With mere days left in the legislative session — the regular session, at least — we’re kicking off our weekly playlist based on Texas politics and policy news with Europe’s “The Final Countdown.”
Reeve Hamilton
Reeve Hamilton worked at the Tribune from 2009 to 2015, covering higher education and politics and hosting the Tribune's weekly podcast. His writing has also appeared in Texas Monthly and The Texas Observer. Born in Houston and raised in Massachusetts, he has a bachelor's degree in English from Vanderbilt University.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Senate Confirms Nominees to UT System Board
Gov. Rick Perry’s nominees to the University of Texas System Board of Regents successfully completed a rocky journey to confirmation by the Texas Senate on Friday.
Posted inState Government
Term Limits Crusade Unites Unlikely Allies
It’s been a disappointing month in state and local politics for proponents of term limits in Texas — a group whose supporters come from both the Republican and Democratic parties.
Posted in
Higher Education
Some Limits on UT System Regents Remain in Budget
Altered versions of amendments attached to the budget in the House specifically limiting the authority of the University of Texas System regents survived the conference committee process and remain in the final report on Senate Bill 1.
Posted in
State Government
Altered Fixed-Tuition Bill Heads to Conference Committee
UPDATED: House Higher Education Dan Branch, R-Dallas, has opted not to concur with significant changes made by the Senate to a bill requiring universities to offer incoming students optional four-year fixed tuition plans.
Posted in
Higher Education
Higher Ed Graduations Increase, Board Finds
Texas public universities awarded more than 50,000 bachelor’s degrees in spring 2013, an increase of more than 5,000 from 2012, according to preliminary data from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Posted in
Higher Education
New South Texas University Bill Heads to Governor’s Desk
UPDATED: The Senate on Wednesday concurred with the House amendments to Senate Bill 24, creating a regional university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill will now head to the governor’s desk.
Posted inState Government
Birdwell “Disappointed” With Stalled Campus Carry Bill
State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, faces a growing and likely insurmountable challenge in his efforts to pass a bill allowing the concealed carry of firearms in buildings on university and college campuses.
Posted in
TribCast
TribCast: A Budget Deal, John Carona and Bill Killing
Reeve, Aman, Jay and Ben talk about the final stages of lawmakers’ efforts to put together a budget deal, state Sen. John Carona’s day job and the legislative casualties of tension between the Senate and the House.
Posted in
Higher Education
Senate Votes to Extend UT-Austin’s Admissions Cap
The Senate approved an extension of the University of Texas at Austin’s cap on automatic admissions under the state’s top 10 percent rule on Tuesday, and members rejected efforts to do away with the rule entirely.
