The Evening Brief: Dec. 14, 2012
Your evening reading: Texas officials react to Connecticut shooting; Patterson says arming school personnel would save lives; payment for CPRIT consultants stirs criticism Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson on the floor of the Texas Senate in May 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Big Pay for Cancer Foundation Consultants Draws Criticism
Reports show that much of the $1.2 million of private money raised to help the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas in fiscal year 2011 instead benefited the consultants who oversaw distribution of the funds. Full Story
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Baylor, Scott & White Announce Merger
UPDATED: The boards of both Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare have signed a letter of intent to merge the two organizations, creating a $7.7 billion health network called Baylor Scott & White Health. Full Story
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TribLive: A Conversation with Barry Smitherman
Full video of my 12/13 TribLive conversation with Barry Smitherman, the chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission. Full Story
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House Speaker's Race is Bluffing Game for Now
In the race for speaker of the Texas House, everybody has the votes they need. Or they're well on their way. Or at least that's what they're telling the rest of us. Full Story
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State Records Shed Light on Texas' Early "Illegals"
Mexican immigrants are apprehended every day on the Texas-Mexico border. But as Jerry Patterson, the Texas land commissioner, likes to remind fellow Republicans, the shoe used to be on the other foot. Full Story
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![Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson discusses Texas historical records that document early immigrants like Davy Crockett and Stephen F. Austin.]()
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As State Eyes School Choice Reform, Some Districts Pursue It Locally
State leaders are preparing to push for legislation to expand the choices available for Texas' nearly 5 million public school students. Meanwhile, some local districts are already pursuing similar reforms within their own systems. Full Story
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![Students enter a classroom at one of the 11 Houston-area campuses of Yes Prep, a public charter school system serving 7,000 low-income students.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Protesters Try to Shine Light on Human Rights in Mexico
Protesters met in front of the Mexican consulate in Austin on Thursday to draw attention to violence and human rights violations in Mexico. The gathering marked the beginning of a new group keeping an eye on Mexico's new political regime. Full Story
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![Miguel Rodriguez and other activists march down an Austin, Texas street in support of the jailed political activists who were detained during the inauguration of Peña Nieto on Dec. 1, 2012 in Mexico. The march began at the Mexican Consulate and ended at the State Capitol in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
The Brief: Dec. 14, 2012
The fiscal cliff still looms large, but the Obama administration appears to have quietly begun moving on the next great debate about to hit Washington: immigration. Full Story
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![President Obama speaks to crowd at the Austin Music Hall on July 17, 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Evening Brief: Dec. 13, 2012
Your evening reading: Perry sets special election date for state Senate seat; Fox News host cuts off Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson in heated interview; Hispanic groups warn Congress to fix immigration Full Story
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TribLive: Smitherman on the Shale Boom
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman talked about the economic impact of the state's various shale plays, as well as concerns about the negative effects on roads, water and air quality. Full Story
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SD-6 Election Set for Jan. 26
Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday that a special election on Jan. 26 will decide who will follow the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos in representing Harris County. Two long-time Democrats are vying for the position. Full Story
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![Texas Senator Mario Gallegos D-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: Smitherman on Conflicts of Interest
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman explained his opposition to Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations intended to address perceived conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Mexico's New Political Regime Sparks Human Rights Activism in Texas
Weeks after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's inauguration, a group of activists in Texas is organizing a new effort they say will serve as a watchdog to monitor Mexico's treatment of its citizens. Full Story
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![A young Mexican child at a YoSoy132 protest in Mexico City's Plaza de Las Tres Culturas. The sign pleads for voters to think of the child's generation when casting their ballots.]()
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Bill Renews Debate on Merging Top Two Courts
State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond has filed a bill to abolish the Court of Criminal Appeals and bring all of its related cases under the Texas Supreme Court. He's triggering a debate that goes all the way back to Reconstruction. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 13, 2012
Weeks away from leaving office, a candid Kay Bailey Hutchison on Wednesday opened up about some of the lingering regrets of her political career. Full Story
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![Evan Smith interviewing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison at the LBJ Presidential Library on Oct. 15, 2012.]()
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Updated: Norwood Trial in Morton Murder Set for March
Mark Norwood's capital murder trial has been set for March in San Angelo. His lawyers sought the delay so they could find experts to review DNA evidence the state says links him to Christine Morton's 1986 murder. Full Story
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![Mark Norwood being led into court for the first time on Jan. 18th 2011. He is charged with the 1986 murder of Christine Morton.]()
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The Evening Brief: Dec. 12, 2012
Your evening reading: Straus says he's confident of re-election as speaker; business leaders favor changes to testing system; state posts more strong sales tax growth Full Story
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![July 9th, 2012: Speaker Joe Straus speaks to reporters]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Death Row Population at Its Lowest Since 1989
Mirroring a national trend, death sentences in Texas have declined over the last decade. Death sentences have fallen 75 percent since 2002, according to a new report. And the Texas death row population is the lowest in more than 20 years. Full Story
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![This gurney is used to perform executions at Terre Haute by lethal injection.]()
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Study Finds Wide Variations in Rates of Texas Elective Surgeries
The rates of elective surgery for Medicare patients vary dramatically depending on which part of the state Texans live in, according to new research from the Dartmouth Atlas Project, which analyzes medical referrals, procedures and health care costs across the nation. Full Story
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Credit: Pasqualantonio Pingue
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