By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator
Dallas, TX – Out and about in the Metroplex - it's a potpourri of news and events. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.
Starting up in Plano: if you've been waiting to pay off some traffic fine or any other fine you received from the Plano Police Department, you might want to check out their website. See, you could be one of the 10-thousand names recently posted on the site. That's how many arrest warrants there are for outstanding fines totaling $6.6 million. And with a projected $8.9 million shortfall for the next fiscal year, you could imagine how anxious Plano is to retrieve these fines. Check the Plano Police Department site.
Moving down Central Expressway: InterActiveCorp, who already owns Dallas-based Hotels.com and Expedia (making it the world's largest online travel company), has now purchased Hotwire.com. This is one of my pet peeves. When I think I'm going to competitive sites or stores or purchasing competitive products, I'm not, though I'm led to believe I am. Well, the New York Times reports that Fort Worth-based Texas Pacific Group, whose $100 million investment in Hotwire totaling one-third of the company's stock, will reap the benefits of this sale. They were a founder in Hotwire, based in San Francisco. And now Southlake-based Sabre, owners of one of the only remaining competitors, Travelocity, will have tougher and richer competition.
All over Dallas on September 25th, you'll be able to enjoy free access to wireless Internet connections at about 60 hotels, coffeehouses and airports. Led by Intel, technology companies are sponsoring "One Unwired Day." I think it's to get us hooked. Dallas ranked as the 16th most unwired city in the country. If you're interested, Intel's website will list the free spots.
And also on Thursday, if you're looking to get recharged and motivated, don't miss the Greater Dallas Chamber's 8th Annual Women's Business Conference. Deborah Norville's the keynote speaker. Trust me, it's worth the time. For KERA Marketplace Midday, I'm Maxine Shapiro.
Marketplace Midday Reports air on KERA 90.1 Monday - Friday at 1:04 p.m.
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