The Brief: April 22, 2015
A shift in the public debate over the relationship between oil and gas production and earthquakes happened Tuesday with a new study in Texas and a turnabout by the Oklahoma government on the issue. Full Story
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Collin DA Asks to Step Aside in Paxton Probe
Amid public pressure to step aside, Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis is looking to recuse himself from any potential prosecution of Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaking at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's opening of its new building on April 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Minjarez Wins Runoff for Last Vacancy in Legislature
Former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez is set to become the next representative from House District 124. Full Story
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![Delicia Herrera (left), a former member of the San Antonio City Council, and former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez (right) are on the ballot Tuesday in the runoff to replace Jose Menendez, now a state senator. The San Antonio Democrat vacated his seat in House District 124.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
When in Texas: Wear a Hat, Eat a Steak, Thank a Bee
One of the Legislature's less consequential duties came before a House committee Tuesday: designating state capitals and symbols, from the Steak Capital of Texas (Hico) to the official State Pollinator of Texas (the western honeybee). Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by John Jordan -
Gulf Disaster a Potential Windfall for Habitat Restoration
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, environmentalists say BP settlement funds are providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Gulf restoration projects. Full Story
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![Response boats work to clean up oil where the Deepwater Horizon offshore oil rig sank on April 22, 2010.]()
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Perry's Super PAC Lands Seasoned GOP Pollster
The super PAC supporting former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's expected presidential candidacy has hired Glen Bolger, one of the Republican Party's leading pollsters, as a senior strategist and pollster. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry addresses the National Rifle Association's annual meeting Friday in Nashville. He used the speech to say the 2016 presidential election will not be about "lofty rhetoric."]()
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Study: Gas Activities "Most Likely" Caused Texas Quakes
Gas industry activity “most likely” triggered a series of earthquakes that shook two North Texas towns from late 2013 through early 2014, new peer-reviewed research shows. Full Story
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![Kaylen Holmesly, a 7th grade resident of Azle, Texas, testifies before the Texas Railroad Commission and voiced her concern about an increased number of earthquakes around Eagle Mountain Lake on January 21st, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Bonnen: Patrick "Playing Games" With Border Security
A key member of the Texas House’s Republican leadership blasted Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a Washington-style politician a day after the Texas Senate passed its version of a sweeping border security bill. Full Story
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![Ways and Means chair State Rep.Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, while debating State Rep. Sylvester Turner on HB11 border security bill March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Seniors Who Fail State Exams May Have Chance at Diploma
Thousands of high school seniors who haven't passed the required state exams are close to getting a chance at a diploma anyway under a measure advancing in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Lawmakers Push for Consumer Access to Raw Milk
A lawmaker's push to increase Texans' access to raw milk stirred controversy on Tuesday, as dairy farmers, doctors and consumer advocates gathered at the Capitol to debate the merits of unpasteurized milk. Full Story
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![Livestock from Licon Dairy, on Feb. 19, 2013, outside of Fort Hancock, Texas, in Hudspeth County. The dairy farm had 42 acres and approximately 40 heifers.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre -
Patrick Advisers Blast Abbott's Pre-K Plans
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's grassroots advisers are blasting Gov. Greg Abbott's plan to enhance pre-kindergarten programs, a move sure to increase tension between the top two Republican leaders. Full Story
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![Newly sworn in, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick watch the inaugural parade up Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas on January 20, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Signs Off on School Scholarship Plan
The Texas Senate on Tuesday signed off on legislation that could let some low-income families move their kids from public school to private school — a bill that GOP leaders were quick to distance from school vouchers. Full Story
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House Backs Bill Pushing "Right to Try" Experimental Drugs
The Texas House on Tuesday tentatively passed House Bill 21, the “right to try” bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs that have passed at least the first of three FDA trial phases. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Medical Authority Bills Spark More Doc Fights
Medical groups are tracking more than a dozen bills — some moving, some apparently stuck — that would give more autonomy to professionals like nurse practitioners and physical therapists to operate independently of medical doctors. Full Story
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Analysis: Bickering Over Investigations, With a Legislative Audience
As the Texas Legislature debates moving ethics investigations out of Travis County, an exchange between prosecutors and state police illustrates some of the problems ahead. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steve McCraw gives testimony during the joint Interim Committee to Study Human Trafficking in La Joya, Texas July 24th, 2014]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: April 21, 2015
The House gave the OK on Monday to legislation overhauling the way public corruption cases are handled in the state, but not before criticism that the new mechanism creates "a new protected class" of elected officials. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Will Texas Ever Change Railroad Commission Name?
A group of lawmakers is trying – again – to change the Railroad Commission's name to reflect what it does. This time, proponents want to call the agency the Texas Energy Commission. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Two Democrats Face Off For Last House Seat
Voters head to the polls Tuesday in Bexar County to chose between two Democrats in the second round of the race to replace former state Rep. Jose Menéndez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
![Delicia Herrera (left), a former member of the San Antonio City Council, and former Bexar County prosecutor Ina Minjarez (right) are on the ballot Tuesday in the runoff to replace Jose Menendez, now a state senator. The San Antonio Democrat vacated his seat in House District 124.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Ethics Legislation Headed to Senate Floor
A heavily watered-down ethics reform bill will soon be taken up by the full Senate. Lawmakers on Monday rejected an amendment that would have required legislators to publicly disclose their tax returns each year. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Gives Initial OK to School Scholarship Plan
Scholarships funded by state business tax credits would help some low-income parents send their children to private schools under a measure tentatively approved by the Texas Senate Monday. Full Story
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