The Evening Brief: March 18, 2013
Your evening reading: Tea Party leader had ties to American Fascist Party; state representative apologizes for DWI arrest; Cruz opposed resolution on multiple sclerosis Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Patrick: Attacks Over Bill on College History Courses Misguided
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, took to Facebook to defend himself against criticism that he wants to eliminate college courses in Mexican-American and African-American history. Full Story
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![State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, at a Senate Education Committee hearing on March 12, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Houston-Area Tea Party Leader Had Ties to American Fascist Party
As recently as 2003, the president of the Greater Fort Bend County Tea Party had a different title: director of propaganda for the American Fascist Party. James Ives says he was working undercover doing research for a book he never wrote. Full Story
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Trial Switches Focus of Morton Case to Norwood
Mark Norwood for more than 16 months has been awaiting his trial that begins today for the 1986 murder of Christine Morton. Prosecutors could focus on his criminal history and will likely try to link him to evidence from the crime scene. Full Story
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![Mark Norwood being led into court for the first time on Jan. 18th 2011. He is charged with the 1986 murder of Christine Morton.]()
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Agenda Texas: STAAR Standards
On this week's Agenda Texas from KUT News: How many tests are too many? State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, is leading the charge to reduce the number of high school STAAR tests from 15 to five. But critics worry that cutting tests could also cut standards. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
State to Appeal Ruling on Whooping Crane Deaths
Attorney General Greg Abbott has announced that the state will appeal a federal ruling that found the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality responsible for the deaths of 23 rare whooping cranes. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, during a Senate Finance committee hearing on Feb. 5, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Blue Mound Residents Boiling Over Water Rate
In the North Texas town of Blue Mound, the water system is owned by a private corporation. Residents say this results in painful rate hikes. Private water companies say their rates reflect the high costs of providing water to far-flung areas. Full Story
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![Roy Thornhill Sr. (center) voices his concern as residents of the City of Blue Mound, Texas, gather at their community center, on Monday, March 4, 2013. The small North Texas City of Blue Mound held a town hall meeting on Monday, March 4, for its residents to sign a petition against what they say are unjustifiably high water rate increases.]()
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Lawmakers to Consider Changes to Bilingual Ballot System
State lawmakers on Monday will hear testimony on a bill that would no longer require some counties to distribute mail-in ballots in languages other than English, unless they're requested by voters. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Inside the State Budget, a Shell Game to Avoid Choosing Taxes or Cuts
The state balances its budget by counting nearly $5 billion in unspent funds that were raised for specific programs. To change their ways, lawmakers would have to go back to what they were trying to avoid: choices between taxes and cuts. Full Story
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The Brief: March 18, 2013
Brandishing his fiery style and flair for oratory, Ted Cruz told conservatives over the weekend that their comeback is already well under way. Full Story
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Charter School Expansion Effort Faces Big Hurdles
Sen. Dan Patrick's Senate Bill 2 is the most ambitious attempt to expand the state’s charter school system since it was established in 1995. It will have to pass a Legislature that defeated more modest proposals two years ago. Full Story
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Video: Cruz Electrifies CPAC Conference
In a rousing closing keynote at the three-day Conservative Political Action Conference, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned that "liberty is under assault from every direction.” Full Story
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Texas Weekly Newsreel: George P. Bush, Term Limits, Blue Texas
In this edition of the Newsreel: George P. Bush officially enters the race for Texas land commissioner, the Senate Finance Committee passes a $195.5 billion budget and educators spend spring break at the Capitol. Full Story
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The Playlist: Halo
Astute audiophiles noted that George P. Bush initially selected a surprising back-track for the YouTube video announcing his bid for Texas land commissioner. That song — "Halo" by Beyoncé — leads off this week's playlist. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on the impact of expanding Medicaid on the state budget, Aguilar on immigration-related bills in the 83rd session, Batheja on a GOP senator challenging his party on taxes, Galbraith on concerns about water use for fracking, Grissom on reciprocal discovery, Hamilton on the campus carry debate, Murphy and Batheja visualize the legislator-lobbyist revolving door, Ramsey on the blue dreams of Texas Democrats, Ramsey and Rocha on George P. Bush's big announcement and Ramshaw and Levinthal on Rick Perry's CPAC speech: The best of our best content from March 11-15, 2013. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: March 15, 2013
Your evening reading: Democrats raising money off Cruz's exchange with Feinstein; state lawmakers close to deal on ethics bill; Republican senator challenging party on taxes Full Story
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![Texas Democrats elected their first Hispanic party chairman, Gilberto Hinojosa, on June 9, 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Jeremy Bird: The TT Interview
The senior adviser to the new high-profile Democratic group Battleground Texas on what he thinks it will take to make the state politically competitive for Democrats and why he thinks it's possible. Full Story
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Credit: Christopher Dilts -
Texas Democrats Dream of the Wild Blue Yonder
The organizers hoping to make Texas a safe place for Democrats to run for office will know how they're doing by how their volunteers answer a simple question: Would they let a friend run as a Democrat, or would they advise against it? Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Austin Clinic Tests Effectiveness of Coordinating Care
A pilot program at Dell Children's Medical Center in Austin hopes to show that coordinating care for medically needy children improves the quality of care and reduces costs. Full Story
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![Laura Romero plays with her daughter Brooklyn, who has Cerebral Palsy, during the open house and tour of Seton's new Children's Comprehensive Care Clinic in Austin, Texas.]()
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GOP Senator Challenging His Party on Debt, Taxes
State Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, is engaged in a long-term campaign to convince his fellow legislators that the state's bond debt is an urgent problem and that tax increases are part of a conservative solution. Full Story
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![Kevin Eltife in his office in 2013, when he was a state senator. Eltife now serves as a member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa
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