The 82nd Texas Legislature convenes in Austin this week, and while it’s not as much fun as the circus — usually — it’s more important and does have its share of comedy and drama.
Austin
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Case “Undetermined”
The Texas Forensic Science Commission heard testimony from four fire experts today to gather evidence about the reliability of the arson investigation that led to the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. Half said investigators got it right, and half said they were wrong.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Fire Experts Testify at Forensic Panel
Watch the Innocence Project livestream of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, which gathers today in Austin to question arson experts on the evidence used to hand Cameron Todd Willingham the death penalty in 1992.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Abbott 1, Gay Divorce 1
Over the objections of state Attorney General Greg Abbott, an Austin appellate court has upheld the divorce of a lesbian couple married in Massachusetts.
Posted in
State Government
Mental Breakdown
Mental health providers are bracing themselves for brutal budget cuts. Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports.
Posted in
Economy
Green House
The biggest caucus in the Texas House is the Republicans’, now with 101 members. Next? The Democrats’, at 49. And then there’s the freshman class — one of the biggest in years — with 38 members. All but six are Republicans, and many of them replaced Democrats. They face some challenges.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Meet the Freshmen Liveblog
Evan Smith interviewed Larry Gonzales, Paul Workman, and Jason Isaac at this morning’s TribLive event in Austin.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Coalition Urges “Balanced” Budget Approach
A wide-ranging coalition of education, criminal justice, religious and charitable groups today called on Texas lawmakers to use more than a machete to balance the state budget this year.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: Graduation Gains
Though graduation rates for community colleges are stagnant nationwide, a few Texas colleges have seen improvements. But don’t go busting out the champagne just yet.
Posted in
Public Education
How E-Textbooks Get Made
Electronic textbooks are increasingly touted as an alternative to the more expensive traditional ink-on-paper variety. But how do lessons make the jump from the print to digital?
