Drug Court Oversight to Go Before House Lawmakers
A House panel on Monday will take up a bill that could tighten oversight of specialty courts in Texas aimed at rehabilitating drug addicts and keeping them out of jail. Full Story
A House panel on Monday will take up a bill that could tighten oversight of specialty courts in Texas aimed at rehabilitating drug addicts and keeping them out of jail. Full Story
Texas optometrists are lobbying the Legislature for more power to negotiate contracts with health insurance companies, and the measure they are supporting could hit consumers’ wallets, some business advocates say. Full Story
Texas may have built a reputation as the energy capital of America, but in some parts of the state, like Midland and South Texas, the oil and gas boom has actually driven electric prices up — substantially. Full Story
Immigration reform is threatening to turn the amity between Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio into a rivalry. Full Story
As the Texas Legislature looks to overhaul the state’s standardized testing program amid outcry from parents and school leaders, state lawmakers have focused their criticism on the company that develops the tests. Full Story
It has been an undeniably rough week, from the Boston Marathon bombings to the devastating fertilizer plant explosion in West. In light of those and other tragedies, our news-inspired playlist begins with Eastmountainsouth's version of "Hard Times." Full Story
In this edition of the Newsreel: A Senate committee approves an education bill cutting some current requirements for high school diplomas, the House wants to make texting and driving a crime, and the governor calls for tax cuts. Full Story
Aaronson tracks the latest on Medicaid expansion, Aguilar on lawmakers’ openness to driving permits for non-citizens, Batheja on surprising support for higher state spending, Root and Galbraith on the state’s search for answers after the West explosion, M. Smith covers the debate over high school standards, Grissom finds a shadow payroll at the Capitol, Hamilton on the man with a plan at UT, Rocha spots a special deal for lawmakers accused of crimes, KUT’s Philpott on obstacles to road funding and Ramshaw on the privileges of legislative membership: The best of our best for the week of April 15-19, 2013. Full Story
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Plenty of lobbyists are running around the Capitol during the legislative session, but as we enter the digital age, more of the lobbying is taking place on social media. Full Story
Your evening reading: in surprise, Perry presses House to break spending cap; regulations in spotlight after West explosion; State Board of Education urges Legislature to reject vouchers Full Story
As investigators search for the cause of the explosion, environmentalists said that the situation highlighted lax regulations in Texas for plants handling dangerous chemicals — especially those located near schools. Full Story
In a special TribCast, Reeve talks with Complete College America President Stan Jones, former UT System Regents Chairman James Huffines and former Texas State University System Chancellor Charles Matthews about a new report on college completions. Full Story
The Texas State Board of Education voted 10-5 on Friday to urge the Legislature to reject proposals that would result in public funds being allocated for private educational institutions. Full Story
UPDATE: Gov. Rick Perry told House Republicans in a private meeting this week that he could support a budget that breaks the state's constitutional spending cap, according to several attendees. But many are still wary of doing so. Full Story
Democratic Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg's decision not to resign over her drunken driving conviction may have its roots in party politics; Republican Gov. Rick Perry would get to appoint her replacement. Full Story
Full video of my April 18 TribLive conversation with former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza. Full Story
Sentiment for the Tea Party remains strong within the GOP, but what started as an insurgent group is becoming just another — albeit important — part of the Republican Party in Texas. Full Story
In 2011, University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa calmed turbulence in the higher ed community with his "Framework for Advancing Excellence." New conflicts have emerged, but Cigarroa said he's sticking to his plan. Full Story
Lawmakers started the legislative session talking about changes they would like to make in the state's ethics laws. Now — and it is not the first time — they're sending some of the most delicate items back for more study. Full Story
Officials of a prison workers' union say that understaffing had a role in the 1999 murder of a correctional officer, who was fatally stabbed by an inmate. They say such issues continue to exist and put officers in danger today. Full Story