On Tuesday, a House committee heard arguments over the future of the controversial Driver Responsibility Program — which pits outrage over heavy traffic fines on the poor against the state’s need to finance trauma care in hospitals, which benefit from the fines.
TribBlog: Driver Debt Debate
Brian McCall: Audio Clip
Audio highlights of the TT interview with Brian McCall, chancellor of TSUS
TribBlog: Border Residents Feel Safe, Poll Finds
A large majority of the residents of Texas cities on the U.S.-Mexico border feel relatively safe despite harsh rhetoric from lawmakers and a consistent media portrayal of their communities as war zones, according to a poll released today.
The Brief: Aug. 10, 2010
President Barack Obama’s whirlwind sweep through Texas on Monday left in its wake some roused spirits and empty wallets but … not a whole lot else.
Slideshow: Obama Talks Higher Ed at UT
President Barack Obama speaks about higher education at the University of Texas on Monday.
Perry to Obama: Send More Border Troops
As President Barack Obama delivered his speech on higher education and economics, Governor Rick Perry gave his own remarks on what he thinks needs to be done for Texas border security. KUT’s Erika Aguilar reports.
Obamarama
In his first trip to the Texas capital as president, Barack Obama served up little news but plenty of red meat for supporters. Check out our pool report from his fundraiser and our audio, video and slideshow of his UT-Austin speech.
Countering Obama
As President Obama made his way to a fundraiser in Dallas Monday, Republicans in Austin got in their two-cents worth, holding a “Hands Off Texas” rally on the South Steps of the state Capitol hours after Obama visited Austin for fundraiser and a speech at UT. KUT’s Erika Aguilar reports.
The Pelican Grief
At Goose Island, near Rockport, some of the nearly 200 pelicans rescued from the Gulf oil spill and sent to Texas seem to be thriving. But officials are holding their breath to see whether the rescued birds stick around or fly back to habitats that may still be contaminated. “Wildlife do crazy things,” says the manager of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. “That’s why they’re called ‘wild.'” But the ones that stay could face survival struggles, too, from coastal litter and competition with other species for food.



