The Brief: July 10, 2014

The Big Conversation

In the end, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers will get his graceful exit.

"Despite outgoing University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa’s demand last week that Powers agree to an October resignation or be fired this week, on Wednesday, the two ended up settling on Powers’ own proposed exit date — one roughly 11 months away," wrote the Tribune's Reeve Hamilton.

Powers' resignation will be effective June 2, 2015, and his plans beyond that include teaching in the UT law school.

Coverage of the latest developments in the struggle over Powers' future in the university presidency also made clear that a resolution here leaves several other pressing issues at the university unresolved. First on that list is the looming decision by a House panel on whether to finalize articles of impeachment against UT System Regent Wallace Hall.

And the San Antonio Express-News' Jennifer Lloyd quotes Thomas Lindsay of the Texas Public Policy Foundation as saying people shouldn't lose focus on the real crisis "of affordability and education quality."

The Day Ahead

•    In case you hadn't heard, President Barack Obama is in Austin to give a noon hour speech on the economy at the Paramount Theatre. GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott counter-programs with a press availability at a nearby coffee shop at 9:45 a.m.

•    Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis addresses the Association of Texas Professional Educators summit in Austin at 10:30 a.m.

•    The University of Texas System Board of Regents is scheduled for a daylong meeting. (agenda)

•    House Pensions and the Appropriations subcommittee on general government and public safety meet jointly at 9 a.m. in the Capitol Extension to examine the Employees Retirement System (ERS) employee health care plan. (agenda) The Appropriations subcommittee on education meets afterward with House Pensions to take a similar look at the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and health care plan (TRS-Care). (agenda)

Trib Must-Reads

Academic Gains Slowing; No Consensus on Why, by Morgan Smith

High Hopes, Skepticism for Houston's Recycling Plan, by Gilad Edelman

Elsewhere

Obama Vows to Secure Border, With Compassion on Surge of Children, The New York Times

Gov. Perry: The face of GOP opposition, The Hill

Castro's nomination as HUD secretary sails through Senate, San Antonio Express-News

City may sue firm over 2001 pension estimates, Houston Chronicle

FAA approves SpaceX application to launch rockets from Cameron County beach, McAllen Monitor

Former Bush aide to run for Duncan's state senate seat, Amarillo Globe-News

Study will assess shifting transmission costs to wind generators, Houston Chronicle

America the Oil Exporter, Politico

Quote to Note

"This is not theater. This is a problem."

— President Barack Obama, pushing back against his critics who are calling on him to include a visit to the border with Mexico as part of his visit this week to Texas

Today in TribTalk

How South Texas set a plastic bag trend, by Tricia Cortez

Trib Events for the Calendar

•    The Texas Tribune Festival runs from Sept. 19-21 at the University of Texas at Austin. The next round of participants has now been announced, a list headed by Wendy Davis, Rick Perry, John Cornyn and Atlanta, Ga., Mayor Kasim Reed. Also, you have just until Thursday to lock in the early bird price of $150 — that's 50 percent off the walk-up rate rate. And as a reminder, students and educators get in for $50. So act now!