The first set of taxes to help finance Houston's new downtown ballpark become official when the Harris County- Houston Sports Authority voted Wednesday to impose a 2% hotel occupancy tax beginning October 1 (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/11)....Eric Cote, spokesperson for RI Gov. Lincoln Almond, on a reported deal between the state and the Patriots: "We have been discussing details of the negotiations, but I can emphatically tell you that there are no 'sweeteners' in this situation." Acting MA Gov. Paul Cellucci: "I very much want the Patriots to stay here in Massachusetts. This is where they belong" (AP, 9/11)....In Minneapolis, Weiner & Whereatt write that Scott County, MN, government and business leaders "are exploring the possibility" of building a Twins ballpark in Shakopee, which reportedly "intrigues" Twins officials because of its location. Thirty-four percent of Twins ticket buyers come form the western and southern suburbs (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/11)....Bruton Smith said Wednesday that Speedway Motorsports would build a track in Atlantic City (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 9/10).
