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Dell again asks investor for more info on buyout proposal

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:18:00 -0400

Dell Inc. is once again asking investor Carl Icahn for more information on his latest proposal to take control of the Round Rock computer maker.Icahn on May 9 made public the outlines of a plan to offer shareholders a special dividend of either $12 in cash or an equal amount of Dell ...

Zact The best no-contract wireless plan yet

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:17:58 -0400

Is owning a smarthpone smart if the monthly bills put you in the poorhouse? Not so much. Thankfully, a growing number of upstart carriers are trying to make smartphone pricing cheaper and more manageable.Republic Wireless, for example, offers service for just $19 per month, and as I mentioned a couple weeks ago, you ...

Retiring boomers driving sales of small businesses

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:17:57 -0400

Baby boomers preparing for retirement are driving a surge in small business sales, as they find more potential buyers confident enough in the improving economy to expand their own businesses through acquisitions.In the first three months of the year, the number of sales that closed jumped 56 percent from the same time in 2012, according to BizBuySell.com, an online marketplace for small ...

Lewis has mixed results in second rehab start

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:58:38 -0400

Currently on a Minor League rehab assignment, Colby Lewis hasn't pitched in the big leagues since last July. (AP) FRISCO, Texas -- Colby Lewis breezed through the first two innings of his rehab start for Double-A Frisco on Monday, retiring all six batters he faced, striking out three of them. The third inning, however, proved much more troublesome for Lewis, who gave up a leadoff home run ...

More reverse mortgage lending options on tap for retirees

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:39:46 -0400

Senate Joint Resolution 18 would amend the Texas Constitution to authorize the Reverse Mortgage for Purchase program and would enhance consumer disclosure requirements for all reverse mortgage loans in Texas. The Texas House has approved legislation that would expand the scope of reverse mortgage lending in the state to the benefit of retirees, its supporters claim. Senate Joint Resolution 18 ...

Lawmaker Emerging Tech to get $50 million

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:14:01 -0400

The Texas Emerging Technology Fund will get $50 million to continue operations as part of a budget deal, state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, said Monday.Gov. Rick Perry requested $69.5 million for each of the next two years, but negotiations between legislative leaders and the governor's office reduced that to $50 million over two years, according to Pitts, who is chairman of the House ...

Lawmakers restore $4 billion in education cuts

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:12:48 -0400

Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he'll call a special session of the Legislature if they don't pass several key bills. Texas House and Senate budget leaders have reached an agreement to restore about $4 billion of the $5.4 billion in cuts made to public education last session. Though the amount falls short of a complete restoration, Democrats proclaimed the compromise a hard-fought victory ...

Virgin America goes big for first nerd bird flight

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:09:44 -0400

Virgin America Inc. is rolling out the red carpet, boarding celebrities and an Austin band, and even launching a water cannon salute upon arrival for its first nonstop flight from Silicon Valley to Silicon Hills. The airline's first "nerd bird" flight from San Francisco International Airport to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport lands in the Capital City at 3:35 p.m. tomorrow. ...

Payback Member kills bills to get even

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:22:12 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) A member of the Texas House is killing bills authored by a Houston senator in retaliation for her opposition to an exoneration bill. San Antonio Democrat Ruth McClendon quashed two bills on Friday authored by Houston Republican Sen. Joan Huffman. She killed another bill last week. McClendon is angry that Huffman is blocking a vote on the Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission. ...

Austin gas prices hold steady as national numbers jump

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:02:27 -0400

Austin gas prices are 15 cents less per gallon than the same day one year ago. The average price per gallon for gasoline in Austin on Sunday was $3.38, just 0.4 cents less than the week before. Reports from GasBuddy.com show national prices jumping 8.9 cents over the last week to $3.67. Recent increases across the U.S. are breaking records in states such as Nebraska, Minnesota and Kansas, ...

Acevedo debates gun control on Twitter

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:57:52 -0400

For months Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo has lobbied lawmakers to expand background checks to more gun sales. On Sunday night, the debate continued on Twitter, where the city's top police officer sparred with users over the need for increased gun control.It certainly wasn't the first time Acevedo has engaged with the Twitter population and discussed why he thinks new gun restrictions ...

Man charged with stealing 15 cell phones at bar

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:48:00 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A man charged with taking cell phones out of womens purses was arrested early Saturday morning at a bar on East Sixth Street. Josue Vivar-Hernandez, 28, is accused of being in possession of an estimated 15 stolen cell phones. He was detained shortly after 2 a.m. at the bar Aquarium after manager Tyler Carr told police he saw the suspect snatching phones out of the purses of ...

Brandywine REIT selling an interest in its big Austin portfolio

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:45:50 -0400

The Barton Skyway complex on South Mopac Expressway is being shopped around by Brandywine Real Estate Investment Trust. Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) has placed its Austin suburban office portfolio on the market with an unusual marketing proposition. The publicly traded real estate trust is looking for an investor who wants to share ownership in the 1.4 million-square-foot portfolio. Though ...

Confirmation hearing dominated by Powers questions

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:37:36 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- The future of University of Texas President Bill Powers dominated Monday's confirmation hearing for three members of the system board of regents, with one lawmaker saying he believes the board is "on a mission" to oust the popular leader of the Austin ...

Classroom curriculum system dies amid criticism

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:55:18 -0400

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A classroom curriculum system used by hundreds of Texas school districts will stop offering lesson plans after some conservative groups claimed it was promoting anti-American values.State Sen. Dan Patrick said Monday that officials who created the system known as CSOPE will vote to scrap thousands of lesson plans this week, effectively killing the entire system.CSCOPE ...

Dell committee wants more info from buyout group

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:53:03 -0400

Dell Inc. wants more information again from the investor group challenging CEO Michael Dells shareholder buyout. The companys special committee formed to consider buyout offers has asked billionaire investor Carl Icahn and Southeastern Asset Management Inc. for more details about their takeover plan, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Dell (Nasdaq: DELL), the No. 3 computer maker in the ...

Vista Equity Partners to pay $1B for Calif. tech company

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:22:11 -0400

Vista Equity Partners has agreed to buy out the shareholders of a California software company for about $1 billion. The Austin-based firm would pay $24.75 per share for Websense Inc. (Nasdaq: WBSN), the developer of software and provider of services designed to protect companies from cyber attacks and data theft, according to a Websense news release. The Websense board of directors have approved ...

Austin MA deals worth $11.75B in 2012 slideshow

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:17:43 -0400

Click through this slideshow for the top five M&A deals last year, and click here to take a look back at the 12 most-read M&A stories in 2012. It is no surprise to Austin Business Journal readers that deals abound in the Austin area we report on them every day. The Mergers and Acquisitions list in our May 17-23 print issue summarizes the top 25 transactions involving local companies in ...

State agency investigating Burnet jail death

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:08:37 -0400

BURNET, Texas (KXAN) - The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has opened an investigation into the apparent suicide of a capital murder suspect in the Burnet County Jail over the weekend. Brandon Wood, the executive director of the jail standards commission, said Monday that his office was notified of the death of Gregory Mark Currie, 30. Currie's body was discovered in his cell Saturday. ...

List of Top 10 area high schools is out

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:56:02 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The list of the Top 10 high schools throughout the Central Texas area is out, and two schools from the Austin Independent School District made the cut. Top 10 public high schools in Central Texas Harmony Science Academy in North Austin Nyos Charter School Westlake High School (Eanes ISD) Westwood High School (Round Rock ISD) Star Charter School (Chaparral Star Academy) Dripping ...

First lane closures on MoPac begin as two-year project approaches

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:46:45 -0400

What is likely to be a frustrating two-plus years of highway construction on MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) will take its first tangible form over the next couple of months as surveying and soil sampling occurs between Lady Bird Lake and Parmer Lane.The good news is that the work, and the rolling lane closures, will occur between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. when traffic is light on the highway. The only daytime ...

Firefighter dies in Dallas condo complex blaze

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:06 -0400

DALLAS (AP) - Dallas firefighters have recovered the body of a comrade who reported by radio being trapped while battling a condominium complex blaze. A U.S. flag covered the firefighter's body when it was removed from the rubble Monday morning. The firefighter's name wasn't immediately released. Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Jason Evans says two firefighters were transported to a ...

Law enforcement targeting seatbelt violators

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:06 -0400

Texas law enforcement officers will be out over the next few weeks looking for drivers who are not wearing their seatbelts. FOX 7's Tania Ortega reported live from I-35 this morning on the "Click It or Ticket" ...

Murder suspect commits suicide in jail

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:43:06 -0400

The Burnet County Sheriff's Office said three people have been arrested in connection to the murder of two people found in a burned home ...

$17 million psychiatric hospital opening Tuesday

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:36:11 -0400

Austin Oaks Hospital, a new 80-bed psychiatric hospital and inpatient treatment facility, will have a ceremony to mark its grand opening at 2 p.m. tomorrow. The facility on West Stassney Lane will offer care for children, adolescents and adults, and is expected to see its first patients in early June. With more than 51,000 square feet and more than 200 employees, Austin Oaks is a sister hospital ...

Upland Software establishes Austin headquarters

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:25:45 -0400

CEO Jack McDonald Upland Software Inc. has established an Austin headquarters after acquiring five companies. Silverback Acquisition Corp.s roll-up company that was previously called PowerSteering Software Inc. declined to disclose the number of local workers, CEO Jack McDonald said. Upland Software, which employs 250 workers in six locations, develops project and work management ...

In the money May 20 Austin startup funding wrap-up

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:08:17 -0400

ProspX Inc., Wisegate Inc., Zebra Imaging Inc. and Postmaster Inc. pulled in funding over the past week. At least four Austin-area companies received funding last week to take their businesses to the next level, according to filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Software maker ProspX Inc. received $8.2 million of a planned $9.2 million financing from 39 investors. Online ...

Senate holds confirmation hearing on UT regents

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:06:41 -0400

AUSTIN (AP) Months after state lawmakers elevated a quiet feud with University of Texas System regents into a public spat, the Texas Senate is set to hold a confirmation hearing for new board members with just a week left in the session. The Senate must approve regents appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. Monday's hearing will include testimony from nominees Jeff Hildebrand of Houston and Ernest ...

Courage a core trait exhibited needed among entrepreneurs

Mon, 20 May 2013 10:01:55 -0400

I was talking shop over coffee last week with Bob Gutermuth, president of The Dialog Group, about many things that all entrepreneurs experience at some point: decisions that took too long to make and cost the business, employee motivation, line of credit extensions, relationships torpedoed by the owners absorption in work, being stiffed by a client. Entrepreneurs are not prepared for any of these ...

Austin firefighter seeks niche in online vaca home listing industry

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:52:20 -0400

Matt Thomson founded Wavecation LLC in 2011 to reach vacationers looking for homes to rent where the surf is up. An Austin firefighter is building a business on the hope that people looking for vacation rentals where they can surf or at least enjoy beaches where others do will surf the Internet to his online listing service. So far things are trending positively for Matt Thomson, who founded ...

Session In Depth The countdown

Mon, 20 May 2013 09:17:17 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The 2013 legislative session is now in the homestretch, and last week's deal on a state budget could help lawmakers avoid having to stay in Austin for the summer. House-Senate negotiators came to an agreement on the state's two-year spending plan that restores much of the $4 billion cut from public education last year. The agreement must be formally approved by both ...

Lawmakers give Texas craft breweries a boost

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:38:21 -0400

State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler Several proposals that would loosen regulations for Texas craft breweries and beer makers received approval in the House last week. State Sen. Kevin Eltife's, R-Tyler, bills which had already moved through the Senate passed the House on May 17 without changes or amendments, the Austin American-Statesman reports. The proposals enable small beer makers to sell ...

United Airlines new small business loyalty program

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:19:08 -0400

United Airlines is introducing a loyalty program designed for small businesses. Attention small businesses. United Airlines wants you to know your business is important to the carrier. Chicago-based United (NYSE: UAL) is launching a new United States travel loyalty program that will enable small businesses to earn and redeem miles. Participating businesses will earn award miles by purchasing ...

Council to tackle 117-item agenda this week

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:15:06 -0400

The Austin City Council has a busy week ahead, as it hashes out an agenda with some 117 items ranging from an independent Austin Energy to the decommissioning of the Holly Street Power Plant. Council will discuss plans on Thursday to transfer power to a board of trustees that will govern Austin Energy, take $7 million from the entities budget for the decommissioning of the Holly Street Power ...

Reid Ryan leaving Round Rock Express for Houston Astros

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:38:51 -0400

Reid Ryan, left, Houston Astros' new president, and Owner Jim Crane Round Rock Express founder and CEO Reid Ryan is leaving Central Texas to become president of business operations with the Houston Astros. Ryan who helped establish the baseball team in 2000 will maintain his ownership stake in the Express, the Community Impact Newspaper reports. Reid's younger brother Reese Ryan has ...

New area code means dialing more digits

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:06:02 -0400

means it is premium content -- and it continues on the all-new site. Premium stories, plus all the news from the printed edition of the paper, are included. Until June 11, you can enjoy a free preview of all the premium content on ...

Officials Man charged in Spicewood double slaying kills self in jail

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:09 -0400

The Burnet County sheriff's office reported Sunday that one of three suspects charged in the killing of a Spicewood couple committed suicide while in custody.Sheriff W.T. Smith said Gregory Mark Currie, 30, was found in his cell during a routine check by correctional personnel about 7:30 p.m Saturday. Currie had ripped off a part of his bedsheet and hanged himself from the showerhead, Smith ...

PolitiFact Counting Abbott’s 27 lawsuits against Obama administration

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:22:08 -0400

Here's a typical workday for Texas' attorney general: "I go into the office, I sue the federal government and I go home," Greg Abbott was quoted as saying recently.Speaking to FreedomWorks Texas in Austin on April 27, Abbott said, "I've sued the Obama administration now 25 times, over the last four ...

Poverty takes root in Austin’s suburbs

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:30:29 -0400

From 2000 to 2011, the Austin metro area saw the nation's second-fastest increase in the number of poor people living in the suburbs, according to a new book to be released Monday which describes poverty dramatically shifting from America's inner cities to the suburbs and which calls on policymakers to rethink how they respond to poverty.The suburban poor population grew 143 percent in ...

Austin memorial for AIDS HIV

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:47:06 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Austinites gathered Sunday in Republic Square Park to pay tribute to the fight against AIDS and HIV. Community leaders spoke to the crowd and had a moment of silence to remember those whove lost their lives. Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Austin Mayor Pro Tem Sheryl Cole participated and spoke at the event. This year's theme: "In solidarity," emphasized the need of ...

Trifecta of drought late freeze hail decimate Hill Country peach crop

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:38:57 -0400

It's peach season, but Austinites likely won't be seeing any Fredericksburg peaches in grocery stores any time soon after a combination of freezing weather and hailstorms decimated more than 90 percent of the crop in Gillespie County."The damage is pretty widespread," said Jamey Vogel, owner of Vogel Orchard in Stonewall and president of the Hill Country Fruit ...

Manor New Tech principal invited to White House

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:38:56 -0400

Two weeks after President Barack Obama visited his school, the principal of Manor New Technology High School has been invited to the White House for an informal brainstorming session on education.Steven Zipkes will join U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and 20 other leaders on Thursday to discuss how to engage "employers in buildings skills through redesigned high schools," ...

APDs LGBT help build new homes

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:35:36 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - If you're a homeowner - you likely remember the first time you stepped foot in your first home. An Austin woman and her family are about to know what that feels like...thanks to Habitat for Humanity and the "Austin Pride Build" tradition. You often see them working together to keep Austin safe. On Saturday morning a group from the Austin police department -- worked up ...

Memorial held for local AIDS victims

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:35:27 -0400

It's common for today's youth to forget about the significance of HIV/AIDS because of medical advances made over the past decade.Still dozens of central Texans die from the disease every year. That's why activists held a vigil Sunday evening to remember local victims and remind the community that HIV/AIDS is still a disease for which there is no cure.39 people have died in the ...

2nd annual Viva Streets Festival

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:41:29 -0400

The heat and humidity didn't stop hundreds from heading out to 6th street for the 2nd annual viva streets festival.The free festival ran along two miles of 6th street from Brazos Street to Robert Martinez Jr. Street.The idea of the festival is to get up and move around.People were dancing, riding bikes; there was an obstacle course, and even aerial and circus performers.The viva streets ...

MoPac Improvement Project road closures start Sunday night

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:41:29 -0400

By late 2015, the MoPac Improvement Project will be complete.Steve Pustelnyk with the project tells us the 11-mile stretch of MoPac from Lady Bird Lake to Parmer Lane will get brand new express lanes."Basically, you'll get an extra lane in each direction. It will be an express lane which means it should be non-stop, point to point, but there will be a toll for those folks who want to ...

Rangers proceeding with caution with injuries

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:35:05 -0400

Email ARLINGTON -- Injuries and subsequent trips to the disabled list continue to take their toll on the Rangers, but at least part of the reason their roster is so thin is because the Rangers are doing their best to keep players from making injuries worse at this early stage in the season. Among the players who have been sent to the disabled list when they might have been back in a week or so ...

Murphy looking for positives while hitting second

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:35:04 -0400

Email ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington penciled left fielder David Murphy in the No. 2 spot in the batting order for the second consecutive night Sunday as Elvis Andrus shifted to the leadoff role in Ian Kinsler's absence. "I'm going to try to keep [Murphy] there so he doesn't have to wait around to get at-bats and he can be involved in the game right away," ...

Police Man stole iPhones from purses at bar

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:19:33 -0400

Austin police nabbed a man accused of stealing about a dozen iPhones from different women at a Sixth Street bar this weekend.Josue Vivar-Hernandez, 28, was charged with aggregated theft, a state jail felony, and held on a $10,000 bail at the Travis County Jail, according to court records.Police say just after 2 a.m. Saturday, employees at The Aquarium bar, 403 E. Sixth St., spotted ...

Austin may require more disabled-accessible features in new homes

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:19:32 -0400

Austin could soon require newly built homes to include more features to accommodate people with disabilities.The City Council will consider new rules Thursday that would require features such as wide doorways and levers instead of door knobs in the first floor of new single-family homes and ...

Todays MLB starting lineups May 19

Sun, 19 May 2013 19:03:19 -0400

Below are starting lineups that have been made public by the clubs. A lineup is not official until it is handed to the umpire. Additional lineups will be added as they become available: Atlanta Braves: 1. ...

Circuit to ask City Council for help in attracting X Games

Sun, 19 May 2013 18:30:54 -0400

Circuit of the Americas officials are expected to go before the Austin City Council this week to ask for help with the circuit's bid to land the X Games.The circuit is seeking for the city to become the endorsing municipality for the event, which would satisfy a requirement for the circuit to be eligible to obtain money from the Texas comptroller's Events Trust ...

Wear Looking at what the Legislature HAS done on transportation

Sun, 19 May 2013 17:41:49 -0400

It wasn't all about the money.With one week left in the session, the chance that our 181 legislative heroes (Ever notice that matches almost exactly the number of defenders at the Alamo? Probably a coincidence.) will come up with significant new cash for the Texas Department of Transportation are ...

VIVA STREETS takes over East Austin

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:52:08 -0400

AUSTIN (KXAN) - From bikes to bats, revelers in East Austin took to the streets Sunday for VIVA STREETS!. The community event hosted by HEB and Texas Gas Service promoted active lifestyles in a "Get Moving Zone." The activities included a 55-foot obstacle course and 25-foot bungee run. REI even brought out a 30-foot rock climbing wall. VIVA STREETS! took over a 2-mile stretch of East ...

Burnet County Jail inmate dies

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:17:33 -0400

Burnet County officials are investigating the death of a jail inmate.Sheriff's officials say Burnet County Jail personnel reported that an inmate died due to a self-inflicted cause about 7:30 p.m. Saturday.The inmate, whose identity has not been released, was taken to the Travis County medical examiner's office for an autopsy, according to the Burnet County sheriff's ...

Sheriff confirms murder suspect is dead

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:32:43 -0400

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - The Burnet County Sheriff has confirmed the prime capital murder suspect in a deadly shooting and house fire died in the Burnet County Jail Saturday. Sheriff W.T. Smith told KXAN News the main investigator on the case identified the body at the medical examiner's office Sunday morning as Gregory Mark Currie, 30. His cause of death has not been confirmed. Law ...

Sheriff Murder suspect killed himself

Sun, 19 May 2013 12:32:43 -0400

BURNET COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) - The Burnet County Sheriff has confirmed one of two capital murder suspects in a deadly shooting and house fire killed himself in the Burnet County Jail Saturday. Sheriff W.T. Smith told KXAN News the lead investigator identified the body of Gregory Mark Currie, 30, during an autopsy at the medical examiner's office Sunday morning. Smith said Currie tore a bed ...

Two injured in I-35 crash

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:45:08 -0400

Two people were taken to the hospital early Sunday after a collision on northbound Interstate 35 north of Wells Branch Parkway, according to Austin police.Police say the crash involved two people on a motorcycle and another vehicle, but it was initially reported that pedestrians had been struck by a vehicle.The collision occurred about 7:15 a.m. and northbound traffic has been slow due to the ...