The latest state agencies news from The Texas Tribune.
Two fresh departures from the troubled Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, announced Thursday, bring to five the number of high-level officials calling it quits since The Texas Tribune began publishing a series of stories about lavish spending, mismanagement and regulatory overreach at TABC. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/06/Earl_Pearson_and_Andy_Pena.jpg)
After a disastrous November election, Denton County is planning a complete return to paper ballots. The move is in part a response to voter distrust of electronic voting machines. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/08/Voting_Machine.jpg)
A shake-up continues at the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission with the resignation of TABC General Counsel Emily Helm, the third top official to leave the agency in recent months. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/07/03/TABC__Emily_Helm_TT.jpg)
After a three-year probe, state liquor regulators asked an administrative court to cancel every permit held by Spec's, the state's largest liquor retailer, or fine it more than $700 million. Instead, the judges recommended nothing but a warning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/06/30/SPECS_Houston_2_Stravato_TT.jpg)
The Texas Department of Public Safety surprised customers last week when the agency trimmed office hours to save money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/07/TxTrib-DriverLicenseMegaCenter.JPG)
After the EPA announced that the implementation of new, stricter standards for ozone levels in the air will be delayed a year, the city of San Antonio is forging ahead with plans to reduce emissions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/31/SanAntonio-Skyline.jpg)
Prosecutors in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton are asking the state's highest criminal court to overturn a ruling backing his push for a new judge. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/12/UP9A0072.jpg)
The appeals court did not explicitly order Gallagher's removal from the case but voiced agreement with Paxton's lawyers that he is "without authority to continue to preside over" it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/02/Pax-1.jpg)
Politicians who make money off government contracts will have to disclose the work under a bill that got final approval in the Legislature Sunday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d5113915df216293c19ff8879d0f5638/BD%20INC%20Giovanni%20Capriglione%20TT%20NYT%202013)
House members accused the Senate of playing games with Texans’ health and safety by holding out on legislation that would keep state agencies, including the Texas Medical Board, in existence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/28/Larry_Gonzales_presser_day_139_BD_TT.jpg)
Amid increased talk of a special session over other issues, both the Texas House and Senate voted Saturday evening to approve a $217 billion, two-year budget, the only bill lawmakers are required to pass. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/04/14/Nelson-Zerwas.jpg)
Lawmakers cut a $3 million initiative to help victims of sex trafficking, ending child welfare advocates' hopes that 2017 would be the year they would finally see funds set aside to help children who had been sold for sex. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/02/08/Intro-LEAD-CCR_2350.jpg)
Steven Weinberg abruptly quit this week as commissioner of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, which has been roiled by reports of extravagant spending, mismanagement and heavy-handed regulation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/24/TABC_21.jpg)
Both chambers passed bills on Tuesday aimed at curbing postpartum depression and the alarming rise in Texas mothers dying less than a year after giving birth. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Pregnant-Mother-Holding-Belly.jpg)
Texas senators voted unanimously on Monday to increase money given to kinship care families. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/02/07/Children_Holding_Hands_Elizabeth_Ann_Colette.jpg)
Texas state senators voted to allow child welfare providers to be protected from legal retaliation if they assert their “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Colonias__Children.jpg)
After moving at a glacial pace several times this Legislative session, the Texas House on Saturday kicked into high gear and passed measures that could help them avoid a special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/20/Stickland_property_tax_MKC_TT.jpg)
With a Republican president in the White House, Texas health officials are seeking to restore federal family planning funding they gave up under the Obama administration to take a stand against Planned Parenthood. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/05/15/Womens_Health_Blanca_LS_TT.jpg)
A state appeals court has intervened in the securities fraud case against Attorney General Ken Paxton, putting it on hold as his lawyers try to get a new judge. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2017/01/12/7C2A6006.jpg)
In a March 3 meeting with a constituent, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller suggested that his agency could change the label on a hog poison to eliminate important warnings and a requirement to bury the carcasses of poisoned animals, which he said simply wasn't "doable." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/09/14/Miller-5.jpg)