Students are heading back to school this week, and some of them will begin learning about the birds and the bees. The Texas Education Code requires that abstinence be the focus of any sex education curriculum — but as Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, there are some changes this year to how sex ed is being taught.
August 2010
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Calendar Club
When Bill White criticized Rick Perry in June for “working part time” after his schedule for the first six months of 2010 showed an average of seven hours of state business per week, Perry responded that he doesn’t write down much of his work for the state. By contrast, Perry’s counterparts in California, New York and Florida do write down what they do, and they make their schedules readily available to the public.
Posted in
State Government
The Politics of Ethics
Texas lawmakers were accused this summer of driving a car paid for by a state contractor and double-billing taxpayers for expenses incurred on the job. Does that mean they’ll be defeated in November? Not necessarily.
Posted in
Higher Education
Off-Base?
The Texas commission charged with aiding economies hit by military base closures will spend millions for a vaccine plant in Bryan-College Station — even though the region’s military base closed nearly five decades ago.
Posted inState Government
At Home in the Senate
In the wake of a court ruling keeping state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, on the ballot, lawyers for his Democratic opponent and the state party are deciding whether to appeal to the Texas Supreme Court. But time is short: Under state election law, Friday, August 20, is the last day a candidate who is removed from the ballot can be replaced.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: Former UT Chancellor in Housing Flap
The Bay Citizen reports that University of California System Chancellor Mark Yudof, who served as chancellor of the University of Texas System from August 2002 to May 2008 and was previously dean of the UT law school, is embroiled in a controversy over his state-funded housing.
Posted in
Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Galbraith on grass, federal money and efforts to prevent another dust bowl, Ergenbright on school suspensions and who gets punished; Aguilar’s interview with Alan Bersin, whose job is to keep the U.S./Mexico border secure, M. Smith on why it would be harder than you think to ditch the 14th Amendment, Adler and me on whether controversy is politically contagious, Ramshaw on the flap over funding for the state’s institutions for the disabled (it’s not about the money), my meditation on the state’s fiscal woes (including a $1.3 billion deficit in the current budget), Philpott on proposed cuts to the state’s food stamp program, Grissom on the push by Hidalgo County officials for a special election that might not be legal; Hamilton on the seven Texas universities that are making a play for Tier One status and Stiles on the mid-year cash-on-hand numbers reported by campaigns and political action committees: The best of our best from August 16 to 23, 2010.
Posted inState Government
2010: Democrat Withdraws From SD-22 Race
John Cullar, the attorney and former McLennan County Democratic Party chair chosen to run in the November general election against state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, notified state election officials today that he is withdrawing from the race.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Supremes Say ‘No’ to Hidalgo Special Election
Hidalgo County officials took their fight to hold a special election to the highest civil court in Texas, and today they lost.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: Alberto Gonzales: Leave the 14th Amendment Alone
The former U.S. Attorney General and Texas Supreme Court Justice told Dallas radio host Scott Braddock this afternoon that it would not be wise to “tinker” with the 14th Amendment.
