A nice house and occasionally a new car. A good job. Enough money to be comfortable, maybe even to travel. Millions of Americans are still weaned on the expectation that they’ll do better than their parents and get their share of the American Dream.

Texas Business reports: WACO—The massive economic impact of Robert Griffin III's Heisman season continues in Waco. Baylor University received a major gift from Sheila and Walter Umphrey, BBA ’59, JD ’65, of Beaumont, for Baylor Stadium, the university’s new on-campus football stadium.

Texas Business reports:  The Texas Comptroller's office announced announced another round of grants for 11 community colleges and technical institutes totaling $3 million, which will be used to purchase equipment and train students to enter the workforce.

Patrick Richard Sivert of Jewett, Texas recently received U.S. Patent 8,151,787 for “Solar Device Control Apparatus With Device Interchangeability.”

Texas Business Patent of the Day:  You want to use solar energy, but that sun rolls across the sky.  What do you do? Invent a device that keeps your energy conversion panels pointed at Sol. 

That’s what a Leon County man has done. Patrick Richard Sivert of Jewett, Texas recently received U.S. Patent 8,151,787 for “Solar Device Control Apparatus With Device  Interchangeability.”

Texas Business reports: Jasper’s Bar-B-Que sits unassumingly on the corner of Clifton and Elm Streets, rooted in the same location that once served Interurban Railway passengers stopping through Waco on their way to Dallas. The creaky screen door wavers slightly in the wind, keeping the flies out of the dining room while allowing smells of freshly smoked meat to waft out into the street.

WACO radio is one of the few, if not the only radio station in the country with call letters that spell where the station exists.

Texas Business reports: Despite the rapid changes in technology and media, one Waco radio station, which it claims the city of Waco is its namesake, comes up its 90th year of broadcasts this summer.

Reed's Flowers.

Texas Business reports: If you forget your sister on her birthday, you get a disappointed phone call. If you forget your anniversary, your spouse might send you to the couch, or the doghouse, for a night or two. If you forget your mom on Mother’s Day, well, that is just something you do not want to do. 

Texas Business reports: At a time when large corporations have swallowed personal service, a small, family-run business in Waco is committed to building relationships and catering to the mom and pop restaurants we all love. 

Mart's Pizza Pro

Texas Business reports: Ten years ago, Bill Rasco of Hewitt, Texas decided to take a huge risk. He had been in education for twenty years, but was ready for a change. He withdrew his teaching retirement funds, and used them as a down payment to own and operate a Pizza Pro franchise in Mart, Texas.

Texas Business reports: Regional economic indicators point to stronger job and output growth in the first quarter of the year. Improvement has been pronounced and broad based, although growth slowed in March, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Texas Business reports: COLLEGE STATION – Though the overall percentage of the state is under moderate to extreme drought has continually dropped since September 2011, producers are beginning to worry that 2012 could be a repeat performance, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service personnel. 

Texas Business reports: Texas factory activity increased in April, according to business executives responding to the Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey. The production index, a key measure of state manufacturing conditions, fell from 11.1 to 5.6, suggesting growth continued but at a slower pace than last month. 

Texas Business reports: AUSTIN—In a unanimous decision, the Texas Transportation Commission voted to revise the 2012 Unified Transportation Plan (UTP), formally allocating approximately $1.6 billion to communities across the state using existing funding formulas. 

World Cup Cafe.

Texas Business reports: In this café, customers who count change to pay for their coffee sit with guests wearing business suits. These customers seem unequal, with their differing bank accounts and level of education. But what brings them together, equalizing a life with food stamps to one with luxury cars, is a simple cup of coffee.

Cupp's diner

Texas Business reports: Everyone recognizes those two golden arches during moments of hunger. With so many options for a quick burger, how does Cupp’s, a local Waco old-fashioned hamburger shop that sits tucked away behind a Burger King, beat out all the cookie-cutter, chain competition?

Texas Business reports: STEPHENVILLE, Texas—Tarleton facilities planning officials are gearing up for a $2.4 million construction project that will transform the western edge of the Stephenville campus—the Rome Street Redevelopment project.

Texas Business reports: BOCA RATON, Fla.—- InterpWorks Corporation, a Florida-based company, completed the acquisition of The Black Book Depot, based in Waco.

Texas Business reports: AUSTIN— The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 7.0 percent in March, marking the seventh consecutive month of decline. March’s unemployment rate was down from 7.1 percent in February, and from 8.0 percent a year ago. Texas’ unemployment rate is significantly below the national unemployment rate of 8.2 percent.

Texas Business reports: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.78 million head on April 1, up slightly from a year ago.

Texas Business reports: COLLEGE STATION--Both sellers and buyers can find good news in the most recent outlook for the Texas housing market. For sellers, the good news is that 2011 Texas home prices increased for the second consecutive year and are likely to do so again this year. For buyers, the good news is that prices went up only modestly, and the 2012 home appreciation rate is expected to be less than the historical norm.

Texas Business reports:  COLLEGE STATION – Many livestock producers continue to make hay while the sun shines, according to Texas AgriLife Extension Service reports.

With rains and warmer-than-average weather, cool-season grasses and small grains continued to show rapid growth, according to the reports. Producers throughout the state were taking advantage of the situation to bale as much as they could and rebuild hay supplies depleted in the 2011 drought.

Texas Business reports:  A Gatesville firm won a $6.9 million contract for modified vehicle bodies, the U.S. Department of Defense.