Oil and gas extracted from state land in West Texas has helped create unprecedented wealth for the University of Texas System. 
Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune
<p>Oil and gas extracted from state land in West Texas has helped create unprecedented wealth for the University of Texas System.&nbsp;</p>

Oil money is a gusher for UT System, but a trickle for students

The fracking boom helped push the Permanent University Fund close to $20 billion, and every year the UT System gets a slice of that money to spend. Hundreds of millions have been dedicated to big-ticket projects, while just a sliver goes to student financial aid.

 
 

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With Supreme Court appeal, Texas wants to keep congressional map intact

Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;
<p>Jose Garza, an attorney for the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, and former Texas Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer speak to reporters on April 27, 2017, following a status conference on a years-long challenge to Texas' political maps.&nbsp;</p>

Attorney General Ken Paxton revealed that Texas has no plans to ask lawmakers to redraw the state's Congressional map in a fresh round of legislative overtime. Instead, Paxton is appealing the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

UNT's next chancellor has pushed the boundaries of space exploration (audio)

  • by Christopher Connelly, KERA News
  • 1Comment
Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.
<p>Lesa B. Roe was named sole finalist for the position of chancellor by&nbsp;<span>The University of North Texas System Board of Regents.</span></p>

The University of North Texas has picked NASA’s No. 2 to lead the growing public university system. She’s expected to be confirmed next month. Roe has had a long career at the nation’s space program.

 

Texas leaders offer mixed responses to UT-Austin's late-night removal of Confederate statues

A crew takes down Confederate statues on the UT-Austin campus just after midnight on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.
<p>A crew takes down Confederate statues on the UT-Austin campus just after midnight on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.</p>

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick criticized the overnight removal of several Confederate statues from the University of Texas at Austin’s campus while U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz called the decision "the university’s prerogative."

UT-Austin removes Confederate statues in the middle of the night

Late Sunday night, Aug. 20, 2017, UT-Austin announced it would take down three Confederate statues on campus.&nbsp;A statue of former Texas Gov. James Stephen Hogg (shown here) was also removed.&nbsp;
<p>Late Sunday night, Aug. 20, 2017, UT-Austin announced it would take down three Confederate statues on campus.&nbsp;<span>A statue of former Texas Gov. James Stephen Hogg (shown here) was also removed.&nbsp;</span></p>

In a surprise move, workers at the University of Texas at Austin removed multiple Confederate statues from a prominent grass mall on campus late Sunday night.

 

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Gov. Greg Abbott weighs in on Confederate monument debate