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  • Latinos and the Pay Gap

    by Julián Aguilar

    In Texas, they earn 35 percent less than their Anglo counterparts — a disparity that's bigger here than elsewhere. Is it because of education, age, discrimination, or some combination of the above? Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • The Tuition Time Bomb

    by Brian Thevenot

    It costs an average of 63 percent more to attend a four-year state school today than it did in 2003 — and that's still not enough to keep pace with bulging university budgets. Some policy makers see the higher education business model on the cusp of collapse. Full Story 

    Tuition increases in Texas public colleges 2003 and 2008
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • TribBlog: Snip, Snip

    by Ross Ramsey

    No surprise here, but still: State leaders want state agencies to cut five percent from their current budgets "due to the uncertainty of the state's short-term economic future, as well as potentially substantial long-term costs associated with the passage of federal legislation currently being debated in Washington, D.C." Full Story 

  • Out of the Race

    by Abby Rapoport

    Texas will not apply for Race for the Top, the one-time federal grant worth up to $700 million for the state. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott cited strings attached to the potential money: “It was chock full of burdens. Their overall policy was to control curriculum across the country." Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • TribBlog: Forbes Says College Grads Making Bank in the 915

    by Brandi Grissom

    El Paso is in the national news today, and — for the first time in recent memory — it has nothing to do with its proximity to drug war-torn Juarez. Forbes actually has some good news about the border city: Incomes for college graduates in El Paso are rising faster than any other major metropolitan area of the nation. Full Story 

    Downtown El Paso
    Credit: http://jdlong.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/nighttime-downtown-el-paso.jpg

  • Outbound Brains

    by Julián Aguilar

    Border communities struggle to keep younger, educated residents when larger cities dangle economic and quality-of-life opportunities. They're afflicted with the reputation of being black holes of talent — where escape is necessary in order to prosper. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmerich

  • Economic Campaigning

    by Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Texas budget writers are hoping December will ring in stronger retail sales — after getting the news Friday that sales tax collections were down 14 percent from this November to last. The state’s economy is always a hot topic in the governor’s race. Ben Philpott is covering the Texas governor's race for KUT News and the Texas Tribune. He takes a look at how the economy's playing so far. Full Story 

  • It's Still the Economy, Stupid

    by Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Sales taxes are down and the recession in Texas hasn't bottomed, so financial concerns will almost certainly factor into the governor's race. Ben Philpott, covering that contest for KUT News and the Tribune, takes a look. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Audio: Cap and Tirade

    by Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Rick Perry attacked the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision yesterday to declare carbon dioxide a public danger, arguing that the ruling lacks scientific evidence. The EPA's move could propel the cost of carbon reduction onto the list of issues in play in the governor’s race. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    by Ross Ramsey

    It was a political week, with a full-court press from our staff on Bill White's switch to the governor's race and all of the fallout; the moves during the first week of filing for political races; Philpott's look at Republicans challenging Republicans; Hu's latest in the popular Stump Interrupted series; Ramshaw on emergency rooms, family doctors, and child protection; Stiles and Grissom mapping payday lending locations juxtaposed with family income data; Rapoport on the state budget and education; Thevenot on KBH's plans for schools; and Hamilton on the power (or not) of political endorsements. The best of the best from November 28 to December 4, 2009. Full Story 

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  • 2010: Ogden Will Seek Another Term

    by Ross Ramsey

    State Sen. Steve Ogden, who said earlier this year he would leave the Legislature after his current term, will seek another two years in office after all. And he may have drawn the first primary opponent of his political career. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Grading KBH's Education Plans

    by Brian Thevenot

    Education has emerged as one of the more contentious fronts in the gubernatorial campaign, with Kay Bailey Hutchison this week releasing a barrage of school proposals and attacks on the status quo. But the differences between the candidates have more to do with execution than with design. Full Story 

    U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, appearing at the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin.
    Credit: Elise Hu

  • Cloudy with a Chance of Money

    by Abby Rapoport

    The Rainy Day Fund seems like weather word play waiting to happen. It can plug holes in the budget, defend against an economic perfect storm and keep the deficit clouds at bay. That’s certainly how some see it when looking at the next biennium's projected shortfalls. Full Story 

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  • Beyond Textbooks and Tests

    by Brian Thevenot

    Hoping to push a wide array of digital content and teaching tools to public schools, the Texas Education Agency has cut a deal with a division of The New York Times for an electronic curriculum portal and searchable access to the newspaper’s content since 1851. Full Story 

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    Credit: Ante Vekic

  • Gattis is Out, says Ogden is In

    by Ross Ramsey

    State Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown, is dropping his bid for state Senate and won't seek reelection to the Texas House next year, he said Sunday. Gattis said State Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, will seek reelection after all. Full Story 

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    Credit: Dan Gattis campaign photo