New in TribTalk: Better Testing for Better Schools
Education reformers are pursuing two different approaches for escaping the pitfall of turning schools into joyless test-preparation factories, writes Charles Moody. Full Story
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Credit: Shannan Muskopf -
Senator Brian Birdwell Finally Gets Chance to Thank Man who Helped Him on 9/11
It’s been nearly 15 years since the lives of Texas state Sen. Brian Birdwell and Rob Maness, candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana, were thrust together for a few chaotic moments outside the Pentagon on 9/11. Full Story
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![Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell shows his cast to Marion Jordan and physical therapist Kristen Dammen at Washington Hospital Center burn unit. Birdwell was badly burned while working at the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.]()
Credit: The Washington Post -
The Brief: Panel Doesn’t Recommend Scrapping STAAR Tests
The panel will present a final report with non-binding recommendations on what do with the controversial student assessments in time for next year's legislative session. Full Story
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![Andrew Kim, Chair of Texas Commission on Next Generation Assessments and Accountability]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Rick Perry's Digital Legacy Gives Archivists New Momentum
Two years ago, Texas had made no progress archiving its electronic records. With the launch this year of the Texas Digital Archive — and the release of seven terabytes of Rick Perry's digital legacy — Texas has become a national leader. Full Story
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![Rick Perry with Reveille, the Texas A&M mascot. This image is included in Perry's collection in the Texas Digital Archive.]()
Credit: Texas Digital Archive, Texas Governor Rick Perry Collection -
Evoking Charles Whitman: The UT Tower Shooting in Film
The University of Texas Tower shooting was a first of its kind. Here’s how the tragedy has been depicted in film and TV. Full Story
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Latino Voters in Texas Sue to Bolster Influence on Electing Judges
Seeking to bolster their chronically sparse representation on the state's highest courts, seven Latino voters are suing Texas to challenge the state's longtime method of electing judges statewide. Full Story
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![Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals justices listen to Chief Justice Nathan Hecht's State of the Judiciary speech to legislators on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Report Finds Almost 7,000 In-Custody Deaths in Texas
Almost 7,000 individuals in Texas have died in police custody or behind bars over the past 10 years, according to an online report released Wednesday by a University of Texas at Austin research institute. Nearly 2,000 of them had not been convicted of a crime. Full Story
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Credit: Rob Crow -
Jackson Lee Rallies Democrats Against "Man of Fear" Trump
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Houston rallied fellow Democrats against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling him a "man of fear" in a speech to the Democratic National Convention. Full Story
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Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
New in TribTalk: "Conscientious" Vaccine Exemptions
There is nothing conscientious about rejecting vaccines for non-medical reasons, writes Anna C. Dragsbaek, president and CEO of The Immunization Partnership. Full Story
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![Nicholas Nunez, 4, sits with his mother, Elizabeth Trejo, while he receives his shots at the Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County in Fort Worth on August 30, 2013.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill / The Texas Tribune -
The Democratic Convention, the Castro Brothers and Voter ID (Podcast)
On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Aman and Jim about the drama at the DNC, the political futures of Texas' Castro brothers and the 5th Circuit ruling upending Texas' voter ID law. Full Story
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Gun Violence and Mental Health, 50 Years After UT Tower Sniper Attack
After shootings like the one in Dallas this month, or the sniper attack 50 years ago at the University of Texas at Austin, people often wonder if there’s a link between gun violence and mental illness. The link might not be what you thought. Full Story
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![University of Texas at Austin tower, June 22, 2016.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./KUT -
Panel Backpedals on Swapping Out STAAR Tests
A special panel recommending changes to the state’s public school testing and accountability system has stopped short of proposing that Texas scrap the controversial assessment regime known as STAAR. Full Story
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![Theresa Treviño, president of Texans Advocating for Meaningful Student Assessment, speaks at a special panel charged with suggesting changes to the state’s testing and school accountability system on July 27, 2016.]()
Credit: Qiling Wang/The Texas Tribune -
Thanking Texas Delegates, Sanders Warns of Trump
Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Wednesday morning used a thank-you speech to Texas delegates to sound the alarm about the Republican foe his party's nominee now faces: Donald Trump. Full Story
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![Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont waves while leaving the stage after addressing the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Scott Audette / Reuters -
New in Trib+Water: Paved-Over Wetlands and Flooding
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: Paving over wetlands around Houston raise risk of flooding, more worries about contaminated water sources and an interview with David Todd of the Conservation History Association of Texas. Full Story
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The Brief: Women Take the Stage for Clinton
From the daughter of a former governor to the mother of Sandra Bland, some big Texas connections were on display at the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night. Full Story
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Credit: Mark Kauzlarich / Reuters -
Analysis: A Temporary Hitch in Plans for Some of Texas’ Political A-List
A couple of rising stars in Texas — Ted Cruz and Julián Castro — have left their predictable political orbits for uncharted journeys. Although you’ll hear otherwise, it’s silly to say they’ll never get up. Time is on their side. Full Story
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![U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro (left), U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Joaquín Castro, D-San Antonio.]()
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Abortion Booklet Revisions Called Even More Inaccurate
Texas health officials are revising a controversial booklet that doctors are required to give to women seeking abortions. Some experts say the new version contains even more misinformation. Full Story
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![Pages from the state's proposed update to "A Woman's Right to Know" booklet]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / The Texas Tribune -
Ann Richards' Daughter, Sandra Bland's Mother Back Hillary Clinton
Two women with Texas ties — one the daughter of a legend, the other a mother who lost her child in a Texas jail —pressed the case for Hillary Clinton's presidency at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday evening. Full Story
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![The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, July 25, 2016.]()
Credit: Mark Kauzlarich / Reuters -
Major Ken Paxton Donor Paying $3.5 Million Federal Fine
Embattled Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office assisted with a federal probe involving a major donor who gave the indicted Paxton a $100,000 gift last year to offset his growing legal bill. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a May 25, 2016, press conference.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
After Tower Shooting, UT Pioneered Services to Heal and Defend Campuses
Before the UT tower shooting, a mass public shooting at a school campus was unheard of. The events of the summer of 1966 forever changed how schools handle emergencies and address tragedies. Full Story
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![Southeast view from the UT Tower, June 22, 2016.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. /KUT