The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in October, up from 5.2 percent a year ago.
state agencies
Posted in
State Government
Debtors’ Treadmill, Part Two: Political Payday
Groups that offer high-interest, short-term consumer loans and want to avoid state regulation contributed more than $1.4 million to Texas politicians over the past nine years, Texas Ethics Commission records show.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Perry Won’t Grant Thompson Clemency
Gov. Rick Perry won’t grant clemency to Robert Lee Thompson, who was sentenced to death under Texas’ controversial “law of parties.”
Posted in
Public Education
State (Board) of Agitation
The State Board of Education, which has showcased some intense philosophical fights, has drawn scrutiny for becoming a partisan battleground. For now, members are just trying to get along — but the rifts are as big as ever.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: DPS: We’re Stopping the Bad Guys
The day after DPS warns parents that Mexican cartels are trying to recruit their kids to sell drugs, the agency issues a press release that says DPS efforts are pushing back drugs and preventing them from getting here.
Posted in
Demographics
Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Smugglers
That warning comes as law enforcement officials report an increase in the number of youth from Mexico and the United States becoming involved in human and drug trafficking.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Imagine the Controversy
A for-profit company hopes to get approval to start two charter schools in Texas. Thursday’s SBOE meeting will set the precedent for dealing with this murkier side of the charter school system.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: Physical Education Requirements Soon to be Gone
Amid handwringing over child obesity, SBOE likely will eliminate health and physical education requirements at this week’s meeting.
Posted in
Demographics
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
KBH resigns herself to staying in the Senate, Grissom investigates the broken border, Ramshaw outs IT contractors who make gigabucks from state agencies, Hu gives Hutchison and Perry the Stump Interrupted treatment, the new head of the Foresenic Science Commission faces his critics, Stiles posts a searchable database of fines levied by the state ethics commission, and Hamilton discovers the consequences of party switching (none): The best of the best from November 9 to 13, 2009.
