Dynamic HTML error

Heres the scoop,

loadText = new LoadVars();
**loadText.load(“content.html”);
**loadText.onLoad = function() {
homeLeft.text = this.button1;
sb._visible = homeLeft.maxscroll > 1;
trace(homeLeft.maxscroll)
};

I have over verified the ‘render as html’ is seleced. Below is the external html:

button1=<b>NEWS %26 EVENTS</b>

On publish, the text box shows <b>NEWS EVENTS</b>

Not in bold and showing the tags! And yes the render as html is selected.
Im pulling out my hair…

Thanks in advance!