Your afternoon reading: congressional redistricting dead; Perry signs abortion sonogram bill (again); GOP 2012 hopefuls court the Bushes
May 2011
Posted in
State Government
Southbound Checkpoints Given New Life in Senate
Legislation that would grant the state authority to erect southbound checkpoints near the Texas-Mexico border was successfully revived today after lawmakers attached it as an amendment to a bill concerning record sharing by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
Posted in
Energy
Senate OKs “Reptile Bill”
The Senate passed the “reptile bill” today, which creates regulations for hunters who want to collect snakes and horny toads along Texas highways.
Posted in
Demographics
On the Records: Mapping Migration to Texas
The U.S. Census Bureau released data this week showing how many people moved to and from Texas in the last year. California sent more people our way than any other state — and we lost the most Texans to Oklahoma.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 24, 2011
After days of stop-and-go budget negotiations, lawmakers may have just inched closer to a special session.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Woman’s Death in East Texas Jail Sparks Legislation
Beginning next year, jails like the one in Gregg County where Amy Lynn Cowling died could be required to tell state officials how many staff members leave their jobs every month. Experts say there likely is a correlation between high staff turnover rates and increased deaths.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
How Do You Solve a Problem Like a Data Breach?
It’s been more than a month since state officials acknowledged they’d exposed millions of Texans’ Social Security numbers and other information online. Matt Largey of KUT News reports what the state’s been doing to make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Presidential Front-Runner in Texas? Not Perry, UT/TT Poll Finds
It’s a good thing Rick Perry says he’s not running for president — only 4 percent of Texas Republicans say they’d vote for the governor, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.
Posted in
Public Education
Time Dwindling, Another Lost Chance at School Finance
The death of a key education fiscal matters bill on the House floor tonight ensures that any changes to school finance formulas will happen in a conference committee — and adds fuel to speculation of a special session this summer.
Posted in
State Government
Senate OKs Bills Regulating Payday Lenders
The state Senate passed two bills Monday evening meant to crack down on payday and car title loan providers. While some call the legislation a good first step, others say the bills do not go far enough.