly in the second quarter. The higher prices are a good sign for the local housing market, which has suffered declines for almost two years. But analysts say not to get overly optimistic about a rebound. More

Hutchison Releases Eight Years of Tax Returns
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison released eight years’ worth of tax returns Wednesday, revealing that she and her husband have made millions from salaries and real estate in that time. Hutchison, who is challenging Gov. Rick Perry in the GOP primary for the 2010 governor’s race, released the returns about two weeks after Perry made a similar disclosure. More

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Opinion: Hutchison vs. Perry vs…Medina?
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Republican Debra Medina, a former nurse and the pride of Orangedale, could be a spoiler candidate in the 2010 party primary for governor. Could be. If she wants to be. So far, the former Wharton County party chairwoman seems content with rallying the 5 percent of Texas Republicans who supported U.S. Rep. Ron Paul for president and agitating for geeky rules to give that faction more power. More

Chemical Reaction Weakening Concrete Bridges
from The Houston Chronicle
In the last two years, four concrete bridges along Harris County's extensive toll road system have developed telltale cracks that are costing millions to repair. The little-known culprit is ASR, or alkali-silica reaction, a chemical reaction of materials used to make concrete that can turn the insides of bridges and other structures to gel. More

Audit: Travis Housing Authority Misspent Millions in U.S. Funds
from The Austin American-Statesman
Federal auditors found that the Housing Authority of Travis County could not fully account for millions of federal dollars, including more than $2.5 million "haphazardly" transferred between federal and nonfederal programs without justification, more than $600,000 in undocumented spending and more than $3,000 that was improperly used for travel expenses. More

Will the Democrats Have a Slate?
from The Austin American Statesman First Reading Blog
After four key Texas House Democrats endorsed the gubernatorial candidacy of Tom Schieffer on Wednesday, Rep. Garnet Coleman expressed confidence that the party would have a healthy ticket of statewide candidates next year, as did Schieffer himself. At this point, it’s hard to envision that happening. Instead it appears Democrats do not yet believe they can win a down-ballot statewide race. More

Cameron Appraisal District Warns Property Owners About Letter
from The Brownsville Herald
The Cameron Appraisal District issued a notice to taxpayers in Cameron County to be aware of a letter they could receive from a company that offers to file applications for homestead exemptions with the appraisal district for a $55 processing fee. "Taxpayers can do it for free," Chief Appraiser Frutoso M. Gomez Jr. said Wednesday of applying for exemptions. More

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