The Brief: Jan. 9, 2015
The incoming governor on Thursday equated local efforts to regulate single-use plastic bags or fracking to forms of collectivism. 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.
The incoming governor on Thursday equated local efforts to regulate single-use plastic bags or fracking to forms of collectivism. Full Story
A large group of Republican voters came out in the first round. Will they come back, and could they tip the scales in favor of the runner-up in the second round? Full Story
Meanwhile, an independent analysis shows that the state needs $6 billion in additional general revenue to maintain "current services" in the next budget. Full Story
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: education predictions for 2015, the Perry legacy in public education and an interview with William Fulton, director of the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. Full Story
Unexpectedly tough lines of questioning by federal appeals court judges hearing arguments over Texas' requirement that abortion clinics meet hospital-like standards buoyed hopes of abortion rights supporters on Wednesday. Full Story
College freshman Terrell Dixon recently returned to his alma mater to share his story of success with students at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the Bronx. Full Story
In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights The Test. Full Story
A Kansas state court panel ruled — for the second year in a row — that public schools were unconstitutionally underfunded, and recommended a minimum $548 million increase in state education spending. Full Story
Research continues to suggest that dual language education does not restrict a learner’s ability to excel in English as a second language. Full Story
No final resolution was reached in any of the three special elections held on Tuesday. Full Story