Texas House bills lay out some initial plans to overhaul CPS
Texas representatives have filed legislation to start an overhaul of the the state’s Child Protective Services, following a crisis that has left thousands of kids at risk. Full Story
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Nurse practitioners again push for independence
Multiple bills filed in the Texas Legislature are seeking to give certain Texas nurses independence from costly contracts with supervising physicians. Full Story
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![State Rep. Stephanie Klick, R-North Richland Hills, with State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, announcing the Coalition for Health Care Access that will work toward expanding access to health care in Texas this legislative session. Klick is introducing HB 1415 and SB 681 to remove outdated and costly regulatory barriers for APRN nurses.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Lawmakers mull their strategies as another abortion battle looms
Texas Democrats and abortion rights advocates are strategizing amid mounting worries over what the GOP-led Legislature and federal lawmakers may do in the coming months to further restrict access to the procedure. Full Story
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![State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, stands with House colleagues to announce the "Trust. Respect. Access." campaign for reproductive rights on Feb. 8, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Ted Cruz, Bernie Sanders rumble in health care debate
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz on Tuesday night debated the future of Obamacare with U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent. Full Story
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![U.S. Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, debate the future of Obamacare on CNN on Feb. 7, 2017.]()
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Texas legislators urged to "get it right" on child welfare at rally
Standing in front of the Capitol in 80-degree heat, attendees gathered at a rally sponsored by Child Protection Roundtable of Texas and the Texas Home Visiting Coalition urging legislators to make long awaited changes to how the state handles abused and neglected children. Full Story
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![State Rep. Cindy Burkett, R-Sunnyvale, speaks at a rally in support of overhauling Texas' child welfare system in front of the state Capitol in Austin on Feb. 7, 2016.]()
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At state agencies without a public crisis, workers fear they won't see raises
Advocates for state employees hope that lawmakers approve substantial pay raises — including for state workers who don't work at an agency that's facing a high-profile crisis. Full Story
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![Yolanda White, a board member for the Texas State Employees Union, speaks at a press conference on January 30, 2017 in front of the state Capitol.]()
Credit: Texas State Employees Union -
Michael Burgess will lead the GOP charge on unwinding Obamacare
The eight-term congressman chairs a House subcommittee tasked with forging the path forward for a landmark health care bill that many Republicans campaigned on repealing. "That's going to be my life for the next two years," he said. Full Story
Credit: Allison Shelley for The Texas Tribune -
Senate Finance Committee hears parents' plea to halt therapy cuts
Parents brought their special needs children to a Senate hearing room to ask lawmakers to stop cutting services for their kids Full Story
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Texas Gov. Abbott's statewide hiring freeze comes with some exceptions
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday imposed an immediate hiring freeze on state agencies through the end of August. His office said Tuesday that the Department of Family and Protective Services is among those exempted from it. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks to the House on the opening Day of the 85th legislative session, Jan. 10, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Health: Human-animal hybrid spurs concern
In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: A new breakthrough implanting human cells into an animal host raises concerns, cancer death rates are on the decline and an interview with Rinarani Sanghavi of UT Southwestern Medical Center. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers fired up about state CPS and foster care woes
On Monday, the Senate Finance Committee scrutinized Department of Family and Protective Services budget requests while the House Workgroup on Child Protective Services floated a proposal to make the department a standalone agency. Full Story
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![Department of Family and Protective Services Commissioner Hank Whitman testifies July 12, 2016, to the House Committee on Human Services about his plans to reform the agency.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Federal court blocks Texas fetal remains burial rule
U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks ruled Texas cannot require health providers to bury or cremate fetuses, delivering another blow to state leaders in the reproductive rights debate. Full Story
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![Protesters of Texas' fetal remains burial rule gather outside the Governor's Mansion on Jan. 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Price and Moody on the state of mental health in Texas (video)
Full video of Evan Smith's 1/26 conversation about mental health policy in Texas with state Reps. Four Price, R-Amarillo, and Joe Moody, D-El Paso. Full Story
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Watch our video series on community concerns coming to the Capitol
In our six-part "State of Mind" series, we looked at various issues being discussed across Texas as state lawmakers debate bills during the 85th Legislative Session. Watch all of the videos here. Full Story
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Study: Longer distances to Texas clinics linked to decline in abortions
A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association links increased distances to decline in abortions in Texas. Full Story
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![A woman reflects quietly in the waiting room at Planned Parenthood of Gulf Coast's ambulatory surgical center in Houston Friday, August 2, 2013.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Judge temporarily blocks Planned Parenthood's ouster from Texas Medicaid
After three days of testimony from attorneys for the state and Planned Parenthood, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks is letting the reproductive health provider stay in Medicaid until Feb. 21. Full Story
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![A Planned Parenthood clinic in Austin is shown in 2015.]()
Credit: John Jordan -
As Texas debates CPS fix, caseworkers face long days, late nights (video)
The state’s top leaders have vowed to address the woeful shortcomings of the child welfare system. State lawmakers know that even in a tight budget cycle, they're going to have to spend money to address the problems. Full Story
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State focuses on anti-abortion group video in Planned Parenthood hearing
Showing multiple clips from a video released in 2015 by the anti-abortion group Center for Medical Progress, state attorneys and witnesses said the footage was grounds for dismissing Planned Parenthood from Medicaid. Full Story
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At court, Planned Parenthood argues against removal from Medicaid
Planned Parenthood lawyers and witnesses said in front of a packed courtroom that ending the organization’s reimbursements for Medicaid could endanger access to family planning services for Texas’ most vulnerable populations. Full Story
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![Planned Parenthood clinic in East Austin.]()
Credit: John Jordan -
In dueling budget proposals, Texas House and Senate billions apart
Texas House and Senate leaders are starting out the legislative session nearly $8 billion apart according in dueling budget proposals released Tuesday. Among the sticking points: spending on public education and border security. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Paul Hudson
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