The Midday Brief: April 15, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Faster speeds on the highway; more authority for Susan Combs; EPA cuts in Texas Full Story
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EPA Budget Cuts Will Affect Texas Environmental Programs
Texas faces a hefty reduction in federal funding for drinking water and sewer projects as a result of a recent budget cut to the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. Full Story
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California, Texas and the Corporate Tax Burden
One reason companies move from California to Texas is the Golden State's higher tax burden. But are taxes really lower here than there? Depends on how you look at it. Full Story
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Texplainer: How Will High Gas Prices Affect the Budget?
With gasoline costing $1 more than a year ago, budget planners can add fuel expenditures to their list of worries. However, it's also true that oil companies will also pay more in taxes to the state as they beef up their drilling operations. Full Story
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The Brief: Top Texas News for April 15, 2011
A state commission wouldn't rule Thursday on what's become one of the highest-profile death penalty cases in the nation. Full Story
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Psychologist Reprimanded in Death Penalty Cases
A psychologist who examined 14 inmates now on Texas’ death row — and two others who were subsequently executed — and found them intellectually competent enough to face the death penalty has agreed never to perform such evaluations again. Full Story
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![Dr. George Denkowski conducted psychological exams for more than a dozen current death row inmates. 1) Anthony Pierce 2) Virgilio Maldonado 3) Calvin Hunter 4) John Matamoros 5) Derrick Charles 6) Kim Ly Lim 7) Coy Wesbrook 8) Joel Escobedo 9) Jamie McCoskey 10) Warren Rivers 11) Tomas Gallo 12) Steven Butler 13) Alfred Brown]()
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At Nursing Homes, Fears of a Budget "Armageddon"
The Texas Legislature is faced with a budget challenge that pits the Republican majority’s desire to cut government spending against a vulnerable target: the frail and the elderly covered by Medicaid and housed in nursing homes. Full Story
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In Politics, Size Doesn't Always Matter
Redistricting can change the odds in legislative and congressional races, but in statewide races, it's all about turnout. Full Story
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Still No Decision on Question of Negligence in Willingham Case
After releasing a draft report on the case of convicted arsonist Cameron Todd Willingham, state forensic board members refused again today to rule on whether investigators in the case were professionally negligent in deciding the fire that killed Willingham's three daughters was intentionally ignited. Full Story
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![Presiding Officer of the Texas Forensic Science Commission John Bradley during a commission meeting April 14th, 2011]()
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Tier-One Prize Money Tentatively Passes House
For those betting on the horserace to be the next state's next public national research — or tier-one — university, the winners are about to be crowned. Today, the House tentatively passed House Bill 1000, which creates a mechanism to claim the prize money. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, explains HB 1000.]()
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Doctors, Chiropractors Square Off Over Bill
After a fierce fight, the state’s leading physician groups won a change in legislation backed predominantly by Texas chiropractors that could have prevented one health care licensing agency from challenging the ruling of another in court. Full Story
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Recommendations, But No Ruling, Issued in Willingham Case
The Texas Forensic Science Commission has released its draft report on the Cameron Todd Willingham case without ruling on the central question before it — whether fire investigators were negligent or committed professional misconduct. Full Story
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![John Bradley, left, is the new chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Cameron Todd Willingham, right, was executed for setting a house fire that killed his three daughters.]()
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Juvenile Justice Agencies Come Closer to Merger
Hours after the state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would merge the state's two juvenile criminal justice agencies, a House committee passed a similar bill. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for April 14, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Senate approves teen "sexting" ban; puppy mill bill derailed; map would add five Latino seats Full Story
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House Puppy Mill Bill Hits a Snag
A bill that would regulate so-called puppy mills, and has dog breeders and animal rights groups at each other's throats, got derailed from the fast-track to passage in the Texas House today. Full Story
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Senate Approves Legislation on Teen Sex
Two bills regulating teenagers’ sex lives passed on the Senate floor today — one would outlaw “sexting” by minors; the other would exempt young adults caught having consensual sex with a minor from registering as sex offenders. Full Story
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![State Sen. Royce West D-Dallas at the 2010 Texas Democratic convention in Corpus Christi, Tex. on June 26.]()
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Video: Rick Perry on Higher Education
At a Thursday morning press conference, Gov. Rick Perry discussed his priorities on higher education, including a four-year tuition freeze, $10,000 degrees and outcomes-based funding. Full Story
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Update: Peña's Proposed District a Toss-Up?
Last year, after the Republicans won large majorities in the Texas House, state Rep. Aaron Peña of Edinburg left the Democrats to join the GOP. Is he now being rewarded with a district that a Republican can maintain? Check out these maps. Full Story
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![A proposal by Rep. Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton.]()
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Student Leader Warns Against Turning UT Into ASU
One University of Texas student leader who recently visited Arizona State University as part of a university system task force was not encouraged by the excursion — and let the regents know in a new letter. Full Story
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Coalition's Map Would Add Five Latino House Seats
A coalition of Latino groups unveiled a redistricting map that would add five Latino-majority districts to the political map used to elect state representatives in Texas. Full Story
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![Nina Perales of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and members of the Texas Latino Redistricting Task Force present a proposal for two new Latino-majority congressional seats during a 2011 press conference.]()
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