Three El Paso home builders-remodelers have been fined by the Texas Residential Construction Commission for fraud and deceit, the agency reported last week.

Habitat International Inc., was fined $7,000 and given a one-year probated suspension. Las Palmas Phase III Joint Venture was fined $1,000 and given a one-year probated suspension. Homero Perez is the primary agent for both companies, the agency reported.

Elite Star Homes Inc., was fined $1,500. .

Federals Appeals Court: Army Must Stop Stryker-Brigade Construction

The U.S. Army must stop all Stryker-Brigade construction and training in Hawaii. That's what a federal appeals court decided on Thursday. Before resuming Stryker operations, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the Army must first complete a "Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement" that considers other areas for the brigade. This ruling reverses a District Court decision in favor of the Army. Earth-justice attorney David Henkins filed the lawsuit on behalf of three Native Hawaiian groups. .

Housing Advisory Board Address Shortage With Builders

Loudoun Housing Advisory Board members sought to drum up support among local builders yesterday for their proposed solutions to the county's housing needs, including a half-cent tax that would generate revenue for a $5 million housing trust fund.Four members of the board presented the results of a workforce housing study to about 50 members of the Loudoun County chapter of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association at a breakfast meeting at the Washington Dulles Marriott.Since its inception in 2005, the board has been focused on studying possible housing solutions to recommend to the Board of Supervisors. With the recent study completed in the spring, the board is taking the results and its subsequent policy proposals to the public before it makes its recommendations to supervisors in October.At the NVBIA meeting, board members told builders that among other things, the study noted that there is a shortage of more than 14,600 affordable units for Loudoun workers in four industries.In those industries, a disproportionate number of workers commute into the county for their jobs.

Midland Builders co-founder dies at 76

Gil S. Rosenberg, the co-founder of one of the largest home building companies in Dane County, died at University Hospital Saturday of kidney failure. He was 76.

Along with his father, Abraham, Rosenberg founded Midland Builders in 1952. Before its merger with Don Simon Homes to create Veridian Homes in 2003, Midland Builders built nearly 5,000 homes in Dane County and earned a reputation statewide for its interest in traditional neighborhood development, which focuses on small home lots on a pedestrian-friendly scale.

Abraham J. and Celia Rosenberg both immigrated to the United States from Eastern Europe, and Gil was born in Madison on Oct. 19, 1929.

Volunteers Building New Home for Sandy Family

A Sandy family that has endured a lot of health problems and hardship is getting help from a team of generous businesses and volunteers. Actually, it's more than just help, they are getting a new home.

The Smeltzer family has lived in their Sandy home for more than twenty years and raised eight kids there, with the three youngest Breann, Emie and Sarah still at home. 53-year old David has a rare and incurable neurological disease similar to Multiple Sclerosis and its getting progressively worse.