Homestate Glory

And still champion . . . Texas named Best State for Business for the ninth year in a row

We don't mean to brag, but Texas has a lot going for it. OK, maybe we'll just brag a little bit. For the ninth year in a row, Texas has been named the Best State for Business by Chief Executive magazine.

More than 700 CEOs around the nation weighed in on the 2013 survey, which measured taxation and regulation, workforce quality, living environment, GDP and unemployment.

"This vote of confidence from business leaders across the nation further highlights that Texas is the epicenter for economic prosperity in this country," Texas Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement.

As is wont to happen when you continually dominate rankings, there are some Texas haters out there. For example, one CEO said "Texas is consistently, and vastly, overrated by most surveys. The quality of workforce and living environment are inferior to many other states."

But there were so many fantastic things said about the Lone Star State that we had to narrow it down to our five favorite anonymous pieces of praise. In a nutshell: Eat your heart out, New Mexico.

Texas still stands head and shoulders above others in their business climate, employee work ethics and living environment.

Texas is best by far. No other state is even close.

A number of my friends do business in both California and Texas. Their experiences are causing them to move as much of their operations to Texas as they can. I only invest in California if I have to!

Texas has it ‘right’ on all fronts.

Texas is the best place to do business, recruit talent, every metric, hands down. New Mexico is our home state and they try, but it just has not yet happened like in Florida, Nevada and Texas.

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This Week's Hot Headlines

Houston comfort food favorite closes flagship and more popular stories

Photo courtesy of State Fare

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Editor's note: It's time to catch up on the top Houston news of the week, from a comfort food closure to a futuristic restaurant opening. Plus, a long-awaited, expansive park opens to the public. Read on for our most popular stories, then visit this guide to the best weekend events.

1. Texas comfort food restaurant closes at Memorial City after 10 years. One of Houston’s favorite destinations for Texas comfort food has closed its original location. State Fare Kitchen & Bar at Gateway Memorial City shuttered after service on Sunday, May 31.

2. Houston's 'Chinese takeout bar from the future' touches down in Webster. Houston’s Chinese takeout bar from the future is coming to the Bay Area. The sixth location of The Rice Box will open in Webster later this summer.

3. Houston pizza chef sets opening date for retro-inspired neighborhood joint. Houston pizza veteran Anthony Calleo has opened Galaxy Pizza in Spring, which will celebrate its grand opening Saturday, June 6.

4. $30 million, 100-acre new park rises in Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood. After years in development, the Hill at Sims park, greenway, and community space is finally open to the public. Hill at Sims will serve multiple functions to enhance accessibility to nature and walkable paths in South Houston.

A drone shot of the Hill at Sims The Hill at Sims is finally open to the public. Photo courtesy of Houston Parks Board

5. Bustling Houston suburb declared one of America's 10 newest boomtowns. What do you get when you combine a city's surge in population, housing growth, and economy? For Conroe, it adds up to being named America's No. 9 newest boomtown.