A proposal on its way to Gov. Greg Abbott would make it easier for pickled beets, carrots and other produce to be sold at farmers markets alongside pickled cucumbers.
Department of State Health Services
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Some lawmakers want Texas to release vaccine opt-out rates for each school, not just for districts
Texas tries to track the number of students with vaccine exemptions every year, but the data is incomplete and doesn’t include the opt-out rates for individual public schools. Amid a recent rise in measles cases across the country, some in the Legislature are calling for more detailed reporting.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Texas reports on state government efficiency were kept secret. We’re publishing them.
Since 2005, state lawmakers have received the agency’s biennial report detailing inefficiencies in government, but this year the report was not made public.
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State Government
Texans are waiting for birth and death certificates amid health agency understaffing
The backlog — exacerbated by the state’s switch in January to a new computer system for processing records — comes as the short-staffed Texas Department of State Health Services vies for a boost in funding. Meanwhile, families anxiously wait.
Posted in
Health care
Nearly 200 people in Texas detention facilities have contracted mumps
The Texas Department of State Health Services says 186 people, including immigrants and detention center employees, were confirmed with cases of mumps since October.
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
This Texas program lands poor people in jail. Getting rid of it has been too complicated — but that might be changing.
Lawmakers in both chambers and parties want to fix the controversial Driver Responsibility Program, but the program funds state trauma centers. Where will they find $144 million to fill the gap?
Posted in
Texas Legislature 2019
Medicaid, opioids and abortion: Health care issues to expect this Texas legislative session
Amid uncertainty about the federal health law, state legislators will tackle a variety of issues during the session, from abortion to mental health to opioids to funding for Medicaid.
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Health care
Anti-vaccine Texas families may take their fight to day cares next
A leading anti-vaccine group claims that day cares are breaking the law by denying kids who haven’t been vaccinated. Experts say the group is misinterpreting the law.
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Health care
Judge strikes down Texas law requiring burial or cremation of fetal remains
The ruling comes after a five-day trial in July at which patients, health providers, state agency officials, bioethicists, cemetery directors and religious leaders got on the witness stand.
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TribCast
TribCast: Slow family reunifications, Cruz-O’Rourke TV ads
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Marissa and Emma about moldy, rat-infested state office buildings, family reunifications at the border, TV ads in the U.S. Senate race and a Republican state lawmaker’s tough words for the Texas governor.
