USAA to add 1,000 jobs in San Antonio and 1,000 jobs in Phoenix

USAA, San Antonio's largest private-sector employer, is about to get bigger.

The financial services and insurance company announced Tuesday that it plans to add as many as 3,500 jobs over the next three years, including up to 1,000 in San Antonio — where it already employs 16,400.

“Demand has never been stronger for all that USAA offers, and we need to continue to have the best employees in sufficient numbers,” USAA CEO Joe Robles said in a statement.

The company expects to fill a variety of positions, including: customer contact representatives in investments, insurance, banking and claims; underwriters; information security specialists; business and financial analysts; and modeling and statistical analysts.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/USAA-to-add-1-000-jobs-here-4329881.php .

Cross-posted in Texas Group.

[color=font]Their plans also include a significant expansion in Phoenix. [/font]

USAA to add 1,000 jobs in San Antonio and 1,000 jobs in Phoenix

USAA, San Antonio's largest private-sector employer, is about to get bigger.

The financial services and insurance company announced Tuesday that it plans to add as many as 3,500 jobs over the next three years, including up to 1,000 in San Antonio — where it already employs 16,400.

“Demand has never been stronger for all that USAA offers, and we need to continue to have the best employees in sufficient numbers,” USAA CEO Joe Robles said in a statement.

The company expects to fill a variety of positions, including: customer contact representatives in investments, insurance, banking and claims; underwriters; information security specialists; business and financial analysts; and modeling and statistical analysts.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/USAA-to-add-1-000-jobs-here-4329881.php .

Cross-posted in Arizona Group.

[color=font]Their plans also include a significant expansion in Phoenix. [/font]

Asia stocks rise after Dow hits new all-time high

Source: AP

BANGKOK (AP) — The Dow's new all-time high and better economic data from the United States propelled Asian stock markets higher Wednesday.

Markets continued to shrug off a budget impasse in Washington. Automatic government budget cuts took effect Friday after President Barack Obama and Congress failed to reach a budget deal. Economists expect the $85 billion in cuts to hurt U.S. economic growth.

Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.6 percent to 11,875.51, hitting its highest intraday level since September 2008. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.9 percent to 22,752.41. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.3 percent to 2,021.01. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.7 percent to 5,111.60. Benchmarks in Singapore, Taiwan, Indonesia and mainland China rose.

Analysts said markets were taking their cues from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, who has overseen a campaign of massive bond-buying to support the world's biggest economy after the 2008 financial crisis. The issuance of bonds has pushed their prices down, steering investors toward stocks. The program known as "quantitative easing" is in its third phase, which is dubbed QE3.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Asia-stocks-rise-after-Dow-hits-new-all-time-high-4325092.php

Patriot groups continue to rise, poverty center says

In its latest annual count of extremist groups in the United States, the Southern Poverty Law Center reports that the number of anti-government and militia groups has continued to rise dramatically while the number of hate groups has held steady.

In 2012, the nonprofit civil rights organization based in Montgomery, Ala., listed 1,360 "Patriot" groups, who generally believe that "the federal government is conspiring to take Americans' guns and destroy their liberties as it paves the way for a global 'one-world government.'?"

That number represented a more than eight-fold increase from 149 such groups in 2008, according to the center's report issued Tuesday.

"Frankly, we've never seen that kind of growth in the entire time we've been covering these groups," said Mark Potok, the report's author who spoke to reporters in a conference call.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Patriot-groups-continue-to-rise-poverty-center-4330532.php .

Senate approves emergency spending bill for Medicaid, education

The Texas Senate, after a brief fight over whether to fully restore school-funding cuts two years ago, approved a bill Tuesday afternoon that will restore about $6.6 billion for the health care and education budgets.

The vote was unanimous.

House Bill 10 will provide supplemental funding this current budget year of more than $4.5 million for Medicaid and children’s health care, and more than $1.7 billion for public schools. It reverses two budget gimmicks the Legislature approved two years ago to balance the budget, and its approval was expected.

State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, argued that rather than approving the measure, the Senate should restore the school-funding cuts made two years ago by using cash from the state’s so-called Rainy Day Fund.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/senate-approved-supplemental-budget-bill/nWhPr/ .

Morning Joe Thread 3/5/2013

Starting with the praise for Chris Christie.

Texas House GOP caucus nixes Medicaid expansion

AUSTIN — Texas House Republicans voted to oppose expanding Medicaid under the federal health care law's current strictures Monday, but leaders said talks continue on how to cover more uninsured people with the hope of flexibility from the feds.

“A one-size-fits-all federal approach is not working,” said Rep. Brandon Creighton of Conroe, House Republican Caucus chairman.

Monday's caucus vote, which occurred behind closed doors, was overwhelming, Creighton said. Republicans hold a strong legislative majority, including 95 members of the 150-member House.

GOP lawmakers stressed that vigorous discussions are under way about how to craft a solution that would make health coverage available to uninsured Texans.

More at http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Texas-House-GOP-caucus-nixes-Medicaid-expansion-4327586.php

[font color=green]Really, what do you expect from a bunch of Repukelicans?[/font]

Former hand surgeon Michael Brown booked into jail for failing to pay child support

Ex-hand surgeon Michael Brown has booked into Harris County Jail for allegedly not paying child support.

Bond has been set for $500,000. We're not sure yet if this is for an alleged non-payment for his kids from ex-wife Darlina (in Colorado) or his children in Houston. It's been a tough new year for Brown, what with federal charges of choking flight attendants, and a financial empire in peril. But, hey, at least the dude still has two yachts and a ton of swanky Miami real estate. So at least there's that. We'll have more as it comes in...

More at http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2013/03/michael_brown_booked_into_harr.php .

Apple at 420

Houston lawmaker's bill would stop 'paddling' in the classroom

A Houston state representative hopes to eliminate some of the more physical tactics for student discipline in the classroom.

A measure filed by Rep. Alma Allen, D-Houston, would alter the education code and no school district employees would be allowed to give students corporal punishment, including hitting, spanking and paddling, as a form of discipline.

Under current law, school officials and teachers can use force within educator-to-student relationships necessary for discipline.

The effort renews the divisive past attempts to reign in such punishment by school district employees. Allen has been trying to ban corporal punishment in schools altogether since the retired schoolteacher and principal arrived in the Legislature eight years ago.

More at http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-lawmaker-s-bill-would-stop-paddling-in-4327053.php .
Note: Graphic picture at link.