HOUSTON-Texas has an upper hand in the single-family housing market over other states, with Houston being one of the bright spots in a nationwide survey. Houston's single-family permits have jumped 5% this year.

STAMFORD, CT-Janitors who were on strike here are back to work after ratifying an agreement with most of the cleaning contractors. The union began its job action almost two months ago.

CHARLOTTE-Pennsylvania-based LCOR couldn't satisfy council members it had the financial strength to handle the redevelopment of the 27-year-old property into a mixed-use asset at Trade and College Streets here.

Phoenix-Beating out such hot spots as Atlanta, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Dallas, the Phoenix metropolitan area has been ranked No. 1 as the best place for start-up companies, according to an annual survey by Inc. magazine.