Superintendents in hundreds of Texas school districts rely on a pot of state funds that expires in September. Without drastic cost-saving measures, some districts are worried they may have to shut down.
June 2017
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: A governor’s executive order doesn’t go very far in Texas
As Texas legislators began to speculate about whether and when they will be called into a special session for unfinished business, lawyers and others started looking for ways to avoid it. The simplest idea — an executive order — won’t work.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers cap session with scuffle over immigration (video)
Things got heated on the Texas House floor on the last day of the legislative session.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
San Antonio, Austin suing Texas over immigration law
The cities of San Antonio and Austin have announced they will file suit to stop the state’s new immigration enforcement law, Senate Bill 4.
Posted in
Politics
Gov. Abbott signs bill to eliminate straight-ticket voting beginning in 2020
After years of Texas voters having the option to vote for an entire party’s slate in one fell swoop, the straight-ticket option will be no longer available beginning in 2020 under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Thursday.
Posted in
Economy
For daily fantasy sports sites, legal limbo in Texas set to continue
A bill that would have affirmed the legality of some popular fantasy sports sites in Texas died this legislative session, continuing a murky legal landscape for players in the state.
Posted in
Higher Education
McRaven on his UT System future: “I want to see the direction the board is going”
With about half a year left on his contract, University of Texas System Chancellor Bill McRaven said no decision has been made about his future of his job. “I have to find out if the board wants me to stay,” he said.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: The Legislature went after ethics reform this session. Did they do enough?
Lawmakers passed broad reforms this year that would increase transparency and conduct among their own ranks. But watchdog groups say they didn’t go far enough.
Posted in
Higher Education
In the Texas Capitol this year, university leaders’ worst fears never materialized
University leaders were worried about tuition freezes, funding cuts and other major changes this past legislative session. For the most part, they didn’t happen.
Posted in
State Government
Ethics reform not swept under rug, but not sweeping either
Nearly four years after Gov. Greg Abbott called on the Legislature to pass meaningful ethics reform, he’s finally got some of it on his desk. But it’s not as sweeping as the watchdogs wanted.