In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: Paramedics gain new role in diverting non-emergency care from the ER, the Mental Health Channel airs Texas-centered episodes and an interview with Christian R. Abee of the Michale E. Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine. Full Story
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A redesign of the state's foster care system aims to combat a major difficulty facing many former foster children: learning how to survive after aging out of the system. Full Story
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The House faces a major deadline today; it's the last day to take up contested Senate bills and, as such, the session promises to last until the clock strikes midnight. It doesn't help that a major backlog of controversial legislation awaits House members. Full Story
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A late-night amendment aimed at keeping secret the names of parties involved in traffic accidents parties is expected to be stripped out of a bill targeting overzealous tort lawyers, its sponsor conceded Monday. Full Story
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Inmates in some Texas county jails may no longer have to speak to loved ones on a video screen, after the Senate voted Monday to pass a House measure guaranteeing a minimum of two 20-minute, in-person visitations per week. Full Story
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The state House on Monday voted to make sure Texans have the final say over who gets to connect to the Texas’ near-island of an electric grid. Full Story
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After four hours of debate and more than a dozen failed amendments by Democrats, the Senate on Monday gave preliminary approval to far-reaching restrictions on minors seeking abortions in Texas without parental consent. Full Story
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The Texas House on Monday gave tentative approval to a bill that would require state agencies and public universities to use the federal electronic employment system called E-Verify. Full Story
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The ball is in the Senate's court on a major tax relief deal after the House unexpectedly increased the price tag by $400 million. Full Story
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Statewide elected officials would no longer be required to live in Austin under a constitutional amendment that could be headed to voters on a general election ballot. The House tentatively backed the measure on Monday. Full Story
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With one week left in this legislative session, hundreds of bills are still pending. But if legislative action ended right now, there would be little reason for Gov. Greg Abbott to call lawmakers back for overtime. Full Story
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A hectic weekend at the Legislature culminated in a major reversal by the House late Sunday on whether to allow a controversial abortion bill to be debated on the floor. Full Story
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The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the often-tapped insurer of last resort for Gulf Coast property owners, looks poised to get a major overhaul. Full Story
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The Texas House has tentatively approved legislation that could increase the use of cameras worn by police officers, an effort to smooth relations between law enforcement and the public by making their interactions more transparent. Full Story
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In a dramatic turn of events, the House Calendars Committee reversed course and sent a controversial bill prohibiting health insurance plans sold on the Affordable Care Act's marketplace from covering abortions to the full chamber. Full Story
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In a 136-1 vote, the House favored Senate Bill 1, which would raise the homestead exemption from $15,000 to $25,000 if voters approve an amendment to the state Constitution in November. Full Story
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The sponsor of a bill meant to impose additional restrictions on minors seeking abortions without parental consent will not pursue a controversial provision that would have required women to show a form of identification. Full Story
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At the last minute, the House voted to scrap changes to the Hazlewood program that would have made many children of veterans ineligible for free tuition. The bill will still need to be reconciled with the Senate's more restrictive version. Full Story
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The Texas House on Sunday evening tentatively approved a measure to partially consolidate the state’s massive health and human services system. Full Story
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The Texas House on Sunday gave final approval to an overhaul of the state's grand juries, moving one step closer to getting rid of a controversial way of seating the panels. Full Story
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