The Midday Brief: February 18, 2010
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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Ads Infinitum: Chavez-Thompson Coming Soon to TV
Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate Linda Chavez-Thompson will be appearing in selected Texas TV markets starting on Friday, with this colorful new spot. Full Story
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Credit: Elise Hu -
The Brief: February 18, 2010
Shami takes another hit, Keller back in the spotlight and the state of Texas' health. Full Story
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The Firing Line
After years of fiddling with merit-pay schemes, the Houston ISD is tying student test scores to the decision to ax teachers. Not surprisingly, the move — on the cutting edge of reforms nationally — has teachers howling in protest. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Primary Color: HD-76
State Rep. Norma Chavez, D-El Paso, is in the fight of her career, trying to hang onto her Texas House seat after a bruising year in which her public fights with her fellow lawmakers made headlines statewide. Her young opponent says it’s way past time for a change. Full Story
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Credit: Brandi Grissom -
Accentuate the Negative
Do attack ads work? In the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, we tested the effectiveness of two "comparative" commercials run in the governor's race to see if they were persuasive to voters. Apparently so. Full Story
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TribBlog: How Healthy is Your County?
A national study released today ranks nearly every county in Texas — and in the rest of the country — by mortality and morbidity rates, and the health factors that contribute to them. Full Story
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TribBlog: Skinner Execution Postponed
The trial judge who initially decided Hank Skinner would die Feb. 24 — one week from today — has pushed the execution date back to March 24, says Skinner attorney Rob Owen, co-director of the University of Texas at Austin’s Capital Punishment Clinic. Full Story
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Credit: Caleb Bryant MIller -
On the Records: If You Can See This ...
... you aren't among the 40 percent of Texans who don't use the Internet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Only Mississippi and West Virginia have a lower percentage of residents using the Web. Full Story
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2010: Sham-Wow
Five Farouk Shami staffers - including his top aides - have quit the campaign. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: February 17, 2010
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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TribBlog: "Mayor, Dogcatcher, Whatever"
Whatever his job might be, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro says he would have applied for the federal government's Race to the Top education grants, which could have been worth $700 million to the state's schools. Full Story
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Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller -
Ads Infinitum: White: "Money's Worth"
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White asks Texans, "Do you think you're getting your money's worth out of state government?" Full Story
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The Brief: February 17, 2010
Budget crunching, the EPA offends Texans, early voting is underway, and gay couples still can't get ... a divorce. Full Story
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The Numbers Game
More than 373,000 Texans went uncounted by the 2000 census, resulting in a loss of $1 billion in federal funds. With eight of the nation's 50 hardest-to-count counties right here in our state, the coming 2010 census is a cause for concern — and an apparent lack of attention by elected officials is making matters worse. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Day Care Danger
The Texas Workforce Commission spent nearly $50 million during the last two years on day care centers and in-home childcare providers with troubled track records — including sexual and physical abuse, kidnapping, and leaving infants to suffocate and die in their cribs. A Texas Tribune review found that at least 135 subsidized facilities had their licenses revoked or denied by the Department of Family and Protective Services in 2008 and 2009 and had their funding immediately suspended. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Meet the Flintstones
Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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2010: Newspaper Endorsements: Star-Telegram for Chavez-Thompson
"[S]he would bring a fresh perspective, a commitment to work with both sides of the aisle and an emphasis on the state's public schools and higher education..." Full Story
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TribBlog: Texas vs. the EPA
Gov. Rick Perry announced the state is suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its recent finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health. Full Story
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HuTube: Weekend Programming Note
Catch Kay, Debra and Rick on Dallas television this weekend. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmerich
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