Over the next year, at least half a dozen other Texas cities are likely to tackle the same thorny debate that’s under way in Austin over how to regulate vehicle-for-hire apps like Uber and Lyft while maintaining traditional taxi services.
Aman Batheja
Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.
Posted in
Transportation
At A&M, Researchers Crash Trucks to Test Barriers
At the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, researchers test steel barriers designed to guard federal embassies by crashing trucks into them. Watch video of a recent test.
Posted inState Government
Cornyn and Alameel to Debate
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and his Democratic challenger, David Alameel, will participate in a single televised debate in late October, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Posted in
Politics
Criticism Follows Reports on Incentive Programs
In Texas, reports of loose oversight over hundreds of millions of dollars in economic development funds, cancer research grants and plain old tax money are fueling pointed criticism from both the left and the right.
Posted inState Government
Auditor: Perry’s Business Fund Doled Out Millions Without Proper Oversight
UPDATED: A damning state audit released Thursday found an economic incentive program long championed by Gov. Rick Perry riddled with weak oversight policies.
Posted in
Transportation
Poll: Most Texans Don’t See Public Transit as a Congestion Cure
A poll of Texans found that 91 percent rely on a personal automobile as their primary mode of transportation while 6 percent rely on public transportation.
Posted in
Health care
Perry Not First to Link Abortion Regulations and Rivers Death
Several conservative writers had made a connection between the death of comedian Joan Rivers and Texas’ regulation of abortion clinics before Gov. Rick Perry’s comment on the matter Sunday.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
At TribFest, Perry Says He Still Supports Tuition Law
Gov. Rick Perry, speaking on Sunday at The Texas Tribune Festival, said he still supports a Texas law that grants in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. He also said he would not decide whether he was going to run for president until 2015.
Posted in
Politics
Davis Says She Would Use Executive Action and Veto Power if Elected Governor
At the Texas Tribune Festival on Saturday, state Sen. Wendy Davis said that if elected, she would consider using “executive action” to expand the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act.
Posted in
Transportation
State Leaders Open to More Toll Roads Amid Signs of Resistance
Texas played host to the toll road industry’s annual conference this week, and local and state leaders made clear to the more than 900 people in attendance that the state expected to pursue more toll projects.
