Polo Rocha, Author at The Texas Tribune

Opinion: Health Care Costs Outpacing Inflation

By Polo RochaJuly 6, 2015

A look at the latest numbers show the rise in health care costs continues to outpace inflation, with the 2015 numbers so far showing a large difference between the two.

Associate Professor Sung Jung uses mass spectrometers to measure protein in cancer cells at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston Monday, February 11, 2013. Baylor College of Medicine received a $6 million CPRIT grant to purchase advanced laboratory infrastructure and pay researchers to measure all of the metabolites and proteins in cancer cells at the same time.

State Government

Levitating Cells Could Help With Cancer Testing

By Polo RochaJuly 6, 2015

Scientists are now able to levitate individual cells with magnets to measure the cell density, which may help increase the reliability of cancer testing and finding which cells survive through drug treatments.

Pamela Holwerds holds up her marriage license following the ceremony that married over 40 same-sex couples on the south lawn of the Texas Capitol in Austin on July 4, 2015.

State Government

The Brief: July 6, 2015

By Polo RochaJuly 6, 2015

With same-sex marriage now legalized, conservative lawyers are beginning to prepare defenses for government employees who refuse to marry same-sex couples due to their religious objections.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton speaking at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's opening of its new building on April 21, 2015.

State Government

The Brief: July 3, 2015

By Polo RochaJuly 3, 2015

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent actions opposing same-sex marriage were just another example of how he’s become a hero among social conservatives who helped elect him.

Human Rights Campaign press conference at Texas Capitol on June 29, 2015 just a few days following the SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality

State Government

Gay Marriage Ruling Might Mobilize Voters on Both Sides

By Polo RochaJuly 2, 2015

Political consultants on both sides say same-sex marriage and religious liberty issues will play a significant role as electoral races develop — beyond just giving candidates a way to boost campaign coffers.

State Government

Cruz Camp Reports Raising Up to $10M in Three Months

By John Reynolds, Patrick Svitek and Polo RochaJuly 2, 2015

Also, a state lawmaker calls for special session on marriage licenses, and Rick Perry calls on the power of Hot Pockets in his latest fundraising appeal.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton spoke on June 22, 2105, at an event hosted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation discussing the impact of the EPA's Clean Power Plan.

State Government

The Brief: July 2, 2015

By Polo RochaJuly 2, 2015

A special prosecutor said Wednesday that he’s bringing evidence to a grand jury to get first-degree felony fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Janelle Boone left hold her head up with joy after obtaining her marriage license with her partner Christine Wylie at the Travis County Clerk's office on June 26, 2015 the same day the US Supreme Court ruled same-sex marriages as legal

State Government

The Brief: July 1, 2015

By Polo RochaJuly 1, 2015

Texas public employees’ same-sex spouses can begin enrolling for benefits today after last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriages.