Taoyuan led the nation in surging housing prices with a 21-percent jump, according to a study on the index of housing prices conducted by Sinyi Realty Inc. (信義房屋) and National Chengchi University (政治大學).

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) recently said it discovered a small drug-factory near a university in Taoyuan County, arresting a principal suspect surnamed Chou, who allegedly produced and sold liquid ecstasy to students.

Yin Chen-pong, a former head of Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA), will soon take over as chairman of Taoyuan International Airport Co., the operator of Taiwan's main international gateway.

Shihmen Reservoir (石門水庫) in Taoyuan County is encountering water shortage problems, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) said yesterday.

The Supreme Court ordered the Taoyuan County Government to pay a compensation of NT$4.9 million to the family of a motorcyclist who died after a traffic accident.

Taoyuan County is slated to become the nation's sixth municipality by the end of 2013, announced the Cabinet yesterday.

A 20-something car crash survivor in Taoyuan said yesterday that he is the third in his family to escape catastrophe.

A tour bus carrying 24 crashed into the railing of a national freeway in Taoyuan County yesterday morning, killing one and injuring 23, media reports said.

The Zhongli (中壢)-Yangmei (楊梅) section of the highway overpass connecting Wugu (五股) District in New Taipei City and Yangmei City in Taoyuan County will open to traffic at 4 p.m. Sunday, the National Expressway Engineering Bureau (NEEB, 國工局) announced yesterday.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB, 刑事局) yesterday dispatched operatives to 15 locations in Northern, Central and Southern Taiwan, arresting 11 suspects for allegedly manufacturing ketamine.