Top Stories San Antonio

Technology consulting and outsourcing company VMC is looking to fill 40 new jobs this week at its Brooks City-Base Customer Support Center before the start of the Labor Day weekend. Redmond, Wash.-based VMC also needs to hire an additional 120 people by the end of September. The local office provides call-center customer support services on behalf of clients. For more information, visit this link.

Robinson Value Management’s Market Opportunity Composite portfolio was ranked as one of the Star Top Guns in three areas by Informa Investments Solutions. The rankings were as follows: • No. 1 for the three years ending June 30, 2011; • among the top 10 for the second quarter 2011; and • among the top 10 for the one-year period ending June 30, 2011. The rankings were released in an Informa report, which analyzes both returns and risk statistics to determine the top 10 performers in each peer group among managers submitting data to IIS’ Plan Sponsor Network (PSN) database...

USAA Federal Savings Bank was ranked No. 32 among the top 50 banks and thrifts in the country based on total assets. This was a move up on the rung from 36th the year prior. USAA Federal Savings Bank was the only San Antonio financial institution on the top 50 list. USAA Federal Savings Bank had total assets of $48.8 billion and total deposits of $43.8 billion. Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), which has branches in San Antonio, ranked first on the list. The financial institutions were ranked by assets as of the second quarter of 2011 by SNL Financial — a provider of breaking news, financial data and expert analysis on the banking, insurance, financial services, real estate, energy, and media and communications industries...

The Public Utility Commission is urging all Texans to conserve electricity as severe drought conditions and record high temperatures continue to strain the electric grid. The PUC is asking residential and business customers to set thermostats at least two degrees higher and turn off unnecessary lighting between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Individuals are also being asked to hold off from using their dishwashers or washers/dryers until late in the evening. “Texans really need to save energy these last few days of August,” says PUC Chairman Donna Nelson...

Comerica Inc. plans to eliminate six back-office positions in San Antonio as a result of the company’s recent acquisition of Sterling Bancshares Inc. The news comes on the heels of a letter it sent to the Texas Workforce Commission announcing plans to eliminate about 300 positions over the next six months at its Houston operations. The eliminations, say company officials, are a result of Comerica’s recent acquisition of Sterling Bancshares Inc. — which was completed July 28. At the time of the completion of the acquisition, Sterling Bank had seven branches in San Antonio...

From the group that brought MAX’s Wine Dive to San Antonio comes a concept tailor-made for a renowned local landmark. Houston-based Lasco Enterprises has announced plans for a new restaurant at the Pearl Brewery redevelopment. Known as The Boiler House Grill and Wine Garden, the restaurant will be located in the building that still houses the boilers that were once crucial to the brewing process. The restaurant will measure roughly 6,000 square feet. It will also boast a large outdoor patio. Items to be featured on the menu include wild game, seafood, lots of local ingredients, and even a late-night dining menu...

During his address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars 112th National Convention, Texas Gov. Rick Perry highlighted a $3 million grant program to help veterans buy, build, rehabilitate or rent a home. Administered by the Texas Veterans Commission, the program, known as Housing4TexasHeroes, issues grants to help veterans buy or repair their homes, or renovate a home to meet special needs caused by service-related disabilities. “Housing4TexasHeroes will help ensure veterans and their families have adequate housing as they ease back into civilian life and enjoy the blessings of liberty they have earned with their own valor and sacrifice,” Perry says...

U.S. Army North has established an operations center in Latham, N.Y. to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response effort to the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. The Army spent the prior weekend setting up the Defense Coordinating Element Region II Main Operations Center in anticipation of the storm. President Obama said over the weekend that it will likely take several weeks for impacted communities along the East Coast to bring some semblance of normalcy to residents. As flood waters recede, communities are continuing to deal with power outages, home damage and a displaced homeowners...

Christian book publisher Thomas Nelson has released the company’s first enhanced e-book, Max on Life: Answers and Insights to Your Most Important Questions, written by San Antonio author and pastor Max Lucado. The e-book features all the same editorial content from Lucado’s book Max on Life (Thomas Nelson, April 2011), but also includes a personal video introduction from the author for all seven of the book’s core sections. Lucado is the minister of preaching at Oak Hills Church. The e-book is available through the Apple iBooks Stores and Barnes and Noble Nook Store...

Whataburger Restaurants LP is adding a new item to the company’s menu for customers who like a spicy kick with their burger. For a limited time, San Antonio-based Whataburger will sell a Green Chile Double burger at all of its 700 locations in 10 states. The burger has two patties, a slice of Monterey Jack cheese, a slice of American cheese and is topped with roasted green chiles. For more information, visit this link. www.whataburger.com