“Now is not the time to point fingers and scream and yell. Now is the time to solve the problem,” Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott told more than 6,000 public school leaders from across the state today.
February 2011
Posted in
Demographics
Undocumented Immigrant Population in Texas Increases
The number of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. remained relatively unchanged in 2010, with a population of about 11.2 million. That’s about 3.7 percent of the country’s total population. Texas, however, was one of the few states that saw an increase over the last few years, according to a new study released by the Pew Hispanic Center.
Posted in
State Government
Joaquin Castro Files Bills on School Counseling
State Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, is looking to shake up the way Texas trains, educates and certifies public school counselors.
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: Feb. 1, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Senate hears testimony on foster kids, Howard-Neil fight under way, and Shapiro files school-mandate bill
Posted in
Health care
Most Texans Support Smoking Ban, Poll Says
The latest from Gov. Rick Perry’s preferred polling firm, Baselice & Associates, shows that 70 percent of Texans support a ban on indoor smoking, including in restaurants and bars.
Posted in
Public Education
Gail Lowe Reappointed as Education Board Chair
Pending Senate confirmation, Gail Lowe will serve another term as head of the State Board of Education.
Posted in
State Government
Testimony Under Way in HD-48 Fight [Updated]
More than a dozen witnesses took the stand today to testify about where they lived and how they voted in the House District 48 contest in the November 2010 election.
Posted in
Politics
Few Obstacles Face Voter ID in the Legislature
Both sides cite stats and research papers to support their positions, with Democrats saying the photo voter ID law will suppress minority voting, and Republicans saying it won’t do anything but stop fraud. Whatever it is, it’s on its way into the law books.
Posted inState Government
Sam Kinch Jr., 1940-2011
Sam Kinch Jr., the founding editor of Texas Weekly and a former political and government correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, died shortly after midnight, according to a spokesman for the family. He was 70, and had been battling pancreatic cancer, emphysema and congestive heart disease.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Feb. 1, 2011
The Legislature’s been under way for weeks now, but the last fight for a seat in the lower chamber isn’t over.