Reeve, Emily, Terri and Evan talk about the newest member of the Texas Senate, the source of the money for the governor’s border initiative, the trial over new abortion regulations and a push for mandatory postpartum depression screening.
August 2014
Posted inState Government
New Immigrant Detention Center Stirs Controversy
The newest detention center in Texas for migrant children started operating last week. But it’s already drawing disapproval from immigration attorneys, including the team that helped shut down a troubled detention center near Austin in 2009.
Posted inState Government
Dewhurst Announces Interim Charges for Senate Committees
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced a list of interim charges Wednesday in advance of next year’s legislative session, directing state Senate committees to consider topics including school discipline, drought management and uninsured motorists.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Years After Andrea Yates Tragedy, More Calls for Mental Health Screening
More than a decade ago, Andrea Yates drowned her five children. The publicity around the case brought attention to the mental struggles of some mothers. Now, advocates are hoping lawmakers will approve mandatory screening.
Posted in
Economy
EPA’s Proposed Emissions Limits Drawing Debate
A proposal by the federal government would place stricter limits on emissions from petrochemical and other industrial plants. An EPA hearing this week in the Houston area reflected the heated debate over balancing economic growth with air quality concerns.
Posted inState Government
Search: Pardons by Gov. Rick Perry
Gov. Rick Perry has issued at least 221 pardon proclamations since taking office in December 2000. We’ve made our existing searchable database easier to navigate by name, issuance year, crime type and/or pardon type.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Aug. 6, 2014
Three years after Gov. Rick Perry took heat for his full-throated defense of the state’s in-state tuition laws, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has revived the issue, accusing Perry of helping draw migrants to the border.
Posted inState Government
New in TribTalk: Milliron on Higher Ed; Spann on Sexual Assault
Too many students today think innovations in higher education, like online courses, are meant to make learning easy, writes Mark David Milliron of Civitas Learning. And Julia Spann of SafePlace explains how UT-Austin got it right on sexual assault.
Posted in
Politics
Van de Putte Calls for Reducing High-Stakes Testing
Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, calls for reducing high-stakes testing in a new plan for Texas schools. The campaign of her Republican opponent, Dan Patrick, said the plan would do nothing to help turn around underperforming schools.
Posted in
Public Education
Texas Posts Top High School Graduation Rates, Again
As Texas education officials announced the third year of record-breaking high school graduation rates on Tuesday, critics continued to raise questions about the method the state uses to calculate them.
