The Brief: March 10, 2015
Legislation intended to stop some government officials from collecting retirement benefits before leaving office appears to have a better prognosis the second time around. Full Story
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John Reynolds was the newsletters editor for the Tribune from 2013 to 2017. Prior to that, he was a reporter for Quorum Report, a non-partisan online political newsletter focusing on the ins and outs under the Dome, for more than seven years – covering the waterfront from health and human services and redistricting to pensions and elections. A native of Atlanta, Ga., he started his journalistic career one day after the attacks of Sept. 11 in Lubbock, Texas, where he rotated through a slew of beats at The Avalanche-Journal. He received his undergraduate degree from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and studied at the University of Georgia's graduate school in journalism. When not at work, he actively attempts to convince himself he is adept at tennis with varying levels of success. And he has adopted the Austin custom of appreciating smoked meats and listening to music in grassy/muddy fields.
Legislation intended to stop some government officials from collecting retirement benefits before leaving office appears to have a better prognosis the second time around. Full Story
This weekend, the Tribune launched a five-part series exploring the difficulties of people along the Texas-Mexico border in maintaining access to regular sources of drinking water. Full Story
Senators talk tax relief this week, four Lege vacancies are filled and can a Twitter follow list make a judge less impartial? — all that and more in the latest issue of our subscriber-only newsletter for political insiders ($). Full Story
To close the week, we highlight a couple of trend stories detailing the continued population boom in the Lone Star State. Full Story
Some think the promised tax relief is too much, too soon while others think it tackles the wrong priority. Full Story
Three new House members are sworn in, and a new vacancy opens with the departure of José Menéndez for the Senate. Full Story
In the brave new world of social media, does a follow preclude impartiality? Full Story
For this week’s nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the future of tax relief and business-to-business fights. Full Story
A visiting judge has ordered the removal of the current judge overseeing conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan's challenge against the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: A push to update No Child Left Behind stalls, middle school students press Texas lawmakers on dating violence programs and an interview with Zenaida Aguirre-Muñoz of Texas Tech University. Full Story