The Evening Brief: Oct. 17, 2013
Your evening reading: Cruz won't rule out another shutdown fight; Obama renews push for immigration reform; Democrat joins attorney general's race Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
With Shutdown Over, Immigration Reform Advocates Step Up Efforts
After President Obama on Thursday said that Congress can now focus on tackling immigration reform after ending the federal shutdown, advocates called on Congress to fix the system before the end of the year. Full Story
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TxDOT Releases Names of Top Toll Scofflaws
The state transportation department on Thursday morning released the names of the top 25 toll scofflaws in Texas. The violators owe thousands of dollars in unpaid tolls, with the largest bill totaling more than $230,000. Full Story
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![Interstate 45 Gulf Freeway's HOV and Toll lanes exit into Metro's Eastowood Transit Center in Houston Friday, October 19, 2012.]()
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Proposed Protections for Cuckoo Cause Concern
Some state officials and farmers and ranchers in West Texas worry that efforts to provide federal protection for the yellow-billed cuckoo will hurt their industry. Full Story
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![A Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Salineno, TX]()
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Shutdown Took its Toll on Texas Farmers, Ranchers
During the federal government shutdown, Texas agricultural producers were unable to access key pricing data, low-cost loans for their operations or disaster relief payments that many have been hoping for. Full Story
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Texas Prepares to Shutter High-Risk Insurance Pool
Texas' high-risk insurance pool for some of the state’s sickest residents will close at year's end, pushing participants to find coverage in the federal health insurance marketplace. Advocates are getting the word out to ensure residents don't have a lapse in coverage. Full Story
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![A patient at The People's Community Clinic pays her bill as the cashier’s desk. The Community Health Assistance Program, a program that helps Texans get access to insurance, will run out of federal grant money in a few weeks.]()
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Demand for Hunting Classes in Spanish on the Rise
In a sign of the state's changing demographics, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is handling increased demand in hunting courses from Texans seeking instruction in Spanish. Full Story
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As Texas' Dams Age, a Scramble to Find Fixes
Texas' aging water infrastructure has raised safety concerns throughout the state, and a lack of mechanisms in place to prevent development downstream of dams has hastened the search for solutions. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 17, 2013
His push to defund Obamacare may have led to a stinging political defeat for Republicans, but will Ted Cruz try again? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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