State Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, has filed legislation to allow licensed handgun owners to carry concealed weapons on community college campuses. But some campus police fear it could actually put students and faculty in more danger.
Christopher Smith Gonzalez
Posted in
Higher Education
Community Colleges Uneasy as Ax Hangs Over Health Benefits
The Legislature’s initial budget proposals to close four community colleges caught many lawmakers off guard. But what largely escaped their attention — the slashing of health benefits across all such institutions — concerns community college officials the most.
Posted in
State Government
What Do the Historical, Arts Commissions Do?
Gov. Rick Perry wants two state agencies — the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Historical Commission — defunded because they don’t provide “mission-critical” services. But what do they do?
Posted in
Energy
EPA Proposes New Regulations on Rocket Fuel Ingredient
The Environmental Protection Agency is developing new drinking-water regulations for a toxic rocket-fuel ingredient found in 26 states — including Texas.
Posted in
Health care
Keeping the Faith
Like many other Texas groups, faith organizations that lobby lawmakers are bracing for a brutal budgetary session. It’s not only a moral issue for the religious groups; it concerns their own bottom lines, too. Because when the government doesn’t provide for the needy, the needy look to the church.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Is It Raining Yet?
The Texas Constitution says that money from the Rainy Day Fund can be spent to “prevent or eliminate a temporary cash deficiency in general revenue.” With the state facing a budget shortfall estimated somewhere between $15 billion and $27 billion, some say if it ain’t raining now, it ain’t ever going to.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: What If a Lieutenant Governor Resigns?
Hey, Texplainer: Who becomes lieutenant governor if David Dewhurst resigns? Well, it’s a little complicated. But the bottom line is, you don’t get to decide.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Study: Courts Can Do Better With Foster Kids
The Texas judicial system can do a better job handling the cases of kids in long-term foster care, according to a study released today by Texas Appleseed.
Posted in
Energy
TribBlog: The Drilling Grilling
More than 40 people crammed into the Texas Railroad Commission’s hearing today on what caused two water wells in Parker County to become contaminated by natural gas. Missing: the Environmental Protection Agency.
