Past Contributions

• Updated Data App: Government Salaries

  By Ryan Murphy, Noah Seger and Gerald Rich Oct. 9, 2012

  We've updated the data for 13 agencies in our government employee salary database. This update includes new information for the Austin Community College system, Houston ISD, the city of San Antonio and Angelo State University. Full Story 

• State Business Group Joining School Finance Lawsuit

  By Gerald Rich May 2, 2012

  The Texas Association of Business announced today that it has joined a school finance lawsuit against the state, demanding a study of school system efficiency. Full Story 

• Data App: Government Employee Salary Database

  By Ryan Murphy, Christopher Chang and Gerald Rich April 26, 2012

  This afternoon we pushed the first update of 2012 to our government employee salary database, bringing new data to nearly half of the 140 entities currently found in our records. Full Story 

• State Board of Education Approves New Math Standards

  By Gerald Rich April 20, 2012

  The new K-12 math standards will have a staggered rollout, with K-8 standards taking effect in 2014 and the high school standards coming out in 2015. Full Story 

• Senate Committee Tackles Rural Child Welfare

  By Gerald Rich March 21, 2012

  Child Protective Services officials got an earful on Wednesday at a Senate hearing on improving the caseworker retention rates in rural communities. And they got a minor scolding from Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville. Full Story 

• TABC Developing Apps to Curb Excessive, Underage Drinking

  By Gerald Rich March 8, 2012

  The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission hopes a pair of apps will increase safety and compliance next year during spring break. Full Story 

• Texplainer: Why Didn't Perry Attend National Governors Conference?

  By Gerald Rich Feb. 27, 2012

  Why did Gov. Rick Perry opt out of the National Governors Association conference last weekend? The answer is part penny-wise, part political. Full Story 

• Medical Board Gives Early OK to Adult Stem Cell Rules

  By Gerald Rich Feb. 10, 2012

  After months of deliberation — and input from Gov. Rick Perry — the Texas Medical Board on Friday gave preliminary approval to a set of rules on adult stem cells in Texas that are less stringent than those originally proposed. Full Story 

• Lawmakers Scrutinized as STOCK Vote Approaches

  By Gerald Rich Feb. 8, 2012

  In a political season that has revolved around questions of transparency and fiscal integrity, lawmakers in the U.S. House are getting ready to vote on the STOCK Act. But many of them — including several from Texas — are still under scrutiny. Full Story 

• In NASA Country, Gingrich's Lunar Colony Plan Fails to Launch

  By Gerald Rich Jan. 28, 2012

  For members of Houston's aerospace industry, GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich's vow to put a permanent base on the moon by 2020 is a plan unlikely to take off. Full Story