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Thursday, February 12, 1998

Capital Briefs

AUSTIN (AP) - Chevron USA has sent checks totaling more than $13 million to the state and hundreds of private royalty owners as the first step in a settlement of a 1995 lawsuit that alleged underpayment of oil royalties.

The General Land Office said Wednesday the settlement could bring an extra $100,000 or more to the state annually, depending on oil prices.

Under terms of the settlement, Chevron will use a royalty valuation tied to the price for West Texas intermediate crude based on New York Mercantile Exchange trading, and to prices for West Texas intermediate and West Texas sour assessed in the Platt's Oilgram Price Report.

Royalty owners would receive about 40 cents more per royalty barrel on West Texas intermediate and $1 more per royalty barrel on West Texas sour.

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AUSTIN (AP) - A survey of small business owners in Texas finds 22 percent saying over-regulation is the biggest barrier to small business growth in the state. But a shortage of qualified workers is almost as big a problem.

Nineteen percent of the owners cited a lack of workers in the survey released Wednesday by the National Federation of Independent Business. Liability insurance costs also were cited by 19 percent.

"Government regulation is a constant burr under the small business saddle and the perennial top vote-getter in these kinds of surveys," said Robert Howden, the group's Texas director.

"The shortage of qualified workers is the hottest item on the chart today. It's No. 2, with a bullet," he said. Texas' unemployment rate dipped to 4.8 percent in December.

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AUSTIN (AP) - Anna Maria Farias, executive director of the Crystal City Housing Authority, has been appointed to the Texas Commission on Human Rights.

Ms. Farias, who has held posts in the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Labor Department, was named by Gov. George W. Bush on Wednesday to a term ending in 2003.

She replaces Richard Solo of Dallas, whose term expired. The nomination requires confirmation by the Texas Senate.