"Microlender Accion Texas has raised the maximum amount on its small business loans from $25,000 to $35,000. Accion President and CEO Janie Barrera says the change will allow more small business owners to start or grow their companies."
San Antonio-based Accion Texas has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Brownsville, El Paso and McAllen. Since its founding in 1994, Accion Texas has lent more than $27 million to small businesses in Texas.
Austin Business Journal: "Microlender raises loan cap to $35,000," January 15, 2004.
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"So far, four counties have agreed to accept electronic documents filed through ProDoc and TexasOnline: Bexar, El Paso, Fort Bend and Upton. Dallas County is expected to join in early 2004."
Universal City-based (San Antonio) ProDoc Inc. has formed an alliance with TexasOnline, the official Web site of Texas, to offer attorneys the option of electronic filing civil court documents in participating counties throughout the state.
San Antonio Business Journal: "Local attorneys can now file civil documents electronically," January 15, 2004.
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"Las Cruces is now the second largest city in New Mexico, following Albuquerque, and as such, commands respect. It doesn't hurt that it has a large Hispanic population, many military installations and space facilities nearby, and serves as the 'capital' of the vast, sparsely populated southern portion of the state."
While Iowa and New Hampshire survive the political circus of the presidential election season, columnist Gloria R. LaLumia, writes how being a "candidate sampler" from Las Cruces has its own advantages.
Gloria R. LaLumia, Buzz Flash: "Sampling the Candidates," January 16, 2004.
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"Western Refining Company, L.P. has announced that construction will be completed next month whereby Shell Oil Products US's refined products pipeline system that transports products originating from the Gulf Coast will terminate at Western's refinery in El Paso. The announcement was released today by Paul Foster, President and CEO of Western"
Western markets its products in El Paso, Texas; Albuquerque, N.M.; Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; and in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Western is also active in the West Coast and in Nevada.
Business Wire: "Western Refining Company Completes Pipeline Connection from Gulf Coast to El Paso," January 16, 2004.
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"The home is being constructed by the Fisher House Foundation, a non-profit group begun by a New York real estate family. . . The foundation operates 31 Fisher houses across the country and in Germany. There are four Fisher houses in Texas: Fort Sam Houston, Fort Hood, Lackland Air Force Base in Sand Antonio and William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso."
The houses are built on military bases and close to VA medical centers around the country and overseas that offer inexpensive housing to family members while their loved ones are treated.
Associated Press, Houston Chronicle: "Ground broken for medical center housing," January 16, 2004.
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"The University of Texas at El Paso is partnering with the National Hispanic Press Foundation to showcase the writing abilities of its students while working to increase the numbers of Hispanic and bilingual professionals in journalism and other communication fields."
As part of the agreement, UTEP's Sam Donaldson Center for Communication Studies and the foundation will create an Internet news service to feature the reporting of UTEP students. ¡Que interesante!
AScribe News, Inc., Hispanic Business: "University of Texas at El Paso Partners With National Media Groups to Educate Hispanic Journalists," January 16, 2004.
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"Electrolux operates a plant in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that makes parts for its vacuum cleaners. Evans said that city, which is near El Paso, Texas, is among several being considered for the new factory."
Stockholm, Sweden-based ElectroluxAB -- owner of brands such as Eureka, Husqvarna and Weed Eater -- announced it will close its factory in Greenville, Michigan.
Associated Press, Chicago Daily Herald: "Michigan town reeling," January 17, 2004.
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"For four years prior to joining Midwest Energy, Earnie lived in El Paso, Texas. He developed and grew a subsidiary of El Paso Electric Company called MiraSol Energy Services, serving as its president. The company helped large energy users conserve energy, improve service reliability, and shift energy usage to reduce utility costs."
Earnie Lehman was appointed president and general manager of Midwest Energy, succeeding Gene Argo.
Dodge City Daily Globe (Kansas): "Lehman named new president and general manager; Argo retires," January 17, 2004.
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"Fierro Reyna, 47, is awaiting execution for the February 1979 shooting death of an El Paso cabdriver. His November 1997 execution date was stayed by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals after attorneys argued that El Paso authorities coerced his confession. His case remains pending."
The International Court of Justice, or world court, in The Hague has granted the Mexican government's request to set aside the executions of three of its citizens -- one in Oklahoma and two in Texas -- because they were not granted the opportunity to speak with Mexican officials when they were arrested. Under a 1963 treaty signed by the United States and several other nations, an "arresting government" must notify a foreign national of their right to speak with someone in their home country's consulate or embassy.
The Oklahoma attorney general's office, out of courtesy to the world court, asked a state appeals court to delay the execution of Osbaldo Torres, a Mexican citizen. Angela Hale, a spokeswoman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, said that no such request would be made on behalf of Cesar Fierro Reyna and Robert Moreno Ramos, two Mexican nationals on Death Row in Livingston.
John Moritz, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram: "Decision in executions challenged," January 17, 2004.
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"Ava Webb, a food stamp outreach coordinator for El Paso's Project Bravo, knocks on doors in barrios and trailer parks talking to people and leaving pamphlets about food stamp eligibility. She also talks them through the application process and hooks them up with other benefits."
Chris Roberts (AP), Ft. Worth Star-Telegram: "Texas misses out on billions in food stamp money," January 17, 2004.
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