The Brief: Texas Political News for Aug. 8, 2013
With the third special legislative session complete, some lawmakers are already beefing up for the political battles that lie ahead in the 2014 election cycle. Full Story
Becca Aaronson was the first product manager at the Tribune, where she worked from 2010 to 2018. As product manager, Becca managed the Tribune's website redesign, coordinates cross-departmental projects and conducted user research to improve reader experience. She previously worked on the Tribune's data visuals team as a developer and project manager, contributing to several award-winning investigative projects. She covered health care from 2012 to 2014, making waves with her coverage of women's health and the Wendy Davis abortion filibuster. She has a bachelor’s degree in cultural theory from Scripps College in Claremont, Calif.
With the third special legislative session complete, some lawmakers are already beefing up for the political battles that lie ahead in the 2014 election cycle. Full Story
Your evening reading: Dewhurst unveils his re-election team; elected officials discuss border policies crafted by out-of-touch leaders in Washington; judge halts trial in Fort Hood shooting Full Story
Despite Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to zero out state financing for the Travis County Public Integrity Unit, the prosecutorial team will live on. Full Story
UPDATED: A Wise County hospital system has changed its specialist-only policy that prevented some family practice doctors from delivering babies. Full Story
UPDATED: State Sen. Jane Nelson has responded to the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition’s concerns that the state’s $100 million expansion of a primary care program would not meet lawmakers' intent of restoring access to family planning. Full Story
How long you live and how healthy you are could depend in part on where you call home. Our interactive map shows life expectancy, obesity rates and levels of physical activity by county, according to data from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation. Full Story
Despite resistance from congressional Republican leadership, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is calling on grass-roots organizers to help in his fight to defund the federal Affordable Care Act. Full Story
The number of claims filed for medical and family planning services in the new state-run Texas Women's Health Program has dropped since the state ousted Planned Parenthood from it, according to state figures. Full Story
The federal government issued a temporary moratorium on Friday to halt enrollment of ambulance service providers in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to combat fraud in the Houston area. Full Story
UPDATED: Amid ongoing negotiations over transportation funding plans, members of the House sent a new proposal to the Senate on Friday afternoon that could break the logjam. Full Story