Perry, Hutchison comment on Dolph Briscoe's death

Stutz:
Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison Monday offered praises for former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, who died Sunday at his home in Uvalde.
http://tinyurl.com/296k8vx

What's the real dropout rate? The math is squishy

Terrence Stutz takes a look at the conflicting numbers.
http://tinyurl.com/2ec9pke

Bill White jabs at Rick Perry over Texas dropout rate

Terry Stutz reports:

AUSTIN – Can the governor of Texas do anything to combat the state's mediocre high school graduation rate?


Past governors haven't had much success – if they tried at all. And Republican Gov. Rick Perry says he's making progress in cracking the decades-old problem.

But his challenger in the race for governor, Democrat Bill White, contends he would do much more, touting a dropout recovery program he started as mayor of Houston that later spread to Dallas, Fort Worth and other cities.

While the two candidates agree that Texas' future will be brighter if more students graduate and fewer drop out, they disagree on the magnitude of the problem and what to do about it.
http://tinyurl.com/2gyfbwj

Most Texas home insurers profitable again

Stutz reports:

AUSTIN – Texas home insurers returned to profitability in 2009, as property claims were nearly half of those lodged as a result of Hurricane Ike the previous year.

New financial reports released Monday by the Texas Department of Insurance indicated that most companies had a solid year, if not a banner one, thanks to the lack of any major weather catastrophes across the state.

Here's an overview
HOW BIG HOME INSURERS FARED LAST YEAR IN TEXAS

Loss ratios of leading Texas home insurers for 2009, in order of the companies' market share:

1. State Farm Lloyds: 72.9 percent
2. Allstate Lloyds: 72.4 percent
3. Texas Farmers: 47.9 percent
4. USAA: 61.9 percent
5. Travelers Lloyds: 63.9 percent
6. USAA Lloyds: 62.4 percent
7. Allstate Fire and Casualty: 79.9 percent
8. Nationwide: 77.3 percent
9. Chubb: 58.3 percent
10. Fire Insurance Exchange: 62.3 percent
11. Texas Farm Bureau: 86.3 percent
12. Nationwide Lloyds: 72 percent
13. Statewide average: 67.3 percent

NOTE: Some companies use multiple subsidiaries to sell policies.

SOURCE: Texas Department of Insurance

Sibley challenges opponent's eligibility in Senate race

Republican David Sibley of Waco, trying to recapture the senate seat he gave up a decade ago, is challenging the eligibility of perhaps his strongest opponent in a special election that will be held for the now vacant post on May 8. Sibley contends that fellow Republican Brian Birdwell of Granbury, a retired lieutenant colonel in U.S. Army, cannot serve in the Senate because he does not meet the constitutional requirement of five years of continuous residency in Texas to run. Terry Stutz reports.