After a murder-suicide in 2018, a reporter spent years investigating Texas’ troubled foster care system. Too often, it prioritized terminating parental rights over keeping birth families intact.
March 2023
Posted in
Economy
A storied Texas Panhandle newspaper halts publication after 130 years
The end of The Canadian Record’s print edition — even if temporary — is another indication of how perilous the news business is for local publishers and the communities they’re a part of.
Sponsor Post
Community colleges are key to solving Texas’ shortage of skilled workers
By The Commit PartnershipBy 2030, 62% of all Texas jobs will require a postsecondary credential. The problem is Texas lacks the skilled workforce to fill these jobs. In a recent Dallas Fed survey, “labor shortages/difficulty hiring” continued to rank as a top concern for Texas firms, above even inflation and interest rates. Community colleges can […]
Posted in
Environment
Shuttered Fairfield Lake State Park will reopen temporarily starting Tuesday
State officials plan to offer free day access to the property as they consider how to acquire the land before its sale.
Posted in
Congress
National Republicans say they will spend big to oust Rep. Vicente Gonzalez from his South Texas seat in 2024
Congressional Republicans’ campaign arm will make another effort to unseat the South Texas Democrat who ran in one of the state’s most competitive races last year.
Posted inState Government
Search the newly updated Government Salaries Explorer
The Texas Tribune’s database of Texas state employees’ compensation is updated to represent salaries as of Feb. 1. It includes detailed data for the 113 agencies in state government and positions at each of those agencies.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
Legislature has little appetite to fund Ken Paxton’s settlement with whistleblowers
A lack of lawmaker support jeopardizes the attorney general’s $3.3 million settlement, which would resolve a lawsuit alleging Paxton fired high-ranking deputies who accused him of misconduct.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2023
How could Texas spend its record $32.7 billion surplus?
If Texas’ budget surplus were distributed directly to Texans, it could pay for 12 years of school lunches, seven months of rent or 11,000 miles of travel. Here’s how to put the big number into perspective.
Posted in
Immigration
Hundreds of frustrated Venezuelan migrants block bridge linking El Paso and Juárez
Migrants rushed through the toll booths on the Juárez side of the bridge Sunday afternoon after rumors spread that the border was temporarily opened.
Posted in
Health care
Hearing scheduled for abortion-pill lawsuit, but Texas judge delays announcing it publicly
Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk wanted to minimize protests and threats in connection with the closely-watched case, people familiar with the plan said.
