The Weekly TribCast: Episode 76
In this week's jam-packed episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss higher education reformers, data security at the Comptroller's office, redistricting, the budget, and birthdays. Full Story
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Ogden Proposes Taking Additional $3B From Rainy Day Fund
Senate Finance Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, has dropped the news many have been waiting to hear: He wants to attach a contingency provision to the 2012-13 budget that would withdraw $3 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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![Sen. Steve Ogden R-Bryan during Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 19th, 2011]()
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Wrongful-Conviction Bill Moves Toward Passage in House
The House got closer Wednesday to locking in measures to reduce the number of wrongful convictions in Texas. Full Story
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House: Foster Kids Must Get Records Faster
Responding to a Texas Tribune article about young adults who age out of foster care being denied their records, House lawmakers passed a bill today to require the prompt release of case files following a child's discharge from foster care. Full Story
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House Gives Early OK to Health Care Compact
House lawmakers have put their initial stamp of approval on a health care compact — a partnership with other states to ask the federal government for control over Medicaid and Medicare in Texas. Full Story
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House Tentatively Passes TEXAS Grants Bill
The House tentatively passed a bill to provide students who have demonstrated college readiness with priority access to TEXAS Grants, the state's primary need-based financial aid program. Full Story
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Cornyn Won't Take "Nickel Tour" of Planned Parenthood
Sen. John Cornyn will not be “taking the nickel tour” of any Planned Parenthood branch, his office said Wednesday, in response to an offer by one of the organization’s Texas branches to arrange an informational visit. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: April 20, 2011
Your afternoon reading: redistricting hearings pushed back; lawmakers take aim at junk food; Trump taking cues from Perry? Full Story
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Representatives Move Back Redistricting
House lawmakers will get another day to pore over redistricting maps, after Democratic members vehemently opposed an effort to change the deadline for submitting amendments. Full Story
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Lawmakers Consider Resuscitation Bill
House lawmakers considered a bill this morning that would direct emergency services personnel to perform life-sustaining treatment on a patient without reviewing a written directive or living will first. Full Story
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NFL Players Testify for Muscle Therapy Licenses
Two University of Texas legends from the NFL appeared before lawmakers this morning to testify for a bill that would allow people certified in so-called muscle activation technique, or MAT, to practice without a massage therapy license. Full Story
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TribLive: Cornyn on Taxes, Washington and 2012
At Monday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, about the President's plan to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans, the perpetual fight between Texas and Washington and what's likely to happen in 2012 Senate races — including the one to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison. Full Story
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The Brief: April 20, 2011
One of the most controversial figures in Texas higher education no longer works for the state's largest university system. Full Story
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Guest Column: Don't Mess With My District!
Partisan redistricting aimed to protect or harm politicians only hurts the voters and their ability to participate in the political process. At its core, this is not about me or my party affiliation. It's about the people of Senate District 10. Full Story
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Physical Therapists Fight Mandatory Referrals
Physical therapists are pushing a bill to allow them to treat patients without a physician referral. The measure faces stiff opposition from physician groups, which say it could present a health risk to patients. Full Story
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![Chase Bearden hopes to convince lawmakers that he, and other's needing physical therapy, should be allowed to go to a physical therapist without getting a doctor's referral first.]()
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Annotated Documents: Superintendent Contracts
We’ve annotated the contracts of the 10 highest-paid school superintendents, along with those who lead the state’s 10 largest districts, so readers can view their pay in the context of retirement benefits, performance incentives, and perks like automobile and cellphone allowances. Full Story
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Data Exposure a Political Setback for Combs?
A new phone scam has highlighted the possible trouble ahead for Texans who had their personal information exposed — and, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, for Comptroller Susan Combs, whose office mistakenly leaked the data. Full Story
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West Texas Project Could Change Future of Wind Power
Utility giant Duke Energy announced last week that it has hired a Kyle-based company to build what would be the world’s largest wind energy storage system for the Notrees wind farm in West Texas. As Lindsay Patterson reports for KUT News, the technology behind the project could solve some of wind power’s biggest problems. Full Story
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House Tentatively Approves Salvia Ban
The House gave early approval today to a ban on salvia, a legal hallucinogen most often sold online and in head shops. Full Story
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Senators Look for Money Without Saying "Taxes"
State senators have unveiled a list of almost $5 billion in cash-flow tricks, property sales and fees that could be used to ease cuts in the state budget, but it's not enough to completely close the gap between what they have available and what they hope to spend. Full Story
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![Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Steve Ogden and Sen. John Whitmire listen during committee meeting on April 19th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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