Past Contributions

• Guns on Campus Bill Heads to Senate Floor

  By Andrew Weber March 31, 2011

  The Senate Criminal Justice Committee today approved a controversial bill that would allow students to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. Full Story 

• Senate Passes K2 Ban

  By Andrew Weber March 30, 2011

  The Senate today approved SB 331 by Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, which would ban the substance known as K2, a type of incense that mimics marijuana when smoked. Full Story 

• Lawmakers Want Fewer Tickets for Students

  By Andrew Weber March 29, 2011

  Last year, Texas police issued 300,000 students for offenses like chewing gum, truancy and cursing. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee today discussed a bill that would mean far fewer citations for youngsters in schools. Full Story 

• Activists Rally for Home Health Care

  By Andrew Weber March 22, 2011

  Health care providers who treat profoundly disabled children at home face major budget cuts this session — cuts they say would devastate their industry and cost the state more in the long run. Full Story 

• Where Do Elected Officials Send Their Kids to School?

  By Morgan Smith and Andrew Weber March 16, 2011

  Tribune readers, wondering what was personally at stake for the state’s education policy makers, asked us to check where lawmakers send their children to school. We obliged, and posed that question to all 181 members of the Legislature and 15 members of the State Board of Education. Full Story 

• Update: Protesters Gather Against Paddling

  By Andrew Weber March 15, 2011

  Some small school districts in Texas still paddle poorly behaving students, and protesters at the Capitol today said they want the swatting to stop. Full Story 

• Texas in Top 10 Solar States, Report Says

  By Andrew Weber March 10, 2011

  A new report says that Texas ranked 10th in installations of solar power in 2010, a jump from the previous year. But this is unlikely to deter solar proponents pushing for more legislative incentives. Full Story 

• Family Says No Text Message Is Worth a Life

  By Andrew Weber March 9, 2011

  At the Capitol today, the family of a young girl who died in a car accident caused by texting and driving urged lawmakers to ban the practice. Full Story 

• Texplainer: Can a Judge Still Serve After Losing an Election?

  By Andrew Weber March 4, 2011

  Ever wonder what a defeated judge is doing up on the bench? Texplainer's got your answer. Full Story 

• Lawmakers Talk Grading, Attendance Policies

  By Andrew Weber March 1, 2011

  The Senate Education Committee has sent legislation on minimum grading and attendance policies to the full chamber, but bills on residential development and special education policy have stalled. Full Story