Property taxes are one of three main sources of revenue for community colleges. If growth in those taxes is limited, the colleges say they may have to look elsewhere for revenue.
Shannon Najmabadi
Shannon Najmabadi was a reporter at the Tribune from 2017 to 2021, most recently covering women's health. Her stories — on higher education and other topics — have prompted lawmakers to change three state laws, including one involving a very narrow definition of the word “pickle.” She is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Columbia University.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas A&M asks lawmakers for $55 million in “equity” funds, citing UT’s budget
The gap between Texas A&M’s and UT-Austin’s per-student funding has increased over the last five years, due in part to growing enrollment at the College Station campus.
Posted in
Health care
Thousands of Texans were shocked by surprise medical bills. Their requests for help overwhelmed the state.
“It’s going to take us a while to get out of this backlog that we’re in, but we’re doing the things necessary to help more consumers,” a state official said.
Posted in
Politics
Corporations can’t donate to politicians. But $100,000 got them VIP treatment during Gov. Greg Abbott’s inauguration.
Donations to the inauguration are not deemed political contributions under state statute. And the inaugural committee, whose creation is mandated by law, is not required to make financial disclosures before this summer.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he’s willing to work to revive the UT, A&M football game
The Texas governor made the declaration during his annual State of the State address.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Fall behind on your student loans? You could lose your license to work. Texas lawmakers want to change that.
Members of both parties have filed bills ending the practice of revoking occupational licenses for people behind on their student loans.
Posted in
Higher Education
In Texas, university regents are less diverse than their schools’ students
Gov. Greg Abbott’s office says it has made strides with his appointments, but political scientists and lawmakers say age and finances can play a role in the discrepancy.
Posted in
Higher Education
Raymund Paredes, Texas’ higher education commissioner, will step down Aug. 31
Paredes has served since 2004 as commissioner at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
As presumptive House speaker, Dennis Bonnen raised $4 million in a month
In July, Bonnen was a House member with $707,000 in his war chest. After he announced for House Speaker and became the favorite to succeed Joe Straus, he was getting more than $150,000 in donations per day.
Posted in
Higher Education
For three Texas universities, firing their football coaches in 2018 could cost almost $7 million combined
Each of the eight public schools that play top-level college football in the state have made a payment to a departing coach since 2015.
