Former Gov. Rick Perry defended his actions related to a controversial 2013 veto Wednesday, a day after a judge ruled that a criminal case related to the veto could proceed against him.
Terri Langford
Terri Langford is the Tribune's health services reporter based in Austin. Langford is a veteran journalist, having worked at the Florida Times Union, The Associated Press, The Dallas Morning News, the Houston Chronicle, WNYC, Honolulu Civil Beat and Texas Standard/KUT. Langford has a bachelor’s degree in government from the University of Texas at Austin. She has covered various city and state agencies, criminal justice and health and human services for the Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Associated Press, WNYC and Texas Standard at KUT.
Posted in
State Government
Perry’s Dark Legal Day Came With Silver Linings
While a judge Tuesday refused to throw out the indictments against former Gov. Rick Perry, his ruling pointed out some significant problems with the legal underpinnings of the case. Prosecutors are being given a chance to shore up their arguments.
Posted inState Government
Case Against Former Gov. Perry to Proceed
A judge on Tuesday rejected former Gov. Rick Perry’s attempt to throw out a two-count indictment against him, saying it’s too early in the case to challenge the constitutionality of the charges.
Posted in
Health care
State Auditor Sees Weaknesses in Agency Contracting
When it comes to contracting, state agencies struggle with shopping for a vendor and monitoring that vendor’s performance, the Texas state auditor’s office says in a new report.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Health Commission Ditching Anti-Fraud Initiative Started by Stick
After Jack Stick joined the Health and Human Services Commission’s Office of Inspector General, he incorporated sales quota-like performance standards for investigators. The effort got results, but reviews have been mixed and the initiative is being shut down.
Posted in
State Government
TxDOT Spends Millions in Tuition Reimbursements
The Texas Department of Transportation has spent about $10.6 million in education costs since 2002, nearly half what state agencies have spent in total on tuition reimbursements and other educational programs. Check out our breakdown.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
First Texas Execution of 2015 Carried Out
A New Mexico man convicted for a drug-fueled triple murder in San Antonio in 1993 was executed on Wednesday, the first Texas inmate to be put to death under Gov. Greg Abbott.
Posted in
Health care
HHSC Exec Given Taxpayer-Funded MBA Resigns
Already placed on leave, the deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek resigned Friday, and has started paying back half the $97,050 tuition paid by the state.
Posted in
Health care
Sources: Abbott Will Wait to Decide on Janek’s Future
Amid calls for Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek to resign over a contracting scandal, sources close to Gov.-elect Greg Abbott say Abbott won’t decide on Janek’s future until after the completion of state investigations.
Posted in
Health care
Greg Abbott Gives Back 21CT Campaign Donation
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott’s office has confirmed that he returned a $10,000 campaign contribution from the CEO of the beleaguered company at the center of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracting woes.
