Unemployment in Texas hit 8 percent in November — down from the 8.3 percent recorded the previous month and higher than the 5.4 percent registered in the same month of 2008, according to the Texas Workforce Commission.
state agencies
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Keep On Trucking
Texas has the worst rates of cargo and heavy equipment theft in the country. Yet while criminals are raking in billions of dollars each year, the state has never had an organized system to address the problem.
Posted in
Public Education
An Escape with Few Takers
When public schools fail, students are allowed to transfer to better campuses. But only a tiny fraction ever do.
Posted in
Politics
TribBlog: CPPP on Child Abuse Deaths
The CPPP says Texas’ high per capita child abuse and neglect death rate is due to the state’s high child poverty and teen birth rates — but also how Texas tallies its numbers.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Super Salaries
School superintendent salary data offers a unique window into the vast diversity of Texas districts, from massive to miniscule, and the way they pay their chief executives. One new trend: Performance pay.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Superintendents as Bonus Babies
Mindful of the down economy, more public school districts are paying their superintendents bonuses rather than giving them raises.
Posted in
Health care
Home Alone
The home health care cuts that Congress will likely make to fund federal health care reform will take an extra large swipe at Texas.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Legal Lottery
Can Texas lottery winners sell all of their payments to private finance companies? State attorneys say no. A state appeals court says yes. The Texas Supreme Court will decide.
Posted in
State Government
The Brief: December 15, 2009
If at first you don’t succeed, you’d better hope the GAO gives you a second chance.
Posted in
State Government
Kinky Exits Governor’s Race
Humorist and author Kinky Friedman is setting his sights on a new prize: the agriculture commissioner post.
