Bob Sechler
Austin American-Statesman
Austin, TX, United States
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Recent articles by Bob:
Texas gender wage gap shrinks — but it's likely a coronavirus-caused anomaly
What the numbers likely show is that women are more likely to hold the lower-paying jobs hit hardest by COVID, experts say. → Read More
Texas teacher retirement system to spend up to $300M on new HQ after scrapping Indeed Tower plans
The agency's board has OK'd plans to purchase a two-building complex in Austin's Mueller development. → Read More
What will happen to Big 12 cities when Texas, OU leave? They could lose millions, analysis finds
Study estimates the combined hit to Waco, Lubbock and Fort Worth at up to $570 million annually, although Austin seen benefiting. → Read More
Texas manufacturing, service sectors expand in July as COVID-19 worries return
Activity in the Texas manufacturing and service sectors increased solidly in July, although fears are arising about the impact of the COVID-19 surge. → Read More
Texas power grid 'stable,' but ERCOT reiterates call for conservation
ERCOT described the power grid as stable Thursday, despite reiterating a call from earlier in the week for Texans to cut back on electricity usage. → Read More
Austin economic activity recovering quickly as pandemic fades
New data from the Dallas Fed shows strong hiring by local companies and soaring consumer demand for goods and services indicating a robust recovery. → Read More
Summer heat and ERCOT's latest struggles renew fears of power grid failure
The operator of the state's power grid has asked Texans to cut back on electricity through Friday, and summer hasn't even started yet. → Read More
Power grids urge Lubbockites, Texans to conserve electricity 'as much as possible'
ERCOT and SPP is asking Texans to reduce electric use through Friday due to an unusually large number of power plants out of service for repairs. → Read More
Texas bid to impose special state tax on electric vehicles fails — for now
Some lawmakers said the special fees were needed to make up for the dearth in gas taxes paid by drivers of electric vehicles. → Read More
Corporate tax break program at risk after failing to clear Texas Senate
The state's so-called Chapter 313 tax incentive program to lure corporate investment has suffered a major blow in the state Legislature and may die. → Read More
Austin tax breaks sought by Samsung among biggest ever
If it's approved as requested, Austin's Samsung deal would be among the 20 biggest in U.S. history, according to a group that tracks incentive deals. → Read More
Dallas Fed: Texas job growth should be strong in 2021
Job growth in Texas is expected to be solid in 2021 as vaccinations rein in the pandemic and spur an economic rebound. → Read More
Recovery slows for Texas manufacturing sector, Dallas Fed says
Output by Texas factories has continued to increase in January, but at a much slower rate than in December. → Read More
Efforts to expand legal marijuana use in Texas will feature in the upcoming legislative session. It's our No. 8 issue.
Proponents for loosening Texas marijuana prohibitions see an opportunity to persuade lawmakers in 2021 legislative session. → Read More
Austin's economy in 2020: Pandemic overshadows Tesla, Oracle wins
For Austin, 2020 brought big wins on the economic-development front. But the gains were outweighed by the coronavirus pandemic's economic damage. → Read More
Teen on bike dies after being struck by car on Texas 29 in Williamson County
A 14-year-old boy died Saturday night after he was stuck by a vehicle while riding a bike along an unlit portion of Texas 29 in Liberty Hill, according to → Read More
Gusty, but beautiful, fall weather for Sunday in Austin
The Sunday forecast for Austin: If you like your beautiful autumn days with a side of wind, you’re in luck.The outlook from the National Weather Service is for sunny skies Sunday and a high of 71, but with north northeast gusts of up to 25 mph. The wind should taper off in the evening to 5 mph, with clear skies remaining and a low of around 41.Before the wind dies down, however, the weather… → Read More
Paxton investigation looked into Paul’s conspiracy allegations
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has faced scrutiny in recent weeks after some of his aides accused him of authorizing an investigation to benefit Austin → Read More
Nate Paul companies alleged to have defaulted on $258M in debt
Austin entrepreneur Nate Paul developed a reputation as a real estate wunderkind in recent years as he snapped up commercial properties here and elsewhere, → Read More
Austin jobless rate climbs to 6.4%, snaps declining trend
A four-month streak of job gains in the Austin metro area came to an end in September, with the local unemployment rate climbing for the first time since → Read More