Japanese newspapers reported Tuesday and the Associated Press Wednesday that San Antonio has been selected as the site of Toyota‘s new U.S. car plant, for which the Alamo City has lobbied heavily. The project is expected to pump more than $80 million annually into the San Antonio economy and create at least 2,000 jobs. The other site in contention, the Memphis suburb of Marion, Ark., was dropped from consideration by Toyota last week, according to the AP. — M.C.M.
State Rep. Steve Wolens, D-Dallas, introduced Jan. 29 a comprehensive insurance-reform bill that has already received the endorsement of the state’s leading consumer organizations. Notably, Wolens’ HB 600 would mandate a rate rollback to January 2001 rates — including for currently unregulated policies — totaling nearly $1.9 billion and saving an average of $400 per homeowner, until new rates are approved by the Texas Dept. of Insurance. Among the other provisions are banning the use of credit scoring, prohibiting “cherry picking,” and making underwriting criteria open to public scrutiny. — J.S.
This article appears in February 7 • 2003.