Rep. Chet Edwards tries to assuage disgruntled Democrats on health care vote [1]

By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALDN, 18 May 2010

U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, reached out to some Democratic activists who took offense to his opposition to the recently passed health care reform bill at an East Waco luncheon Monday.

Analysis: What to look for in today's primaries [2]

By Richard S. Dunham, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 May 2010

Today's high-stakes primary races — and a congressional special election in Pennsylvania — have been dubbed Super Tuesday because they are the biggest collection of contests held thus far in 2010. There's a lot at stake, including the careers of two Senate incumbents and the fate of a longtime Democratic House seat.

First look at Cap Metro candidates [3]

By Ben Wear, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 May 2010

Central Texas got its first look Monday at the two women vying to be Capital Metro's next leader.

Texas lawmakers likely to tighten control over baby blood samples [4]

By Mary Ann Roser, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 May 2010

Texas parents could get more information and more control over their babies' blood samples including the right to own those samples after the state tests the blood for 28 disorders, lawmakers indicated at a hearing Monday.

Uninformed Consent [5]

By Emily Ramshaw, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 May 2010

Lawmakers said Monday that the state's newborn disease screening program — which has been used to warehouse infant blood samples for biomedical and forensics research — has misled parents and given them few options to protect their babies' DNA.

Conservatives on Texas board leaving legacy in schools but losing clout [6]

By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 May 2010

When social conservatives on the State Board of Education put the final touches on social studies curriculum standards this week, it will be a significant victory in their years-long push to imprint their beliefs upon what Texas students learn.

Workers' Comp: What's Next? [7]

By Elise Hu, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 May 2010

On the heels of allegations last week by former employees of the Texas Department of Insurance’s Division of Workers’ Compensation that their higher-ups have failed to sanction or remove dozens of doctors accused of overtreatment and overbilling, Texas lawmakers are pledging to investigate the consequences for patient care and the state’s finances.

Texas taxpayers footing big bill for Gov. Rick Perry's temporary home [8]

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 17 May 2010

With the state facing a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has spent almost $600,000 in public money during the past two years to live in a sprawling rental home in the hills above the capital, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.

Dallas City Council may explore protesting Arizona immigration law [9]

By Steve Thompson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 17 May 2010

The protest against Arizona's new immigration law, which reached Dallas City Hall's doorstep during an immigration rally earlier this month, may soon find its way inside the City Council's chamber.

Dallas council members give some thought to tax increase [10]

By Rudolph Bush and Steve Thompson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 May 2010

A push to increase Dallas' property tax rate appears to be gaining traction with a number of Dallas City Council members who say services such as parks, recreation centers and libraries have already been cut too deeply.

Sculley targeting junk food [11]

By Josh Baugh, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 18 May 2010

City Manager Sheryl Sculley has declared war on sugar. Well, at least when it comes to sodas and candy bars. Sugary sodas no longer have a home in the city's 250 beverage vending machines, and unhealthy foods in the 75 snack machines in city facilities are next.

State to stick with IBM on data contract [12]

By Kate Alexander, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 17 May 2010

State officials say they will for now tough it out with IBM Corp. on a troubled data center consolidation project.

Villarreal to head SAISD bond advisory panel [13]

By Lindsay Kastner, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 18 May 2010

State Rep. Mike Villarreal will lead a citizens committee to advise the San Antonio Independent School District in planning for a potential November bond election.

Texas doctors opting out of Medicare at alarming rate [14]

By Todd Ackerman, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 May 2010

Texas doctors are opting out of Medicare at alarming rates, frustrated by reimbursement cuts they say make participation in government-funded care of seniors unaffordable.

The Next Deepwater? [15]

By Morgan Smith, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 18 May 2010

While Congress investigates the April 20 explosion that killed eleven people and spiked an underwater oil leak that continues to spill more than 210,000 gallons a day, another BP rig is at the center of its own firestorm.

Lawsuit seeks to halt drilling at an even deeper BP site [16]

By Lise Olsen, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 May 2010

A former safety consultant for BP asked a federal judge Monday to order the oil giant to cease drilling at its Atlantis platform in the Gulf, citing federal regulators' failure to investigate potential dangers at the site — described by BP as the deepest off-shore well in the world.

Land commissioner: Oil spill unlikely to reach Texas coast [17]

By Jared Janes, THE MONITOR, 17 May 2010

Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson told a legislative committee Monday that the Texas Gulf Coast is likely to see little impact from the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hospitals criticized over offers to earn or save money by sharing electronic patient data [18]

By Jason Roberson, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 17 May 2010

Electronic records are expected to allow doctors to coordinate care for the sickest patients, eliminate paper-transcribing errors that lead to inaccurate prescriptions, and avoid duplicate lab and imaging tests. But with the promises of efficiency come questions of privacy.

Legalizing pot could help Juárez, officials say [19]

By Diana Washington Valdez, EL PASO TIMES, 17 May 2010

City Reps. Beto O'Rourke and Susie Byrd called a news conference Monday to say they believe reforming drug laws and legalizing marijuana would help reduce violence in Mexico.

Third Texan in a week killed in Afghanistan [20]

By Lindsay Wise, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 17 May 2010

A 29-year-old Navy petty officer from Houston has been killed by a bomb blast in Afghanistan, Department of Defense officials announced on Monday.

Suspected Juárez drug cartel lieutenant arrested [21]

By Daniel Borunda, EL PASO TIMES, 18 May 2010

The Mexican army has arrested a reputed lieutenant in the Juárez drug cartel who 20 years ago escaped from La Tuna federal prison in Anthony, Texas.