texas

GOP Candidates: Whose Tax Plan Is Best for You?

From Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan to Ron Paul's proposal to nix the income tax, the GOP presidential candidates have floated a range of ideas for jump-starting the U.S. economy. But will any of them jump-start your home's economics?

Midwest Cities Top U.S. Credit Score Rankings

There must be something in the cheese: Four of the top 10 American cities for credit scores are in Wisconsin, and four more are in nearby Midwest states, according to a new analysis by Experian. But all is not sunny in the South, where the cities with the worst scores are concentrated.

Bank Fees Push More Americans to Credit Unions

Big Wall Street banks haven't been winning many fans lately with their new fees and constant search for loopholes in the Obama administration's consumer protection laws. Bank of America's new fees on debit cards could be the last straw for some. The alternative many Americans are turning to -- credit unions.

Labor Day Road Trip? Try These 10 Cheap Gas States

As you hit the road for your final road trip of the summer, consider driving to one of the 10 states with the lowest prices on gas. Turns out, those sunny states also offer bountiful vacation options for the budget-conscious family.

'Drop Dead Diva' Hunk Was Also a Finance Hot Shot

Jackson Hurst's gorgeous mug is one of his biggest assets in managing his show business career, but for years, management and assets were his career: The sexy star of Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva once was a rising star at Citigroup before he ditched the world of finance to follow his dreams.

Where America's Children Are Going Hungry

Hunger is not discriminatory, and it's everywhere. That's the message of a new study that shows children are struggling with hunger in every county and congressional district in America. But the Map the Meal Gap report also shows which states and regions are suffering disproportionately.

Unemployed and Seeking Shelter from the Storm

The housing crisis continues unabated, and millions of unemployed Americans remain at risk of ending up homeless. But additional government help is arriving from the Obama administration, and nonprofit agencies are making a difference in the efforts of some families to get help from their lenders.

The Texas Surge: Is America Headed South?

For more than two centuries, the Census Bureau has plotted America's population center, mapping a steady progression of westward and southward growth. With a boom in Texas and busts on the coasts sending the center South, what does the new center say about the nation's future?

Jackpot! States With Biggest Lottery Payouts

Lotteries are big businesses in most states, and they can provide windfalls for both the winning ticket-holders and state coffers. But which states give the most back to ticket-holders and through government services?

Mexico's Drug War Spurs a P.R. Battle Over Spring Break

Escalating violence related to the cross-border drug trade has caused Texas authorities to advise spring break revelers to avoid Mexico. The Mexico Tourism Board countered that traveling south of the border remains safe. At stake is a big chunk of the $12 billion that tourists spend in Mexico each year.

Illegal Immigrants: Moving to America's Center

Illegal immigrant populations are shrinking in New York, Florida and the Mountain West state as undocumented workers relocate to states that offer more promise of finding work, such as Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. And overall, the drop in immigration has stabilized.

Natural Gas Plant Explosions Cause Major Fire in Texas

Multiple explosions at a Texas natural-gas plant operated by Enterprise Products Partners caused a fire that can be seen from dozens of miles away, local TV station KHOU-TV reported Tuesday. The plant is in Mont Belvieu, about 35 miles east of Houston. No injury reports have been released.

Dallas-Area Companies Go Whole Hog for Super Bowl XLV

This year's NFL championship will set records both for stadium attendance and for event fund-raising, and North Texas corporations haven't been shy to put out the welcome mat for their favored clients. How much will communities and local businesses score from the big game?