Key retirement industry decision-makers from across Africa have been alerted to huge opportunities and major challenges as jurisdictions in many parts of the continent begin the task of pension reform.

Collin, Denton county officials ponder funds

Collin County Judge Keith Self was unsure Monday if the commissioners court would try and change an agreement with the Regional Transportation Council about where toll money will be collected when State Highway 121 is expanded.The Regional Transportation Council of the North Central Texas Council of Governments may approve an agreement with the North Texas Tollway Authority on Thursday about the quantification of public benefits in NTTA's proposal for SH 121 in both Collin and Denton counties.The major terms of the agreement include the NTTA paying two payments of $2.5 billion and about $833 million in lieu of annual lease payments for a total of about $3.3 billion within 45 days of execution of the agreement. The NTTA must also negotiate the agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation.

St. Onge seeking funds to improve Hwy. 141

Missouri Rep. Neal St. Onge, R-Ballwin, is trying to jump-start stalled efforts to widen a bottleneck on Highway 141 in Chesterfield.The narrow area runs from just north of St. Luke's Hospital to Olive Boulevard. Many residents and local officials have pushed hard for its widening.In the past and on other portions of Hwy. 141, the Missouri Department of Transportation has widened to two or three lanes in each direction and otherwise improved the road. But in the bottleneck, the road is only one lane in each direction and slows down traffic, especially during rush hours.At a press conference Oct. 17, St. Onge said, "Due to the great work of our transportation department over the past three years and the current financial markets, there is an excellent chance that there will be an additional amount of money to be allocated in the State Road Fund."That same day, at the Missouri Transportation Commission meeting in St.