The Brief: November 18, 2009
Could Sarah Palin be far behind? Full Story
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Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Smugglers
That warning comes as law enforcement officials report an increase in the number of youth from Mexico and the United States becoming involved in human and drug trafficking. Full Story
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T-Squared: Staff of Life
The latest addition to our elected officials directory: a listing of every staffer (we think) who works for a member of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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TribBlog: Imagine the Controversy
A for-profit company hopes to get approval to start two charter schools in Texas. Thursday's SBOE meeting will set the precedent for dealing with this murkier side of the charter school system. Full Story
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TribBlog: Physical Education Requirements Soon to be Gone
Amid handwringing over child obesity, SBOE likely will eliminate health and physical education requirements at this week's meeting. Full Story
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TribBlog: In his own words
The full text from state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh's e-mail response to The Texas Tribune for the story "Shapleigh Ever After" is pretty illuminating. Here it is for your viewing pleasure. Full Story
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Into Thin Air
Lobbyists spent a record $15 million on advertising during the 2005 session and another $12 million in 2007 — but less than $1 million this year. What happened? Full Story
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Shapleigh Ever After
The longtime El Paso state senator, who said last month that he would not run for reelection, hasn’t revealed his statewide ambitions, but his public and private remarks leave little doubt that he's seriously considering a gubernatorial bid. Full Story
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2010: Plano Dominoes
Plano City Councilwoman Mabrie Griffith Jackson is telling supporters she will resign that city job as early as Monday to put her name into the race to replace Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, who has decided he won't seek an 11th term next year. Full Story
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2010: McCall won't seek reelection
Brian McCall, a key member of House Speaker Joe Straus' leadership team, won't seek reelection next year Full Story
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KBH to TFRW: A change in plans
I must put what's best for my campaign aside and do what is best for Texas. That is why I must stay in the Senate while running for the Republican nomination for governor. I cannot walk away while this fight is being fought by our fellow Republicans. I must stay and fight with them. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
KBH resigns herself to staying in the Senate, Grissom investigates the broken border, Ramshaw outs IT contractors who make gigabucks from state agencies, Hu gives Hutchison and Perry the Stump Interrupted treatment, the new head of the Foresenic Science Commission faces his critics, Stiles posts a searchable database of fines levied by the state ethics commission, and Hamilton discovers the consequences of party switching (none): The best of the best from November 9 to 13, 2009. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Elise Hu -
Fail-safe?
Districts prepare to go to court with the TEA over minimum grades policies, prompting the question: How much should schools emulate the real world? And how many second chances should students get? Full Story
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Hire Power
Typically, Texas Child Protective Services experiences sky-high employee and caseworker vacancy rates, but as unemployment has soared, staffing numbers have blossomed — stabilizing child abuse caseloads. Why the bad economy is good news for one state agency. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
On the Records: Sick Of Waiting
Tired of waiting for the state to provide swine flu vaccine locations, The Dallas Morning News took matters into its own hands. Full Story
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Behind Closed Doors
Should the Texas Forensic Science Commission meet in private? The new chairman, John Bradley, says there's a good argument for it. Full Story
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Campaign Cash: To Cap, or Not to Cap?
Should the state set limits on political contributions? Depends on which candidate you ask. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Elise Hu -
Campaign finance: Mark Miner
Rick Perry's campaign spokesman says the governor opposes limits on contributions and thinks the solution is transparency, so that voters know who's backing whom. Full Story
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Is Texas in the Race?
The federal government is giving away $4.35 billion to state education systems through Race to the Top. But is Texas already out? Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Off The Books, Part Two: Contractor Conflicts
State contractors – many of whom get paid top dollar to advise Texas agencies – are largely immune from reporting conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva
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