The Evening Brief: Feb. 26, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry welcomes new Democratic group but says Texas will stay red; Cornyn and Cruz vote against Hagel's confirmation; Perry backs changes to state's testing system Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Trauma Professionals Plead for More Funding
Ambulance drivers, nurses and trauma surgeons lobbied lawmakers on Tuesday to allocate more funds to emergency services. Full Story
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Perry Backs Changes to Student Testing Requirements
Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday voiced his support for revamping the state's newly implemented student assessment system. Full Story
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![The Texas Tribune Festival 2012 Opening Session: A conversation with Gov. Rick Perry and Evan Smith, Sept. 21, 2012.]()
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Whitmire Bill Aims to Increase Prosecutor Accountability
In the wake of Michael Morton's high-profile exoneration, state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, filed a bill Tuesday that aims to ensure more accountability for prosecutors who are accused of withholding evidence. Full Story
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![Michael Morton, freed in 2011 after spending 25 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, takes the stand on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013, in the Georgetown Courthouse. Feb. 4, 2013.]()
Credit: Ricardo B. Brazziell / American-Statesman -
Inside Intelligence: About the State's Political Mood...
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about which civic problems are most important in the country and the state, how things are going and about Rick Perry. Full Story
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Senate Panel Discusses Reforms to Curb Medicaid Costs
UPDATED: Looking to save Texas millions of Medicaid dollars, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard four hours of testimony on a proposed redesign of long-term care services for disabled Texans. Full Story
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Guest Column: Texas Should Not Expand Medicaid
Texas Medicaid is rife with problems and expanding it under the federal Affordable Care Act would just make things worse. The state should design its own health care model that would control costs and improve outcomes for patients. Full Story
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Guest Column: Expand Medicaid, but Fix It First
Medicaid in Texas should be expanded only after the program is tailored to Texas, reimbursement rates for providers are raised, and patients are responsible for co-pays and deductibles. Full Story
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Bill Seeks to Protect Religious Groups
State Rep. Matt Krause's bill would require public schools to give religious and nonreligious groups the same access to facilities during noneducational time. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Chris Cole / Paul Sounders -
The Hot Seat: A Conversation with Waco Lawmakers
At last Friday's Hot Seat conversation at Baylor University, state Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, and state Reps. Charles "Doc" Anderson, R-Waco, and Kyle Kacal, R-College Station, talked about public ed, health care and other issues in play in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Lawmakers Debate Texting-While-Driving Ban
Lawmakers on Tuesday took their first crack at a bill designed to ban texting while driving, including reviewing statistics suggesting that bans in other states have not reduced accidents and are difficult to enforce. Full Story
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![Although Texas is one of 11 states without a state-wide ban on texting and driving, cell phone use while driving is illegal for those under 18 and in school zones.]()
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Updated: Oral Arguments on Section 5 Begin in Supreme Court
Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act appears to be in danger of being overturned, according to various news outlets covering oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday. Full Story
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Agriculture Stakes Its Claim as Water Debate Heats Up
As Texas lawmakers mull a plan to safeguard the state against future water shortages, agriculture groups are already worried they might be left high and dry. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 26, 2013
National Democrats' most concerted push yet to turn Texas blue is now under way. Full Story
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Andre Thomas: Questions of Competence, Justice
Andre Thomas' case raises critical questions about how the justice system deals with mentally ill defendants who commit heinous crimes and whether they should be exempt from the death penalty. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / Matt Rainwaters -
Interactive: Sequester Cuts, State by State
The automatic federal budget cuts — known as the "sequester" — are set to go into effect Friday, and the White House has detailed how much funding each state will lose if Congress does not reach an agreement by the end of the week. Use our interactive to explore the totals by state. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Feb. 25, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry to address CPAC; U.S. Supreme Court justices condemn Texas prosecutor for racially charged remark; sequester negotiations still stalled Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry speaks at Williamson County Republican dinner in Round Rock, his first public speech since leaving the presidential race.]()
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Updated: Despite Moratorium, CPRIT Board Moves Forward
The oversight board for the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas has decided to move forward on contract negotiations for $183 million in approved grants that have been stalled by a moratorium. Full Story
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![Associate Professor Sung Jung uses mass spectrometers to measure protein in cancer cells at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Monday, February 11, 2013. Baylor College of Medicine received a $6 million CPRIT grant to purchase advanced laboratory infrastructure and pay researchers to measure all of the metabolites and proteins in cancer cells at the same time.]()
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For Cornyn, Right Turn Could Be Defensive Play
Political observers say U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has shifted perceptibly right since Tea Party darling Ted Cruz joined him in the Senate. If he's doing it because he's worried about being "Dewhursted," they suggest he has little to worry about. Full Story
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Andre Thomas: A Struggle for Sanity Behind Bars
Andre Thomas is among thousands of mentally ill inmates in a sprawling state prison system that is struggling to keep pace with the increasing need for mental health care. Medical staff say they need more state funding. Full Story
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