The Midday Brief: Dec. 1, 2010

Your afternoon reading: freshman orientation, Kirk Watson and the budget, and Warren Jeffs in Texas

By David Muto

Dec. 1, 20101 PM Central

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Your afternoon reading:

"More than three dozen freshmen lawmakers are in their second day of orientation at the State Capitol complex today as part of their prep work for the sure-to-be-contentious legislative session that begins on Jan. 11." — Freshmen orientation underway in Capitol, PoliTex

"In an attempt to restore greater stability to Texas’ finances, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, outlined his three-step plan aimed at providing transparency to the state budget." — Sen. Watson outlines Texas budget reform proposals, The Texas Independent

"The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission has joined the three federal agencies in its crusade against caffeine-infused alcoholic beverages, like Four Loko." — Texas moves to ban caffeine-infused alcoholic drinks, Midland Reporter-Telegram

"The news for the expansion plans of the Texas Spine and Joint Hospital may be uncertain after a U.S. District Judge in Tyler ordered the cancellation of a trial set for Dec.9, which would have challenged the constitutionality of the Obama administration's health care law." — Judge Cancels Health Care Reform Trial, Tyler Morning Telegraph

New in The Texas Tribune:

The chairman of the Governor's Business Council on why the business community cares about higher ed, why we have to incentivize outcomes, whether it's possible to increase productivity and who's to blame if we don't. — Hunt: State Needs Incentive Funding in Higher Ed

"Gov. Rick Perry’s office has asked a member of the Emerging Technology Fund’s advisory committee to consider resigning over a recent investigation into a stock deal — the latest dustup involving state incentive funds." — Texas Lawmakers Could Eliminate Incentive Funds

"Warren Jeffs has made it to Texas. According to the attorney general's office, the embattled leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints — the polygamous Mormon breakaway sect whose Eldorado ranch was raided by child welfare officials in 2008 — is in San Angelo. He'll stand trial there for allegedly sexually assaulting a child." — Warren Jeffs, Polygamous Sect Leader, Now In Texas

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David Muto

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