Stiles on Bill White’s donor-appointees, M. Smith on a form of meritless lawsuit that’s still legal in Texas, Ramshaw on what federal health care reform means for the future of physician-owned specialty hospitals, Galbraith’s interview with the chairman of the Public Utility Commission, Philpott on the latest flap over federal education funding, Grissom on the finally-in-compliance Dallas County Jail, Titus on the oiled pelicans of the BP spill, Hamilton’s interview with the new chancellor of the Texas State University System, Ramsey on the political and legal definitions of residency, Hu on Barack Obama’s visit to Austin and Aguilar on what the U.S. could be doing to aid Mexico: The best of our best from August 9 to 13, 2010.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Posted inState Government
Ads Infinitum: “Bill White Reaches New Low”
Today is day three of Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign demanding Bill White apologize for his “master” comment.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: Legalize It? You Must Be High
Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske laid out the case against legalizing marijuana and other drugs today at a border security conference.
Posted in
Congress
HuTube: Texas Lawmakers and Terror Babies, Cont.
In today’s must-watch video, the Texas congressman who first brought up the “terror baby” claims on the U.S. House floor isn’t taking too kindly to being challenged about it.
Posted in
State Government
2010: It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas
Jason Isaac, the Republican running against state Rep. Patrick Rose, D-Dripping Springs, says the incumbent is misusing his campaign accounts to cover personal transportation costs. Rose says it’s a big district and points out that Isaac’s campaign pays for gas, too.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Aug. 13, 2010
Falling behind on governor’s race drama? Don’t fret.
Posted in
Health care
The Biggest Losers
As the reality of health care reform sinks in, physician-owned specialty hospitals are on edge. Some are scouring the law for loopholes; others want to sell out to corporations.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Sued Into Silence
Plaintiffs in so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs, use the court system to bury opponents in a crush of legal fees and paperwork of Bleak House proportions. They’re not concerned about winning damages. They usually don’t expect to be successful, and the targets often don’t have the money to adequately defend themselves. Yet in otherwise tort-reform-happy Texas, there is no prohibition on filing this particular form of meritless suit — yet.
Posted inState Government
Tales of the City
Like other urban areas, Dallas is trying to kill the cliche that its downtown is dead — but the Big D is also struggling to rein in a budget deficit. Nathan Bernier of KUT News talked to Mayor Tom Leppert about how he keeps ambitions high at a time of depleted resources.
