The Brief: Feb. 19, 2015
Senate budget writers on Wednesday lit into Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek, a former senator himself, in a hearing that concluded with another call for him to resign. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Commission head Kyle Janek (l.) and state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who called for his resignation on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Private Dallas College Will Put Students to Work
Starting next fall, all students at Paul Quinn College will have jobs, either on campus or with local businesses, during their entire enrollment. In exchange, they'll get much cheaper tuition, making the school more affordable. Full Story
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![Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell addresses students in the school's library.]()
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The Brief: Feb. 17, 2015
A Brownsville federal judge dropped a late-night legal bombshell Monday night, halting President Obama's executive action on immigration. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott indicates his willingness to sue President Obama on immigration during a press conference Nov. 24, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Feb. 13, 2015
The Kroll report, which looked into the admissions process at UT-Austin and whether some well-connected people had too much influence on that process, surfaced on Thursday. Full Story
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![Regent Wallace L. Hall, Jr. of the University of Texas System at the regular meeting of the Board on May 15, 2014]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Analysis: Shooting the Messenger While Stumbling on His Message
Admissions at the University of Texas at Austin are doled out according to qualifications almost all of the time. But that "almost" hides a problem originally pointed out by a nettlesome regent: Sometimes, the bigwigs tilt the scales. Full Story
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![University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall talks with colleague Gene Powell during a break at a regents' meeting on May 14, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: Powers Addresses Admissions Report Findings
At a press conference on Thursday, University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers responded to an external review that shows he helped secure college admittance for some students over the objections of the admissions office. Full Story
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Report: Powers Overruled UT Admissions Office
University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers has helped secure college admittance for students over the objections of the admissions office, according to an external review of lawmaker and regent influence at the flagship campus. Full Story
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![UT President Bill Powers speaks during a UT Board of Regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Feb. 12, 2015
The debate over the expansion of rights to carry guns onto university campuses and openly with a permit moves from rallies outside the Capitol to legislative hearings inside the building today. Full Story
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![Almost forgotten in the midst of Texas Muslim Capitol Day, an open carry advocate displays his gun and the Israeli flag on Jan. 29, 2015.]()
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The 84th Lege Page: Higher Education
During the legislative session, we're compiling "hot lists" of issues across key policy areas. This week, the featured list on our Lege page is Higher Ed. Subscribe to our Trib+Edu newsletter for more education news. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 6, 2015
Rick Perry had some choice words in an interview Thursday with the Tribune and the Washington Post on what separates him from Ted Cruz. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz]()
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Video: McRaven on Graduation Rates
At our 2/5 conversation, Admiral William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, talked about the flagging four-year graduation rates at our public universities — and what to do about them. Full Story
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Video: McRaven on Campus Carry
At our 2/5 conversation, Admiral William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, explained his opposition to campus carry legislation. Full Story
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Video: McRaven on In-State Tuition
At our 2/5 conversation, Admiral William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, defended the current state law allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With William McRaven
Full video of my 2/5 conversation with Adm. William McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas System. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 5, 2015
House Speaker Joe Straus leaned toward the familiar in filling open spots at the top of the chamber's top-tier committees. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, in the Texas House of Representatives, Feb. 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Aggies, Longhorns on the Same Team for Higher Ed
Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin were rivals on the football field, but the state's two biggest schools come together every two years in the political arena for Orange and Maroon Legislative Day. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 4, 2015
The ability of Austin tech firm 21CT to secure a $20 million Medicaid fraud software contract through a no-bid program run by the state's Department of Information Resources drew intense scrutiny from Senate budget writers on Tuesday. Full Story
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![This is a photo of one of two $2800 chairs ordered by Jack Stick's office when he was deputy inspector general. The chairs which resemble the ones used in the Texas Legislature committee hearing rooms, were discovered after the resignations of Stick, and Doug Wilson, inspector general.]()
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McRaven: Campus Carry Would Create "Less Safe" Environment
Allowing concealed weapons to be carried on college and university campuses would create "less safe" environments, University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven wrote in a letter to legislative leaders on Thursday. Full Story
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![Retired Admiral William McRaven, shown last year, took over as chancellor of the UT System on Jan. 5.]()
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Abbott: Replace Business Incentive With University Fund
Gov. Greg Abbott wants to eliminate an incentive program for technology startups in favor of a new program that would make payments to universities that recruit prestigious faculty. Full Story
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![Gov.-elect Greg Abbott gives a speech at a Texas Public Policy Foundation conference on Jan. 8, 2015.]()
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The Brief: Jan. 27, 2015
Guns were a big topic of conversation inside the Capitol and outside of it on Monday. Full Story
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![Chris Way and his son Ryan, 2, participate in an open carry march on March 12, 2014 during the South by Southwest festival. The event was led by the Austin chapter of Come and Take It.]()
Credit: Erika Rich