The Brief: April 6, 2012
Supporters of Rick Santorum, who this week faced intensifying calls to drop out of the presidential race, have seized on a new game plan for the Texas primary: Change the rules. Full Story
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Reaching Out to Friends, the Old-Fashioned Way
If you know Wayne Franke, then you know you'll be getting a congratulatory call for your birthday or wedding anniversary. The contract lobbyist, who lives in Buda, has made a ritual of contacting his friends on their special days. Full Story
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Fighting for Political Crumbs, But Feeling Confident About 2012
Viability is a standard question in politics. Why is she running? What about that guy? Don’t they know they’re going to lose? The Libertarians and the Greens don't think that's the right question. Full Story
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North Forest Lives On, But So Do Its Struggles
North Forest ISD has gotten what amounts to a stay of execution. But the question of whether students would be better off attending different schools still lingers. Full Story
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Drought Deepens Worries Over Aging Farmer Population
The U.S. is losing a generation of family farmers that may not be replaced, according to national agriculture statistics. And as Mose Buchele of KUT News reports for StateImpact Texas, the drought may be exacerbating that trend in Texas. Full Story
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![Victor Elizando and Noe Obregon rest in the shade during a visit to the farmland Obregon used to tend before the USDA's discriminatory loan practices put him out of business.]()
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The Hot Seat: West Texas Lawmakers on Public Ed Cuts
At last Friday's Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, state Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, and state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, talked about the impact of cuts to public education. Full Story
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The Hot Seat: West Texas Lawmakers on Romney
At last Friday's Hot Seat conversation at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, state Reps. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, and state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, declined to endorse their party's likely 2012 presidential nominee. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: April 5, 2012
Your evening reading: Santorum supporters pushing to make Texas primary winner-take-all; cost of redistricting legal battle for state approaching $1 million; Paul begins California campaign push Full Story
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Weekend Insider: Workers Comp, Houston School Closure
Wal-Mart looks to provide a cheaper alternative to workers compensation for their employees, and a Houston school district struggles with the possibility of closure. Full Story
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Santorum Backers Push to Make Texas Primary a Winner-Take-All Affair
Supporters of Rick Santorum want to change the rules for the state's presidential primary so the winner gets all the delegates that are up for grabs. But they face major hurdles. Full Story
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Credit: Gage Skidmore -
Stewart Rogers: The TT Interview
The manager of a West Texas farm on the oddities of crop insurance, why all the farmers near Lubbock want to grow cotton and why West Texans don't believe in climate change despite the drought and weird weather. Full Story
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The Brief: April 5, 2012
His opponents may be preparing to campaign harder in Texas, but Mitt Romney appears to be winning the state's endorsement race. Full Story
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Texas School District Closures Are Rare, But Should They Be?
There's little research that indicates closing districts will improve outcomes for students, but letting chronically low-performing and financially mismanaged schools stay open doesn't work either. Full Story
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In Austin, Sex Ed via Text Message
Public health officials in Austin, an area with one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the state, have launched an effort to educate teens about sexual health using a familiar medium: their cellphones. Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports on how the effort compares to information students receive in school. Full Story
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Interactive: Compare Public Education Stats by Accountability Rating
Yearly state accountability ratings can make or break a school district. But there's more to determining how districts stack up. Use our interactive data application to explore how districts' demographics and finances correlate to their ratings. Full Story
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Texas Congressmen Will Back Romney
Mitt Romney has snagged endorsements from three Texas congressmen, including Pete Sessions of Dallas, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, who said it's time for the GOP to unite behind one candidate. Full Story
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Perry to Tour Tornado Devastation
Gov. Rick Perry will tour tornado-devastated areas of North Texas on Thursday. Hundreds of homes were damaged and several people injured during frightening afternoon twisters on Tuesday. Full Story
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Updated: Court Orders Review of Death Row Case Involving Reprimanded Psychologist
The state's highest criminal court on Wednesday ordered a lower court to review a death penalty case that involved a psychologist reprimanded last year for using unscientific methods. Full Story
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![Dr. George Denkowski conducted psychological exams for more than a dozen current death row inmates. 1) Anthony Pierce 2) Virgilio Maldonado 3) Calvin Hunter 4) John Matamoros 5) Derrick Charles 6) Kim Ly Lim 7) Coy Wesbrook 8) Joel Escobedo 9) Jamie McCoskey 10) Warren Rivers 11) Tomas Gallo 12) Steven Butler 13) Alfred Brown]()
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The Evening Brief: April 4, 2012
Your evening reading: Texas schools net hefty Mega Millions payday; Wal-Mart heiress disputes report that she endorsed Craig James; Texas cities join brief criticizing Arizona immigration law Full Story
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The Weekly TribCast: Episode 126
Ross, Reeve, Emily and Jay talk about the ethics complaints filed against Michael Quinn Sullivan, the ongoing hunt for Texas delegates, and potential sources of money for the Women's Health Program. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman
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