The Texas Ethics Commission could undergo major changes in the next legislative session. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on why some think the state should scrap the commission and start over from scratch.
Ben Philpott
Ben Philpott is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin’s National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
In Texas, a Never-Ending Battle Over Judicial Elections
Political candidates across Texas are gearing up for the state’s May 29 primaries. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, that partisan campaigning extends to candidates who often promise to be impartial: the state’s judges.
Posted inState Government
Independent Group Looks to Upend Presidential Race
As the Republican Party inches toward selecting a presidential nominee, another group is working to add an independent candidate to the ballot in all 50 states. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the group doesn’t want to be called a third party.
Posted in
Health care
Lawmakers Monitoring Health Care Reform’s Effect on Texas
Texas may be challenging federal health care reform in court, but as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, state lawmakers are still monitoring how the law will affect costs and care in Texas.
Posted in
Economy
More Texas Children Living in High-Poverty Areas
A new report says the number of Texas children living in areas of high poverty has increased about 40 percent over the past decade. And as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, advocacy groups hope the data will bolster anti-poverty programs.
Posted in
Energy
State’s Electric Capacity Under Scrutiny
Last summer’s record heat pushed the Texas power grid to the brink. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, a state House committee today will look into what’s being done to prevent that from happening again.
Posted in
Health care
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 118
On this week’s TribCast, Ben, Ross, Emily and Morgan discuss redistricting, public school accountability testing and the controversy involving Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Planned Parenthood.
Posted in
State Government
U.S. Senate Race a GOP-Only Battle
While Texans wait for the courts to determine most of the state’s political races, the candidates for U.S. Senate have begun a campaign blitz in the run-up to this spring’s primary. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
Posted in
Politics
Little Agreement on How to Fix School Finance System
A teachers group has urged Gov. Rick Perry to call a special session to address education funding. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, there’s still plenty of disagreement on what fixing the school funding system would actually mean.
Posted in
State Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 117
While our fearless host Reeve is away on special assignment, Ben steps in to lead Evan, Ross and special guest star Jake Silverstein (the editor of Texas Monthly) in a discussion on the next state budget, redistricting and campaign finance.
