The Evening Brief: Dec. 17, 2012
Your evening reading: 78 school districts not meeting safety standards, Abbott says; Texas Monthly on Michael Quinn Sullivan; George P. Bush fundraiser attracts supporters with ties to Rove Full Story
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![A conversation with Greg Abbott, Attorney General, and Evan Smith at The Austin Club October 4, 2012.]()
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Abbott: 78 Texas School Districts Not Meeting Safety Standards
Following the Connecticut school shooting, Attorney General Greg Abbott has warned 78 out-of-compliance Texas school districts that his office expects them to immediately update their safety plans in accordance with state law. Full Story
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TribCast: Gun Control, Speaker Dynamics and Predictions
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Emily talk about what recent gun-related tragedies could mean for Texas, if House Speaker Joe Straus will get the "serious" session he recently called for, and what to expect in 2013. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Amid Investigations, CPRIT's Future Uncertain
The future of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is far from certain, as the quasi-governmental agency and its fast-shrinking cast of advisers face accusations of impropriety and criminal and civil investigations. Full Story
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Michael Quinn Sullivan: "Our Side is Winning"
An exclusive excerpt from the January 2013 issue of Texas Monthly: Nate Blakeslee on how Michael Quinn Sullivan became one of the most powerful unelected figures at the Capitol. Full Story
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Talk of Term Limits is Back, With Tea Party Help
Limiting the terms of lawmakers and other officeholders was a sexy idea 20 years ago, when Republicans were trying to unseat Democrats. Now it's back. Full Story
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Gains in Texas Budget a Source of Hot Debate
Does Texas need a constitutional cap on spending growth to protect it from the whims of future lawmakers or save it from the current ones? Supporters of the proposal are at odds. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 17, 2012
Even in Texas, the Connecticut school shooting has pounded new urgency into the debate over gun rights. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert at the annual alumni Aggie Muster at Camp Leatherneck Helmand Province in Afghanistan on April 21, 2012.]()
Credit: Lance Cpl. Catie D. Edwards -
Video: Gohmert on Guns
On this morning's edition of Fox News Sunday, U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, rejected calls for stricter gun laws following Friday's tragic school shooting in Connecticut. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, is shown at the annual alumni Aggie Muster on April 21, 2012, at Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan's Helmand Province.]()
Credit: Lance Cpl. Catie D. Edwards -
Considering the Arts for Their Economic Benefits
An aggressive effort is afoot to reframe the Texas Commission on the Arts as an engine for economic development and to give Texas’ designated cultural districts access to existing state incentive funds. Full Story
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![At the San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, Mary Fredrickson, left, an art conservator, discusses restoration work she's doing with Laura Huckaby, the museum's collections manager.]()
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Newsreel: Simpson for Speaker, Perry Backs "Fetal Pain" Bill
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: State Rep. David Simpson is officially running for House speaker, but some former opponents of current Speaker Joe Straus are now sticking with the incumbent. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
M. Smith finds school choice already under way in some local districts, E. Smith grills a top energy regulator on conflicts of interest, Root reports on ethics reforms proposed by Tea Party activists, Ramshaw looks at elective surgery’s correlation to the state map, Galbraith and Murphy update the mapping data on the state’s lingering drought, Grissom finds fewer convicts being sent to Texas’ death row, Batheja reports on criticism of state economic incentives from the business community, Aguilar finds political activists in Texas organizing to watch Mexico’s government and Aaronson has details on the governor’s support for banning abortions after 20 weeks: The best of our best from Dec. 10 to 14, 2012. Full Story
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Dual Eligible Payments to Be Partially Restored in 2013
Health care providers in Texas who treat dual eligible patients — those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits — will get some relief in 2013. Full Story
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![Dr. Javier Saenz has struggled to keep his South Texas clinic open in the wake of legislative cuts to physicians treating patients eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.]()
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The Evening Brief: Dec. 14, 2012
Your evening reading: Texas officials react to Connecticut shooting; Patterson says arming school personnel would save lives; payment for CPRIT consultants stirs criticism Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson on the floor of the Texas Senate in May 2011.]()
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Big Pay for Cancer Foundation Consultants Draws Criticism
Reports show that much of the $1.2 million of private money raised to help the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas in fiscal year 2011 instead benefited the consultants who oversaw distribution of the funds. Full Story
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Baylor, Scott & White Announce Merger
UPDATED: The boards of both Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare have signed a letter of intent to merge the two organizations, creating a $7.7 billion health network called Baylor Scott & White Health. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation with Barry Smitherman
Full video of my 12/13 TribLive conversation with Barry Smitherman, the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. Full Story
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House Speaker's Race is Bluffing Game for Now
In the race for speaker of the Texas House, everybody has the votes they need. Or they're well on their way. Or at least that's what they're telling the rest of us. Full Story
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State Records Shed Light on Texas' Early "Illegals"
Mexican immigrants are apprehended every day on the Texas-Mexico border. But as Jerry Patterson, the Texas land commissioner, likes to remind fellow Republicans, the shoe used to be on the other foot. Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson discusses Texas historical records that document early immigrants like Davy Crockett and Stephen F. Austin.]()
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As State Eyes School Choice Reform, Some Districts Pursue It Locally
State leaders are preparing to push for legislation to expand the choices available for Texas' nearly 5 million public school students. Meanwhile, some local districts are already pursuing similar reforms within their own systems. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune
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