TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Texas County Courts Apple: Officials in Williamson County, who earlier this week refused to grant a $750,000 tax abatement on a proposed $80-million Apple Computer Inc. service center, are trying to woo Apple back by proposing alternatives to the tax break, the Houston Chronicle reported. But Apple says the real issue is that some of its employees would feel unwelcome in a county that wouldn’t offer the tax break because it objects to Apple’s policy of extending health benefits to partners of its homosexual employees. County officials offered infrastructure improvements and right-of-way acquisitions to persuade Apple to build in Williamson County. The Cupertino, Calif.-based company had planned to build the center on 130 acres near Austin.