The latest economy news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas-based payday lender ACE Cash Express has agreed to pay $10 million to settle allegations by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that it used illegal tactics to push borrowers into a cycle of debt. Full Story
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In a speech in downtown Austin on Thursday, President Obama largely avoided discussion of the ongoing immigration troubles in Texas, and instead talked about economic progress made under his watch. Full Story
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More than 20 years after the Texas Legislature passed a law establishing a 24-hour work safety hotline, real people are answering the telephone calls around the clock. Full Story
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The population of Texas could nearly double by 2050, prompting some to worry that not enough is being done to avoid a future traffic nightmare and the drag on the economy that could come with it. Full Story
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Here's a look back at our four-part Hurting for Work project, a series on how disdain for government regulation sparked a "Texas miracle" economy — while tearing down protections for the workers who built it. Full Story
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Here is a list of more than 2,000 Texans who died on the job and the stories of seven employees who sustained serious workplace injuries. Their experiences underscore the investigative findings of our "Hurting for Work" series. Full Story
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Crystal Davis' nightmare didn't end when her husband died in a traffic accident on the way to work. Her husband's workers' compensation insurance carrier has sued her and her children to deny them the benefits she thought would protect them. Full Story
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Following Gov. Rick Perry's travels to Sacramento earlier this month to promote Texas’ business climate, a California state senator has returned the favor. Full Story
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When Santiago Arias fell off of an industrial warehouse roof, an expert hired by his attorney called his job site one of the most hazardous he’d seen in 40 years as a safety engineer. But advocates for injured workers say Arias' case is far from unique. Full Story
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When Texans get hurt or killed on the job, they have some of the weakest protections and stingiest benefits in the country. Texas is the only U.S. state that doesn’t require any private employer to carry workers’ compensation insurance. Full Story
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UPDATED: The Texas Public Utility Commission on Friday unanimously rejected a petition to overturn its “small fish, swim free” rule, which gives small electricity generators an absolute defense against allegations of market power abuse. Full Story
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The president and Congress are remarkably unpopular in Texas, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Consumer advocates fear prepaid electricity plans could leave low-income Texans vulnerable to hidden fees and sudden electricity shutoffs. But companies that offer the plans say there is great consumer demand for them. Full Story
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Private aerospace company SpaceX has received a preliminary green light from the FAA for a launch site in the southern tip of Texas. Some in Brownsville are over the moon about the economic windfall it could bring. Full Story
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Full video of my 5/13 TribLive conversation with U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland. Full Story
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Huy Fong Foods founder David Tran took a self-styled "sriracha delegation" of Texas officials on a tour of his California hot sauce factory on Monday. Full Story
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A bipartisan "sriracha delegation" of Texas lawmakers will head to California on Monday to tour the plant where Huy Fong Foods makes its famous spicy red sauce. They're hoping to tempt the owners to move to Texas. Full Story
The market value of agricultural products sold in Texas has increased in recent years, but production has declined steeply, according to the latest figures from the federal Census of Agriculture released Friday. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry often touts the state's "smart regulations" to businesses from California. While entrepreneurs in Texas often find fewer regulatory obstacles, some argue the Texas approach has hidden costs that aren’t worth the sacrifice. Full Story
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Lawmakers have a hard job when money is tight and they're writing state budgets. It's even harder when they have all the money they need. Full Story
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