The Evening Brief: Feb. 18, 2013
Your evening reading: Legislature honors Powers amid UT System controversy; Patrick files bill to expand charter schools; Google brings driverless car to Texas Transportation Forum Full Story
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Credit: Justin Dehn -
Regents to Give UT-Arlington Finalist Another Look
After Vistasp M. Karbhari was selected on Feb. 14, sources told the Tribune that not every regent was aware he was a defendant in a pending lawsuit. Now the full board will revisit the matter. Full Story
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Moody Files Open Discovery Bill
A bill filed by state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, on Monday would require prosecutors and defense lawyers in criminal cases to open their files to their opponents. It could have momentum in the wake of Michael Morton's exoneration. Full Story
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![The first day of the inquiry into former Williamson County D.A. Ken Anderson, which will examine allegations that Anderson hid five pieces of evidence before, during and after Michael Morton's 1987 trial. Jan 4, 2013.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell / American-Statesman -
Legislators Honor Beleaguered UT President Powers
As he jousts with the University of Texas Board of Regents, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was honored Monday in both chambers of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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![University of Texas at Austin President, William Powers - Dec. 14, 2011]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Education Chairman Aims to Expand Charter Schools
Legislation creating a new state board to oversee charter school applications and removing limits on the number of state charter contracts was filed Monday by Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, at a Senate Education Committee meeting on June 2, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Call for a New Execution Date Revives Race Debate
Harris County prosecutors will seek a new execution date on Monday for death row inmate Duane Buck. His defenders say race played a role in his death sentence. Prosecutors say courts have "thoroughly reviewed" and rejected his claims. Full Story
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House Democrats Aiming to Get Back Into the Game
In 2011, Texas House Democrats were dejected, demoralized and badly outnumbered. Their numbers have improved. Now the question is whether they can move as a bloc. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
After Plant is Canceled, Coal Faces Bleak Future in Texas
Plans to build a new Gulf Coast power plant called White Stallion have fizzled, marking a victory for environmental advocates and — for now, at least — the demise of new coal plant projects in Texas. Full Story
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![Rikki Stanley, director of local development for the White Stallion Energy Center, shows a chunk of the type of coal that the coal plant plans to burn.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Inmates Use Business Program to Get Head Start on Life After Prison
Through a program operated by a Houston nonprofit, some Texas inmates who will soon be released get a chance to learn business skills and work on plans to start their own businesses. Full Story
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![Morgan Crocker delivers a business proposal for a fitness training service during the weekly session of the Prison Entrepreneurship Program at the Cleveland Correctional Center in Cleveland, Texas.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Slideshow: Turning Inmates Into Entrepreneurs
The Prison Entrepreneurship Program at the Cleveland Correctional Center trains selected inmates, who will soon be released, to design their own businesses. Here's a series of photographs from a recent class. Full Story
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![An inmate returns tests to his peers during a break from class. Inmates are regularly tested as a part of their academic business curriculum, part of which is modeled on Harvard MBA classes.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Battle Looms as Democrats Try to Restore Education Cuts
Democrats in the Texas House last week launched an effort to restore public education cuts, setting up a potential battle over an emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Full Story
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![Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer makes a parliamentary inquiry at the back microphone on Feb. 11, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Feb. 18, 2013
A leaked White House plan has injected new rancor into the fight over immigration reform. Full Story
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Credit: Steve Pribut