Retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski opted for 'raising hell' over 'raising money'

For Sen. Barabara Mikulski, the decision to not run for re-election in 2016 is a license to go out swinging.

Maryland’s senior senator and the longest-serving woman in Congress announced Monday that she will retire when her fifth term ends in 2017. Mikulski, 78, said that as she weighed her options — run for re-election or retire — she decided she would rather spend the next two years focusing on issues that affect her constituents than running a campaign.

“I had to decide whether I wanted…

Two Greater Washington ed-tech companies join forces

Arlington-based education technology company Hobsons has acquired D.C.-based ed tech startup Starfish Retention Solutions for an undisclosed sum.

Starfish, founded in 2007 by former Blackboard executive David Yaskin, provides student advising systems for higher education institutions. The company was backed by New Market Venture Partners.

Yaskin joins Hobsons in an executive role, the company said in a statement.

Hobsons’ services include college planning for middle and high school students. The…

Khan's Shipyards plan: City donates land, shares in proceeds if developed

Under Shad Khan’s proposal for the Shipyards, the city would give the site to his development company while retaining liability for any environmental issues that arise.

That could cost the city up to $35 million in environmental cleanup. If the cost went over $35 million, Khan could terminate the deal.

Khan’s company Iguana Investments Florida would act as master development of the mixed-used project, which he laid out in broad strokes last week. Iguana would be responsible for all costs related…

Third time the charm? Legislators want to rename Texas Railroad Commission again

Austin lawmakers will try again to rename the Texas Railroad Commission to more accurately reflect what the agency does.

Two names have been proposed by two different bills.

House Bill 224 would change the name to Texas Energy Resources Commission. The bill was proposed by Rep. Ryan Guillen, D-Rio Grande City.

And House Bill 1106 goes for a shorter name, Texas Energy Commission. That bill was filed by Rep. Larry Phillips, R-Sherman.

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Lennar's massive Fremont development reaching crucial milestone

Take a look at the land just north of the Tesla Motors Inc. plant in Fremont, and it’s clear there’s a lot of opportunity for development: A new BART station is rapidly reaching completion nearby, and wide swaths of bare land are practically crying out for homes and offices.

Well, you won’t have to wait too long to see rooftops start sprouting up. A transformational “master plan” from homebuilder Lennar is heading for its most important public hearings in the weeks ahead. That could pave the way…