Texas House Approves A-F School Ratings
After a heated late-night debate, a controversial plan to start assigning public schools A-through-F grades cleared the Texas House on Thursday. Full Story
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![House Public Education Committee chair Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, on the floor during House Bill 1 debate March 31, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Leaders Juggle Deals on Five Key Issues
Top state leaders were negotiating intensely — and optimistically — Thursday afternoon on a master settlement on tax cuts, restraints on local property tax increases, border security, prosecutions of state ethics cases and open carry of handguns. Full Story
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![The House of Representatives on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
The Ticket: Marco Rubio and George Seay
In this week's episode of The Ticket, a co-production of the Trib and KUT, we break down the presidential announcement of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and chat with his supporter George Seay, who was Rick Perry's state finance chairman in 2012. Full Story
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Hall Denied Access to Student Records — Again
Even after an attorney general's ruling in his favor, Regent Wallace Hall was told that he can't see confidential student information related to admissions. Full Story
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![Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr. of the University of Texas System at the regular meeting of the Board on May 15, 2014]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Backs Bill Denying Pensions to Lawbreakers
Texas politicians convicted of major public corruption crimes would lose their lucrative pensions under a bill that the Texas House tentatively passed Thursday in a unanimous vote. Full Story
![The House of Representatives on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
With Midnight Deadline Looming, Democrats Drag Their Feet
Facing a midnight deadline in the House to take initial votes on that chamber's bills, Democrats dragged their feet, working to delay a vote on a bill forbidding the use of state or local funds to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Full Story
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![House Reading Clerk Elizabeth Milam carries signed bills to the podium during the House session May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas House, Senate Make Progress on Border Security Legislation
The House and Senate are close to coming together on another thorny subject that Gov. Greg Abbott declared a priority this session. But this issue doesn't involve tax cuts. Full Story
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![Sen. Brian Birdwell R-Granbury listens during debate of his campus carry bill SB #11 on March 18th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Plan for School Finance Overhaul Dies in Texas House
A months-long effort to reform the problem-plagued school finance system came to an end Thursday as House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock withdrew a bill proposing fixes less than an hour into a scheduled debate. Full Story
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![House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, pulled down a school finance bill during the 84th legislative session on May 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Makes First Use of Texas Enterprise Fund
Gov. Greg Abbott has made his first use of the Texas Enterprise Fund to help bring a tractor maker to Grapevine. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott annouces several emergency legislative items in his first State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
For 84th #txlege, an Emoji's Worth 140 Days
There are generic Texas-themed emoji on the way, but they won’t do the trick. What we really need — what you really want — are ones specially designed with the 84th Legislature in mind. Here are the 14 we came up with. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Benjamin Hasson -
Panel Defends Powers' Role in Admissions but Recommends Changes
A panel of former chancellors and university presidents defended the University of Texas at Austin president’s role in admissions Thursday, but warned that students’ connections shouldn’t be a factor in whether they are admitted. Full Story
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![UT President Bill Powers speaks during a UT Board of Regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Austin Leaders Slam "Misguided" Training About Women
Members of the Austin City Council on Wednesday sharply criticized a training session for city staffers in which a facilitator said women ask a lot of questions and do not focus on the fiscal impact of their decisions. Full Story
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![Austin City Council Member Delia Garza comments on staff training at a news conference at Austin City Hall on May 13, 2015.]()
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Rep. Stephenson Rushed to, Released From Hospital
State Rep. Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton, was taken to an Austin hospital Thursday morning, House Administration Chairman Charlie Geren announced on the floor of the Texas House. Full Story
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UT Finalizes Contract With Basketball Coach Shaka Smart
In his first year, Shaka Smart will earn $2.8 million. That salary will increase by $100,000 each year until the terms of his contract run out in 2022. The final year, in which he'd be paid $3.4 million, is not guaranteed. Full Story
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![New UT basketball coach Shaka Smart.]()
Credit: Rickster2/T. Wiseman / A. Miscoe / Bill Oriani -
Texas Lawmakers Consider E-Verify Mandate for Agencies
A controversial immigration-enforcement bill similar to an executive order issued by former Gov. Rick Perry in December is moving forward in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Limited Contracting Fixes Moving Forward
Amid a series of scandals, most lawmakers say they want to reform the way Texas hands out billions in state contracts. Discussion has narrowed to a handful of bills that some warn are merely first steps. Full Story
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![Chairwoman of the state Senate Finance Committee Jane Nelson and state House Appropriations Chairman John Otto.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Hard to Find in Parts of Texas: A Top-Rated Nursing Home
Texas has the highest percentage of one-and two-star homes in the country: 51 percent of its nursing homes are rated “below average,” or “much below average” on Nursing Home Compare, which was designed by the federal government. Full Story
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![Natalie Anne Sealy, photographed by her daughter Billie Pender.]()
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End of the Road for Tesla, Ride-for-Hire Bills
With the clock winding down on the legislative session, Tesla Motors, Uber and Lyft have little to show for the money they spent on high-profile lobbying. As deadlines loom, the bills they were steering appear to have run out of gas. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Tesla Motors and Ben Hasson -
Latin American, Asian Figures Diverge in Texas Immigration Report
Though people born in Latin American countries continue to make up the largest group of immigrants to Texas, their state numbers are decreasing while the rate of migration by Asian immigrants into Texas is rising sharply. Full Story
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![Terry Garcia plays with his son, Eli, 1, at the Festival Viva Mexico 2013 on Sunday, Sept. 8, 2013, in advance of Mexican Independence Day at a former greyhound racetrack in Corpus Christi.]()
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New in Trib+Edu: Teacher of the Year Calls Texas Home
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Gap emerges among states on pre-K services offered, lawmakers eye ending Top 10 Percent scholarships and an interview with Shanna Peeples, the 2015 National Teacher of the Year. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva