The momentous and long-awaited move was welcomed by the family of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was convicted of killing his three daughters in a 1991 arson fire. He was executed in 2004, and scientists have since discredited the science that was used to cement his arson conviction.
Austin
Posted inState Government
Video: Perry’s Comeback Week Included Self-Inflicted Wounds
Gov. Rick Perry tried to inject new energy into his campaign this week by hiring high-profile political players and unveiling his plans for a flat tax. But some self-inflicted wounds may have garnered more attention.
Posted in
Public Education
Schools and Taxes: The Next Big Thing
The primary elections come in less than five months. The general election is about a year away. When that’s all out of the way, we’ll all be talking about lawsuits — some that have been filed, some that will be filed later — on school finance and franchise taxes.
Posted in
Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: Perry’s Report Card
We stuck with the presidential race and the governor in this week’s nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, asking for their impressions of Gov. Rick Perry and how his candidacy reflects on the state.
Posted inState Government
Officials Urge Perry to Halt Skinner Execution
More than a dozen current and former lawmakers, prosecutors, judges, police officers and even a former Texas governor sent a letter today calling on Gov. Rick Perry to allow for DNA testing death row inmate Hank Skinner says could prove his innocence.
Posted in
Energy
Weekend Insider: Texas Weatherization Program, Windmilling
In this edition of the Texas Tribune Weekend Insider, reporter Becca Aaronson talks about the embattled Texas weatherization program getting back on track. Reporter Kate Galbraith introduces us to a family that’s been “windmilling” for more than 100 years.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Updated: Ex Morton Prosecutor Loses Testimony Fight
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a request from former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson to keep him from providing testimony in an investigation of what led to the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton.
Posted in
Demographics
Students in Texas Illegally Also Eligible for State Aid
The same state law that allows illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Texas universities also allows some to be given publicly funded grants to pay for their education.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Court Hears Challenge to State Business Tax
A successful challenge to the state’s primary business tax would throw lawmakers into special session to try to find enough money to pay for public schools, a lawyer for the state told the Texas Supreme Court today.
Posted in
Health care
Tackling the Teen Pregnancy Crisis
Health educators and advocates gathered at the Capitol yesterday to talk about what they call the problem of teen pregnancy in Texas. The state has the third highest teen birth rate in the nation, and the second highest rate of repeat teen pregnancy. As KUT’s Matt Largey reports, it’s also an expensive problem for taxpayers.
