The Evening Brief: May 2, 2012
Your evening reading: state's largest business group joins school finance suit; Perry says God forgives people for their "oops" moments; help offered from Midland in Chinese dissident's escape Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 130
On this week's podcast, Ross, Emily, Morgan and Ben weigh the recent resignation of Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott and the back-and-forth court rulings on Planned Parenthood and the Women's Health Program. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Railroad Commission Hopeful Goes With the Flow in New Ad
"Isn't it about time we elected political leaders that have enough sense not to pee on an electric fence?" asks Roland Sledge, a Houston lawyer vying for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission, in a funny new online ad. Full Story
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State Business Group Joining School Finance Lawsuit
The Texas Association of Business announced today that it has joined a school finance lawsuit against the state, demanding a study of school system efficiency. Full Story
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Credit: Gerald Rich -
Interactive: How Much Do Superintendents Make?
During the 2011 legislative session, we compiled a salary database of all the state’s highest-paid school administrators: superintendents. After a year and a $5.4 billion reduction in state funding to public education, we are doing it again. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Eddie Seal / Ryan Murphy -
Judges Question State's Efforts to Stymie DNA Tests in Skinner Case
The state's highest criminal court had tough questions today for state lawyers who have objected for more than a decade to DNA tests for death row inmate Hank Skinner. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Todd Wiseman -
Updated: Straus Shakes Up Communications Team
After announcing that Jason Embry, the Austin American-Statesman's Capitol bureau chief, was joining his media team, House Speaker Joe Straus has named another hire: Erin Daly, U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings' communications director. Full Story
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Houston Lawyer Turns to Class-Action Suits to Battle Refineries
In the past, settlement money involving large-scale industrial accidents has largely gone to the state. But as Dave Fehling of StateImpact Texas reports, one Houston lawyer representing thousands of Texas residents says he has found a way to enforce environmental laws better than the government can. Full Story
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Conflicting Definitions of Homelessness Complicate Aid Eligibility
As Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, most of the Texas students identified as homeless by their school districts are ineligible for federal aid because of mixed definitions of what it means to be homeless. Full Story
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As UT, A&M Regents Meet, Perry Eyes Tuition
Regents from both the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems are meeting this week, and most observers will be watching for their votes on tuition increases. Full Story
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Help Offered From Midland in Chinese Dissident's Escape
When a blind human rights lawyer in China escaped house arrest last month, one of the first people to hear the news was a Midland-based nonprofit organization's president, who offered to help the dissident leave China. Full Story
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The Brief: May 2, 2012
A major resignation has become the latest chapter in the state's high-profile debates over public education. Full Story
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23-Year-Old Challenger Takes Aim at Incumbent Marquez in HD-77
Aaron Barraza isn't letting his youth stop him from trying to unseat state Rep. Marisa Marquez of El Paso in the Democratic primary for HD-77. Marquez says her record should earn her another term. Full Story
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Pierson, Turner Seek Return Engagement in HD-101 Primary Race
A three-person HD-101 Democratic primary in Tarrant County features two former state representatives who can't stop swiping at each other and a fake string of emails that have been called "Machiavellian." Full Story
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Top Criminal Court to Hear Skinner's DNA Plea
The latest installment in death row inmate Hank Skinner's quest for DNA testing comes today as his lawyers argue to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals that a change in state law should allow for testing in his case. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Caleb Bryant Miller / Todd Wiseman
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