Houston Business Journal articles from August 2001

Houston Business Journal archives from August 2001

Federal building in fire sale.(Houston downtown real estate possible home to new fire station)
August 3, 2001... Olajuwon selling site to Dallas firm as city plans new fire station The Federal Reserve Bank building is under contract to a Dallas developer. If all goes as planned, the new owner could end up leasing the downtown property and an adjacent...

Startup bankers feel Right for Texas.(New bank in Houston starts -up)
August 3, 2001... Three executives educated at two of the city's most successful independent banks believe the time is right for a new Houston community bank. The Right Bank for Texas is the brainchild of Mike Roy and Don Najvar. After leaving the...

Council talks trash, gives Philly firm city contract.(Houston City Council hires company to provide janitorial services for special events)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Philadelphia-based Aramark Facility Services Inc. overcame some political clutter to clean up at City Hall last week. Houston City Council hired the company to provide janitorial services for special events at the George R. Brown Convention...

Woodlands woos tourists with watery getaway.(Texas)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Woodlands hopes to bring more convention and tourism activity to the town's pastoral locale by increasing hotel capacity and starting a major renovation of the resort and conference center. Construction already has begun on improvements...

'What Goes Around' comes around in film.(motion picture filmed in Houston)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... A Houston-based entertainment company has begun production on a new, independent movie to be completely shot in Houston. "What Goes Around" is a romantic comedy about young adults in their 20s who try to resolve the "strangeness" in their...

Lawyers pick big crop of BlackBerrys.(attorneys at Vinson & Elkins use BlackBerry devices)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... An attorney buried in work is hardly unusual. But at the largest Houston law firm, barristers are BlackBerried. A vast majority of the roughly 750 U.S. attorneys at Vinson & Elkins are pecking e-mail messages into handheld BlackBerry...

You want fries with that credit card?(Burger King franchises accept credit cards)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Local Burger King franchises are no longer turning away plastic-dependent customers. Michael Swain of Gulf Coast Restaurants Holding Co. owns 31 local Burger King franchises, and says accepting credit cards has given him an advantage over...

El Buen Bife.(to open Houston, Texas location)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... A new steakhouse is crossing borders and invading the Houston restaurant scene. El Buen Bife, one of the largest Argentine steakhouse chains in Mexico City, will soon be opening its first U.S. location in Houston. El Buen Bife, which...

Space Shuttle Atlantis.(Upper Crust Bread Co. breadsticks requested by astronauts)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The astronauts on Space Shuttle Atlantis came safely back to Earth last week, but one item did not return with them -- breadsticks from Upper Crust Bread Co. The bakery's specialty food achieved monumental heights when flight engineer Dr....

CORRECTIONS.(Correction Notice)
August 3, 2001... In the July 20 Growth Strategies article "Sharp Shuttler," John Ferrari's stepfather was misidentified. Ferrari's father is Richard Ferrari. His stepfather is Houston restaurateur Sonny Lahham, owner of La Tour D' Argent French Restaurant and...

UPS & DOWNS.(Houston City Council passes travel disclosure ordinance for public officials and employees)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Truth in traveling has taken a roundabout route to arrive at City Hall. A new ordinance passed by City Council on July 25 requires elected officials and public employees who go on trips to report the names of traveling companions and identify...

City ordinance tightens rules on motel sites.(Houston City Council amends hotel ordinance)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... Houston City Council this week amended a hotel ordinance that will require smaller hotels and motels to distance themselves even farther from residential neighborhoods. Citing a correlation between crime statistics and hotel size, City...

Drug delay, takeover fears prove bitter pills for Tanox.(announces shareholder rights plan)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... On the heels of news that the government has delayed approval of its lead drug, Houston-based Tanox Inc. finds itself reaching for a pill of another sort. Tanox's-stock price plummeted more than 40 percent on July 10 - the day it announced...

Hospital district HMO may refund some newfound profits to the state.(Community Health Choice)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... After years of operating in the red, the Harris County Hospital District's health maintenance organization is expecting to make a profit this year - maybe too much ,of a profit. In fact, county officials are predicting that Community Health...

Clearinghouse spinoff to focus on dealmaking.(Houston auction firm Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse is spinning off a new company, Petroleum Place Energy Advisors.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... With more than $1 billion in property sales under its belt, the Houston auction firm Oil & Gas Asset Clearinghouse is spinning off a new company, Petroleum Place Energy Advisors. The new firm will exclusively handle high-end negotiated...

Boeing jobs en route to Houston as part of division relocation.(Boeing Co. reorganization)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Boeing Co. will move 1,100 engineering jobs in its international space station and space shuttle divisions from Southern California to Texas and Florida in a move to cut costs and streamline operations. The bulk of the jobs appear to be headed...

Continental, Goodyear named in lawsuit.(regarding the Concorde crash in Paris)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Families of five members of the Concorde plane that crashed a year ago in Paris are suing Continental Airlines and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. for unspecified damages. Most of the families of the passengers on the Concorde flight have...

Kinder to acquire Colorado gas asset.(Kinder Morgan Inc. to acquire natural gas division of Citizens Communications)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Kinder Morgan Inc. has inked an $11 million deal to purchase the natural gas division of Citizens Communications in Colorado. The deal, which must he approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, will add more than 13,000 primarily...

Deal to move Menninger clinic to Houston crumbles abruptly.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Menninger clinic has officially ended discussions with Methodist Health Care Systems and Baylor College of Medicine to form an alliance and move its headquarters to Houston. Menninger CEO Dr. Walter Menninger says in a prepared...

TDI penalizes HMOs for slow payments.(Texas Department of Insurance )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Texas Department of Insurance has issued $9.25 million in slow-payment fines against seven health insurance groups, four of which currently operate in Houston. Insurance Commissioner Jose Montemayor reached an agreement with seven...

On-again, off-again retail center lands Dillard's, Foley's as tenants.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Simon Property Group Inc. has secured two major retailers for its long-awaited shopping mall in Katy. According to Billie Scott, a spokeswoman for the Indianapolis-based firm, Foley's and Dillard's have committed to taking two of the four...

Arena, convention center expansion get into full swing with new downtown digs.(Swinerton Builders Inc. wins contract)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Two major downtown projects moved one step closer to completion this week: One broke ground while another named its general contractor. On July 27, City Council named Swinerton Builders Inc. as the general contractor for the $143 million...

Jungle fever: Paragon awarded $14 million Peruvian contract.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... Paragon Engineering Services, a Houston-based project management firm, has been granted a $14 million contract to manage a major natural gas liquids development project in Peru. Paragon was tapped by a consortium led by Pluspetrol Peru...

Pair of Houston oil execs handpicked to navigate Bush's ocean commission.(Lawrence R. Dickerson; Paul L. Kelly)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Two Houston oil drilling executives have been appointed by President George W. Bush to the Commission Ocean Policy, a national group charged with evaluating ocean and coastal activities and reporting recommendations to the President and...

New Midcoast parent stepping up search for acquisition targets.(Canada's Enbridge Inc. seeks acquisitions through Lakehead Pipe Line Partners LP)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Enbridge Inc., Canada's second-largest pipeline company, is "aggressively seeking additional acquisition opportunities in the U.S." following the $577.6 million purchase of Houston-based natural gas pipeline and processing company Midcoast...

ENERGY NOTES.(Enron Corp. operating loss)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... While Houston-based Enron Corp. has "essentially gutted" its Enron Broadband Services unit, which posted a $102 million operating loss in the second quarter, industry insider John Sodergreen believes this is just a temporary pullback in the...

Texas Electric Choice.(Electric Reliability Council of Texas)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... As reported here last week, retail electricity providers have expressed grave concerns about the Texas Electric Choice pilot program. Retailers are concerned about the repeated delays that have now pushed the pilot startup to the end of the...

Laser maker executives, investors on same wavelength with funding.(Applied Optoelectronics Inc. receives funds)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... A decision by Applied Optoelectronics Inc. executives to change the company's focus has met with a vote of confidence from investors. The Sugar Land-based manufacturer of lasers announced this week that it has raised $10 million from a...

Warming the bench may not be best stock option, expert says.(Richard Leader)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Stay on the sidelines at your peril. This seems to be the message to gun-shy investors from Richard Leader, managing director at Burnham Asset Management in Houston. Wary investors should not stay out of the stock market too long, he...

ODD LOTS.(Michael Morgan to take the presidency of Kinder Morgan Inc., Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P., and Kinder Morgan Management L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Kinder Morgan is keeping it in the family. Michael Morgan has gained a seat in the Kinder Morgan energy empire's Office of the Chairman. Joining company co-founders Rich Kinder and William Morgan, his father, in the Office of the Chairman,...

Anadarko Petroleum Corp.(executives purchase stocks)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... With Anadarko Petroleum Corp. shares down from recent highs, two insiders have stepped up to nibble at the stock. Nearly $400,000 worth of Anadarko common stock was recently purchased by the insider duo, according to InsiderTrader.com....

Lend Lease steps up with hefty offer for downtown office tower.(Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Inc., possible acquisition of McCord Development owned building)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... Lend Lease Real Estate Investments Inc. has emerged as the likely buyer for downtown trophy office building One City Centre, according to industry newsletter "Real Estate Alert." While real estate sources close to the deal have confirmed...

REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP.(Transwestern Commercial Services building)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Chicago-based Transwestern Commercial Services is coming out of the ground with a new industrial project in northwest Houston. Located on the Sam Houston Tollway between West Road and Fallbrook Drive, the Houston-based company's Sam Houston...

Beaumont radio station to serve as launching pad into Houston.(Cumulus Broadcasting plans Houston station)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Cumulus Broadcasting has quietly been setting up shop in Houston. The Atlanta-based radio company received approval from the Federal Communication Commission last year to upgrade station KAYD 97.5 in Beaumont. Cumulus is now in the...

SHOP TALK.(Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County hires Cinco Media Communications Inc. to provide advertising)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County has named a Dallas-based shop as its Hispanic advertising agency of record. The county agency selected Cinco Media Communications Inc., a 12-year-old Hispanic-focused agency owned by Mexico...

Loucks & Johnson.(wins Compaq Computer Corp. contract)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Local design shop Loucks & Johnson recently landed a new project from Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp. The agency will develop a new name and tagline for an electronic voting product. Launched in partnership with Bellevue. Wash.-based...

Fogarty Klein Monroe.(takes on marketing for Saltgrass Steak House)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Fogarty Klein Monroe has won back an old client. The agency will once again be working with Saltgrass Steak House. FKM previously worked with the restaurant chain, but the company decided to take its work in-house, according to an FKM...

Small businesses promote trade from back burner to 'fast track'.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Don Lloyd Williams, president of Princeton Medical Enterprises, says his Marietta, Ga.-based health care technology company can manage international trade's logistical and currency challenges. But trade barriers like tariffs are harder to...

Groups heap advice on new SBA chief.(Small Business Administration, Hector V. Barreto Jr.)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Hector V. Barreto Jr. was sworn in July 27 as head of the Small Business Administration after being confirmed unanimously by the Senate. Barreto, who previously owned a financial services business in Los Angeles, avoided controversy by...

Poll shows workers think Bush favors businesses.(George W. Bush, AFL-CIO survey results)(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... A survey of American workers commissioned by the AFL-CIO found that 49 percent think the Bush administration cares more about protecting the rights of businesses than it cares about protecting the rights of workers. Around 35 percent felt...

GOP leaders push to make tax cuts permanent.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... House Republican leaders promised to push legislation to make this year's $1.35 trillion tax cut permanent. Because of what Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Calif., calls "Alice in Wonderland Senate rules," the tax cuts in the legislation will...

CNBC Creating Wealth: An Investor's Guide to Decoding the Market.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Brian O'Connell The book offers a complete and comprehensive introduction to world markets and shows individual investors how to choose and use information and tools currently available for wealth building. CNBC Creating Wealth focuses...

Cashing in.(Bank of Tanglewood history)(Company Profile)
August 3, 2001... Bank of Tanglewood has found its place as a powerhouse among the shrinking population of local community banks When Robert Greer invited Rich Jochetz to join Cullen Bank as a management trainee 21 years ago, neither man imagined their...

Hardy Houston pioneers faced hardships from forces of nature.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The vagaries of nature are frequent topics of conversation in Houston. The heat and humidity, episodes of droughts and flooding, the abundance of creatures like mosquitoes -- all are discussed at length. And they are certainly not new subjects...

Builders lighting a lire in Inner Loop hot spots.(New housing developments by Brownstone Property Development Group.)
August 3, 2001... As baby boomers become empty-nesters and sophisticated young professionals yield to the attractions of inner city life, homes inside the 610 Loop have become a hot commodity. Some of the new residents seek affordability, some demand luxury and...

Steel and concrete looking good in wake of Tropical Storm Allison.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... A combination of factors, including, most recently, Tropical Storm Allison, is prompting a harder look at alternative construction materials, such as steel and concrete masonry. Home owners -- and consequently builders, architects and...

LARGEST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)(Directory)
August 3, 2001... LARGEST RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT FIRMS (Ranked by Number of Units Managed in the Houston Area) Name of Company Number Number Last Address of Units of...

Real estate pros at conference address broker reciprocity issue.(Houston in the spotlight at the Inman News 2001 Real Estate Connect real estate technology and trends trade conference )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Steps being taken by the Houston Association of Realtors to promote homes globally and a discussion of broker reciprocity led by HAR CEO Bob Hale put Houston in the spotlight at the Inman News 2001 Real Estate Connect real estate technology and...

HAR introduces new Web site for listing commercial property.(Houston Association of Realtors )(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Houston Association of Realtors recently introduced a new Web site, CommercialGateway.com, that will enable commercial real estate firms to more efficiently conduct business and close deals. The commercial real estate business is a...

MLS statistics reveal home sales remain strong, despite the storm.(Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... Houston home sales remained strong despite Tropical Storm Allison, according to Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service statistics. The number of homes sold in June increased to 5,727 from 5,632 in May. However sales decreased...

Houston builders choose sides: Innovative vs. traditional design.(Brief Article)(Column)
August 3, 2001... Houston is known for the traditional red brick homes in its sprawling suburbs. For years, builders have grappled with the question of whether to depart from the classic look. Two new home builders with differing views on the subject state their...

Texas laws provide the blueprint for mortgage, construction loans.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The basics of residential mortgage and construction lending are not as cut and dry as they might seem on the surface. There are some hard-and-fast rules of which every lender needs to be aware -- in particular, issues unique to loans secured by...

Houston's builders, developers take pride in new home market.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Houston is experiencing one of the strongest new home markets seen in some time. Not only are there nearly as many units as were produced during the boom of the 1980s, but the wide range of homes now offered is equally impressive. Looking...

LARGEST AREA RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE INDEPENDENT FIRMS.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... LARGEST AREA RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE INDEPENDENT FIRMS (Ranked by 2000 Gross Dollar Volume of Closed Sales in the Houston Area) 2000 Name of Company ...

Builders look to nail down profits with energy-efficient homes.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... When the dust settles, can building a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home be more profitable for a builder? Absolutely, provided the builder makes the long-term commitment to invest the financial resources not only to...

LARGEST AREA RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE FRANCHISE FIRMS.(ranked by 2000 gross dollar volume of closed sales)(Brief Article)(Directory)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... LARGEST AREA RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE FRANCHISE FIRMS (Ranked by 2000 Gross Dollar Volume of Closed Sales in the Houston Area) 2000 Name of Company ...

Centex sales manager wins regional Star Award.(Don Arnold, Centex Homes)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Increased sales in communities including WindRose, Kingwood and New Territory helped Centex Homes Sales Manager Don Arnold win the Texas Association of Builders' 2001 Star Award for Sales Manager of the Year. Star Awards, which were...

CAI sponsors seminar on community associations.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Greater Houston Chapter of the Community Associations Institute is sponsoring a luncheon seminar on how managers homeowners' associations and their boards can best work together. The seminar will be held at 11:30 a.m. Aug. 22 at the Ramada...

HAR launches online Virtual University.(Houston Association of Realtors)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Houston Association of Realtors and Austin-based 360 Training, provider of Web-based training content and infrastructure for government-regulated industries, launched HAR's Virtual University through www.har.com in June. The HAR...

House portrait helps sell real estate services.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Realtor Bryan K. Williams is among real estate professionals utilizing a house portrait in marketing. His firm commissioned a drawing of the renovated two-story home that houses his ColdwellBanker/SwilleyHudson brokerage. He then had a...

People are on the move, but not too far.(why people relocate)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... More than half of the people who move (52 percent) do so for housing related reasons, and 56 percent move within the same county, according to U.S. Census Bureau records, based on statistics of relocations between March 1999 and March 2000. ...

More homes join rush to broadband Web access.(and cellular services)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... The number of households with broadband Web access through a cable modem or digital subscriber line has nearly doubled in the past six months, from 5 percent to 9 percent, according to a report by Statistical Research Inc....

Owens Corning boosts roof warranty coverage.(Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... Owens Corning has enhanced warranty coverage for roofing lines in response to. homeowner research. According to the survey, 65 percent of homeowners say the warranty is a consideration when selecting shingles and 43 percent of homeowners...

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE.(includes, PricewaterhouseCoopers appoints Michael Collier to Houston office)
August 3, 2001... INSURANCE Michael Collier has been admitted as a partner in the Houston office assurance and business advisory practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers. Houston Financial Partners, an affiliate of New England Financial, has announced that...

Northwest Assistance Ministries.(receives funding from El Paso Corporate Foundation for school supplies)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Northwest Assistance Ministries has received a $25,000 check from El Paso Corporate Foundation to assist NAM with its Back-to-School Project. The project provides children who are returning to school with the needed supplies to begin the school...

Warren Electric Group.(wins Excellence in Credit Award)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Warren Electric Group has been awarded the first Excellence in Credit Award from the National Association of Credit Management of South Texas at its annual meeting and awards dinner. The award was created to recognize a distinguished company...

DCH Technology Inc.(receives order from Houston Advanced Research Center)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... DCH Technology Inc., a manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen-specific sensors, has received an order from the Houston Advanced Research Center for a 5kW DCH Enable fuel cell power system with a natural gas reformer for testing and...

The high price of HMO profit.(profits for Community Health Choice)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Success has been a long time coming. And now that it's finally here, it's bittersweet. Community Health Choice, the Harris County Hospital District's long-ailing health maintenance organization, has been struggling for years to turn a profit....

Send authority to showers.(Harris County-Houston Sports Authority)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... The Harris County-Houston Sports Authority is ripe for retirement from the playing field. County Judge Robert Eckels paved the way for putting the quasi-public body out, to pasture at groundbreaking ceremonies this week for the new...

Expanded multimedia coverage fulfills mission.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Our Mission Statement starts with "The Houston Business Journal's mission is to be the definitive multimedia source of timely, accurate business news for Houston readers..." While the weekly edition is, has been and will continue to be the...

Olympic games open business doors to China.(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... This summer, the International Olympic Committee voted to award China the highly coveted hosting of the 2008 Games. Beijing, China's capital, won over two other popular cities with far better infrastructures and considerably less...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.(Letter to the Editor)
August 3, 2001... California law I am writing in regard to the July 20 Banking & Finance Beat column ("Power play: California dreamer slams Houston in national pub"), about the reader slamming Houston. Using the number of applicants to take the...

Scott Chen's.(changes name to Scott's Cellar)(Brief Article)
August 3, 2001... Scott Chen's has a new menu item - a name change. Now known as Scott's Cellar, the restaurant was renamed to emphasize an extensive wine list, according to general manager Steven Foo. The Memorial-area restaurant has more than 750...

EARNINGS.(Houston, Texas area companies)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
August 3, 2001... EARNINGS 2001 2000 BAKER HUGHES INC. 2nd Qtr. ended June 30 revenue in 1,000s 1,342,000 1,255,500 net income (loss) in 1,000s 103,800 62,700 per share ...

East side sees industrial surge.(Liebherr-America Inc. joins Cummins Inc. and Ryder Systems Inc., companies building new facilities in Houston)
August 10, 2001... Swiss project joins growing parade of manufacturing plants A Switzerland-based company is the latest to take part in an industrial renaissance evolving on the east side. Liebherr-America Inc. is seeking a tax abatement from the City of...

Westheimer move opens prime site.(Westheimer Transfer & Storage Company Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... One of Houston's old-line firms is shifting headquarters to another site after almost 50 years of operation at the high-profile corner of Highway 59 and Kirby Drive. Westheimer Transfer & Storage Co. Inc. is set to set up shop during the...

It's first and goal for NFL big babies.(Big Baby Wear)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Big Baby Wear is suiting up and kicking off in the retail game. The Houston-based apparel company backed by several National Football League players opened its first full-time outlet last month in the Pin Oak Shopping Plaza. Big Baby...

Crescent forgives city some trespasses.(Crescent Real Estate Equities Co.)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Crescent Real Estate Equities Co. isn't letting a legal dispute with the City of Houston get in the way of community relations. The Fort Worth development firm donated 5,000 free parking spaces to the "Countdown to Downtown" event on July...

Clear Lake getting touch of Caribbean.(Custom Living buys land, plans gated community)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Houston developers have a penchant for building residential projects that resemble faraway places. Randall Davis is erecting a Montrose-area midrise to emulate a centuries-old Parisian edifice, and a number of other independent builders...

NASA stingy with first-time contracts.(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Companies looking to enter the government contracting market won't get much help from NASA. An analysis by Eagle Eye Publishers found that only 0.55 percent of the space agency's $10.9 billion in prime contracts went to new contractors...

County buys eSlates to overhaul elections.(Harris County to use new voting machines)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Harris County voters are slated for a historic change come election time in November. The county has invested $25 million in a new high-tech, low maintenance voting system dubbed eSlate by its inventors. Local voters will get to take a...

News from the food and drink front.(Coca-Cola is launchign Pibb Xtra as a replacement for Mr. Pibb)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
August 10, 2001... Coca-Cola is pulling the plug on Mr. Pibb in favor of a beverage with more punch in Houston. Pibb Xtra is replacing Mr. Pibb on local store shelves due to demand from local consumers for a drink with an intense flavor kick, says Dave...

Corelli's Italian Cafe.(sells prime location to Truluck's)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... Corelli's Italian Cafe is moving out of a prime site to make way for a Truluck's. Truluck's purchased the 3401 Kirby at Richmond location to introduce a new concept. "The Kirby location was one of Corelli's most high-profile locations...

Renaissance Hotel.(opens new Starbucks in first floor lobby)(Brief Article)
August 10, 2001... The Renaissance Hotel in Greenway Plaza brewed up a new retail approach by welcoming a new Starbucks last month in the first floor lobby. Fernando Cuellar, general manager of the hotel, says the Starbucks is the first licensed store in a...