The Evening Brief: March 20, 2013
Your evening reading: Senate passes $195.5 billion budget; Cornyn calls talk of pathway to citizenship premature; UT System votes to seek review of Law School Foundation Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribCast: Higher Ed Drama, Fracking and Term Limits
Reeve, Ross, Ben and Kate discuss the unfolding drama at the University of Texas System, whether the state has enough water to sustain its fracking activities, and term limits for statewide officeholders. Full Story
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Senate Votes to Approve $195.5 Billion Budget
The Texas Senate approved a $195.5 billion budget Wednesday that even supporters called an intermediate step toward a final spending plan for the next two years. Full Story
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State Leadership Allows CPRIT to Move Forward on Grants
Despite an ongoing grant moratorium, the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas received permission Wednesday from state leadership to move forward on contract negotiations for 25 grants. Full Story
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Lawmakers Urge New Hearing in Death Penalty Case
More than 100 elected officials, religious officials and lawyers have sent a letter to the Harris County district attorney's office urging a new hearing in the case of Duane Buck, who they say was unfairly sentenced to death because of an expert witness's testimony. Full Story
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UT System Votes for External Review of Law School Foundation
In a tense meeting Wednesday, University of Texas System regents voted to seek an external review of the University of Texas at Austin's relationship with the University of Texas Law School Foundation. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TPPF Presents Plan to Reform Medicaid With Block Grant
The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report on Wednesday detailing how Texas could use a block grant from the federal government to cut costs and fundamentally reform Medicaid. Full Story
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Christine Morton's Brother Testifies in Norwood Trial
Christine Morton's brother John Kirkpatrick testified Wednesday in the trial of Mark Norwood, who is accused of beating Morton to death in 1986. Kirkpatrick told jurors how he found the bandana that links Norwood to the crime. Full Story
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![Prosecutor Lisa Tanner enters Tom Green County Courthouse on the first day of Mark Norwood's trial, Mar 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Map: Not All Voting Age Populations Are Equal
Having each House or Senate district match the others in size masks big differences in voting age populations that greatly affect politics and elections. Use our maps to explore the numbers and see how House and Senate districts compare to statewide averages. Full Story
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Budget Votes to Set Stage for Future Negotiations
The $195.5 billion budget that senators will vote on Wednesday includes $1.4 billion extra for education and pay raises for most state employees. A House committee is expected to vote Thursday on its version of the budget. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ray Bodden / Neff Conner / Lotus Carroll -
Gun Buyer Who Links Norwood to Morton Murder to Testify
A former Austin construction company owner who employed alleged murderer Mark Alan Norwood will tell jurors in a videotaped deposition this week that Norwood sold him a pistol that was stolen when Christine Morton was killed. Full Story
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![Defendant Mark Norwood exits the Tom Green County Courthouse after the first day of his trial for the murder of Christine Morton, Mar 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
SXSWedu Video: Keeping Schools Safe
At SXSWedu, reporter Morgan Smith discusses ways to keep schools safe with Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas; Texas Association of School Boards attorney Joy Baskin; Texas School Safety Center Director Victoria Calder and Barbara Beto, the Texas PTA's legislative action chairwoman. Full Story
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Senate Committee Advances Abortion Clinic Bill
A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a controversial Republican-backed bill that would raise licensing standards for abortion clinics. Democrats say the legislation would effectively ban abortion in Texas. Full Story
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![State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, is in a Republican runoff to keep his seat.]()
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The Brief: March 20, 2013
A Senate committee has advanced a controversial bill that critics say amounts to a backdoor abortion ban in Texas. Full Story
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Updated: Start of Murder Trial Brings Emotional, Graphic Testimony
The first full day of Mark Alan Norwood's murder trial was marked by the emotional testimony and gory photos of the murder scene. It was also notable for the absence of any reference to Michael Morton's wrongful conviction for the crime. Full Story
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![Eric Olson, who was 3 when his mother Christine Morton was murdered in 1986, enters the Tom Green County Courthouse with his wife Maggie Olson for the trial of Mark Alan Norwood on Tuesday, March 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Video: Term Limits Legislation Passes Out of Senate
Legislation that could lead to term limits on statewide officeholders made its way through the Senate on Tuesday. Lawmakers also heard testimony on several high-profile bills in committee hearings. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: March 19, 2013
Your evening reading: Perry says he'll decide this year on another presidential bid; Senate passes statewide term limits; House gives early OK to new South Texas university Full Story
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Senate Panel Considers End-of-Life Bills
A panel of state senators on Tuesday considered two bills that would take drastically different approaches to modifying laws regarding end-of-life care in Texas. Full Story
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Updated: Panel Discusses Bill Allowing Sunday Liquor Sales
As a House committee on Tuesday took up a bill that would allow Texas liquor stores to open their doors on Sundays, one member raised concerns about whether the legislation could make it easier for minors to access liquor. Full Story
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Updated: Panel Discusses UT System Records Request
Sen. Kel Seliger, who co-chairs the Legislature's joint higher education oversight committee, said UT regents should have access to the information they have requested, but the committee wants to make sure it is being gathered and used appropriately. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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