Time Warner Cable's school supply drive benefits Boys & Girls Clubs Time Warner Cable recently donated thousands of science- and math-related school supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area.

EDUCATION Sapling Learning takes in $2.5 million for expansion Austin-based Sapling Learning Inc.

American companies experienced the largest drop in workplace productivity this spring in nearly four years and a rise in labor costs, suggesting businesses may no longer be able to squeeze more work out leaner staffs.

MEDIA Time Warner Cable, Disney end impasse over ESPN3 access Time Warner Cable customers will finally get access to the sports website ESPN3.com, even if they are not subscribers to the company's Internet plan.

When her daughter entered elementary school five years ago, Austin management consultant Karen Bantuveris looked forward to volunteering.

Score one for the nation's employers. On average, the total cost of a family health insurance policy rose just 3 percent last year, to $13,770 in annual premiums, according to a survey of employer health benefits released Thursday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit research group.

Back-to-school season started off on sale, with retailers receiving new merchandise in August, and then marking it down to get it out the door.

Dell Inc. pulled out of its bidding war for 3Par Inc. on Thursday morning, allowing archrival Hewlett-Packard Co.

Michael Wright The Texas Pharmacy Association named Michael Wright senior director of public affairs. Wright worked for 36 years as a medical account manager and government relations executive at Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. The Entrepreneurs’

The Sustainable Food Center added four members to its board of directors: Laura Estes, Ralph Hasson, Gita Mirchandani and David Vliet. Hal Katz, partner at law firm Brown McCarroll LLP, was elected vice chair of the City of

Dee AnneHeath MelissaAnderson-Cramer HeatherMiller TalleySummerlin Marketing • EnviroMedia Social Marketing, an environmental and public health-focused marketing firm, named Dee Anne Heath director of media buying and planning, and promoted

Austin-based Sapling Learning Inc. has raised $2.5 million to broaden its online learning offerings and expand sales and marketing. The company received the funding from NLM Capital Partners of Irving. Founded in 2005, Sapling offers a

Hewlett-Packard Co. offered $33 a share this morning for 3Par, the data storage company that has been the prize in a bidding war between HP and Dell Inc. In a securities filing, 3Par said Dell also had raised its

The Dell Inc. bidding war with Hewlett-Packard Co roared back to life Thursday as both computer makers continued their quest for 3Par Inc., a promising maker of data storage systems. Dell raised its bid to $32 a share either

Business and civic leaders gathered at the Hilton Austin hotel Wednesday, when Samsung presented a $1 million donation to the United Way Capital Area.

U.S. ECONOMY Positive data on manufacturing give stocks fast start to month Stocks jumped Wednesday after surprisingly strong growth in U.S.

Austin-based American Physicians Service Group Inc. said Wednesday that it has agreed to be acquired by an Alabama company for about $250 million in cash.

Office Smooth-Stone Inc. leased 14,108 square feet at Plaza 7000, 7000 N. MoPac Blvd.

A plastics compounding company operating in East Texas recently canceled its state job creation contract, joining other businesses that have quit or changed their pacts under the Texas Enterprise Fund.

ELECTRICITY PUC may stop scofflaws from switching utilities Switching electric providers in Texas has left some utilities with losses from customers who make a habit of paying a deposit, racking up bills and then opting for a new company and leaving the old debt behind.

Researchers at Rice University unveiled a new laboratory discovery this week that might one day become a new method for making ultra-dense computer memory chips.

Oil giant BP says it has spent more than $5 million a week on advertising since the Gulf Coast oil spill more than three times the amount it spent on ads during the same period last year.

Scott & White Hospital - Round Rock promoted Ernie Bovio, currently the hospital’s chief executive, to CEO of the hospital and Scott & White’s 10 Round Rock-region

Nate Griffin Raven Internet Marketing Tools, a provider of online marketing products, named Nate Griffin senior web analyst at its Austin branch. Griffin previously served as senior web analyst for BancVue

Austin-based American Physicians Service Group is being acquired by an Alabama company for $233 million in cash. ProAssurance Corp. is offering $32.50 a share for American Physicians, which provides professional liability insurance for doctors and other