The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Texas businesses are skeptical of the federal health care law, according to a report released by the comptroller's office. Nearly two-thirds of survey respondents said the law will be bad for business. Full Story
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Kerry Max Cook was released from death row in 1997 but has never officially been declared an exoneree. Michael Hall of Texas Monthly reports on Cook's complex case and his challenging fight to move on with his life. Full Story
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Want to fire up a politician's ambitions? Just create an opening in a higher position — or the possibility of one. Some Texas Republicans are salivating at the prospects of a new job. Full Story
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Aaronson interactively maps Texas Medicaid providers, Aguilar talks legalization with the head of the Drug Policy Alliance, Galbraith on farmers watering what they know won't grow, Grisson sits down with exoneree Michael Morton, Hamilton on the elusive $10,000 college degree, Murphy et al. update the 2012 election brackets, Ramsey on Bill Ratliff's frank budget analysis, Ramshaw on a hospital where the overweight need not apply, Root on Joe Straus' primary opponent and Tan rounds up reactions to the Supreme Court's health care hearings: The best of our best content from March 26-30, 2012. Full Story
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The Texas economy continued its upward climb in February, gaining 27,900 jobs while the unemployment rate dropped slightly, from 7.3 percent to 7.1 percent. Even government jobs grew. Full Story
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Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation commissioners adopted standards of care this week for dogs and cats by licensed breeders. Animal rights groups argue the standards don't go far enough. Full Story
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Texas' electric grid prefers to stay isolated from the rest of the nation. But proposals are afoot to boost outside ties — something that proponents say could help ease the state's looming electricity crunch. Full Story
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The executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance on how drug policies are making Texas’ criminal justice system “horrific,” and who has the most to gain and lose by amending current drug policies. Full Story
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Lawmakers and health care advocates gathered today to kick off the state's first annual Minority Cancer Awareness Month, designated in the last legislative session to bring awareness to racial disparities in cancer survival. Full Story
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By mid-summer last year, it was so hot and dry that many West Texas cotton farmers gave up hope of producing a crop. Yet they had to keep watering, pumping from diminishing aquifers like the Ogallala, to claim crop insurance. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appears to be in the middle of the Republican pack in the Texas Senate, where he presides, according to an analysis of senators' votes by Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones. Full Story
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If the Supreme Court upholds the Affordable Care Act, Texas may see a surge in newly insured patients seeking primary care. As this interactive of primary-care workforce shortages from 2001 to 2011 shows, the number of physicians in your county isn't likely to keep up with demand. Full Story
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The death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has put self-defense laws like Florida's into focus. What does Texas law say about using deadly force in self-defense? Full Story
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In her first TV commercials — running during college basketball games this weekend and then in broader rotation in Austin and San Antonio starting next week — Texas Senate candidate Elizabeth Ames Jones says she'll create jobs and fight "Obama bureaucrats." Full Story
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The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the national child advocacy group Children's Rights cannot file its class-action suit on behalf of all 12,000 youth in Texas' long-term foster care system. Full Story
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The process of desalination needs to be explored as an option for the future, experts testified Thursday in Austin before the House Natural Resources Committee. Full Story
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Texas women’s reproductive rights have drawn attention lately over the federal government's decision to cut funding for the state’s Women’s Health Program. Use this interactive to see just how many pregnancies, births and abortions occur across the Lone Star State. Full Story
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Sen. Florence Shapiro’s departure means the end of a nearly two-decade-long tenure in the state Senate — and an opening in the top position on the Senate Education Committee for the first time since 2003. Full Story
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Apple Inc., which has reported having $100 billion in cash on hand, could get up to $35.5 million in various state and local incentives if it expands its operations in Austin. Full Story
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State Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, is exploring a 2014 run for comptroller — an office that would open up if Susan Combs decides to move on, perhaps to run for lieutenant governor. Full Story
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