Politics
Candidates, PACs Hold $167 Million at Mid-year
By Ross Ramsey and Matt Stiles, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 19 August 2010
The 2,694 political committees and campaigns that filed mid-year reports with the Texas Ethics Commission together held $167 million in their accounts, but only 274 of them had more than $100,000 on hand. Our interactive chart tells you who or what they are and how much they've banked.
Edwards criticizes Flores' health care plan for veterans
By Michael W. Shapiro, WACO TRIBUNE-HERALD, 19 August 2010
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, criticized comments from his GOP opponent endorsing both a private health care option for veterans and treatment of veterans through the military health care system.
Edwards slams opponent's plan to let veterans use health benefits in private sector
By Tom Benning, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 August 2010
Rep. Chet Edwards slammed his Republican opponent's plan to allow use of veterans' health benefits in the private sector, saying Wednesday that it would "destroy the VA health care system as we know it."
Garland Rep. Driver says he welcomes Travis County review of expenses
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 19 August 2010
A North Texas legislator accused of taking taxpayer reimbursements for travel that had been paid for by his campaign welcomes a review by prosecutors into what he says were unintentional errors.
On The Road: Bill White Pays Visit To Tyler
By James Waterson, TYLER MORNING TELEGRAPH, 19 August 2010
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White met with the president of the Smith County Retired Teachers & School Personnel Association Wednesday at Luby's Restaurant.
Government
Early look at upcoming Texas immigration debate
By Tim Eaton, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 18 August 2010
A legislative committee hearing Wednesday offered a glimpse of the immigration debate that Texas lawmakers could have in the upcoming session with Republicans pushing to limit illegal immigration and Democrats questioning the wisdom of doing so, especially in a tight budget year.
Texas officials estimate at least $250 million spent on illegal immigrants annually
By Christy Hoppe, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 August 2010
Texas taxpayers spent at least $250 million last year in state prison and health care costs for illegal immigrants, but figuring out the precise cost will be difficult, state officials testified on Wednesday.
Texas officials tally costs of illegal immigration
By Zahira Torres, EL PASO TIMES, 19 August 2010
Undocumented immigrants cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars each year, executives of state agencies said Wednesday.
Lawmakers Learn of Difficulties, Costs of Immigration
By Julian Aguilar, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 19 August 2010
Without an advanced degree or one of a limited variety of seasonal jobs, unskilled laborers have almost no way to earn permanent residency status in the U.S. through employment — regardless of how long they work here or how faithfully they adhere to visa requirements, according to testimony Wednesday at a hearing of the House State Affairs Committee on the costs of services provided to undocumented immigrants in Texas.
Emerging Research Universities Vie for Tier One Status
By Reeve Hamilton, THE TEXAS TRIBUNE, 19 August 2010
Seven Texas universities will meet in the Capitol today, all seeking the most coveted of higher education grails: so-called tier-one status.
State budget could be 'ugly' if Medicare funding goes down
By Robert T. Garrett, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 19 August 2010
The Senate's chief budget writer says that Texas' next two-year budget will be "ugly" if Congress doesn't continue paying states artificially high rates of Medicaid matching money.
West Texas redistricting wish list may be tough to deliver, legislators say
By Elliott Blackburn, LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL, 19 August 2010
Texans drove hundreds of miles to ask state legislators Wednesday for simpler, more compact political districts, a wish Lubbock’s outgoing representative warned may be tough to legally grant.
Foster kids may be sent out of county
By Marty Schladen, EL PASO TIMES, 19 August 2010
Funding cuts for foster care mean some children are likely to be sent out of the county, possibly hours away, officials said Wednesday.
Houston City Council strikes down plan to change term limits
By Bradley Olson, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 18 August 2010
City Council on Wednesday rejected a proposal that would expand the number of years council members and the mayor could remain in office.
San Antonio smoking ban vote today
By Josh Baugh, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 19 August 2010
The City Council is poised today to adopt rules that will make San Antonio smoke-free — after more than four months of rancorous debate and a much quieter last-minute round of deal-making.
Brownsville ban may not be in the bag
By Lynn Brezosky, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 19 August 2010
This city's efforts to become the first in Texas to ban nonreusable grocery bags hit a snag this week when owners of its four-decade-old paper bag plant threatened to pack up their 150 jobs and tote them — and the company's tax payments — out of town.
Hill Country power line is branded unnecessary
By Zeke MacCormack, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 19 August 2010
A controversial 345-kilovolt transmission line proposed between Gillespie and Lampasas counties isn't needed to meet the state's current electric demands, an analysis released Wednesday says.
News
Teen who collapsed at residential treatment facility dies
By Terri Langford, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 18 August 2010
The state's foster care agency revealed Wednesday that a 17-year-old girl who collapsed about a month ago at a residential treatment facility has died.
Texas City residents unaware of release at BP refinery
By Monica Hatcher, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 18 August 2010
For 40 days, flares burned 500,000 pounds of toxic chemicals over BP's Texas City refinery. Yet residents didn't know until weeks later that the flare released 17,000 pounds of cancer-causing benzene.
Seton says it can't operate clinic for high-risk pregnant women at hospital because of Catholic teachings
By Mary Ann Roser, AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, 18 August 2010
The Seton Family of Hospitals plans to stop operating a clinic for women with high-risk pregnancies because providing birth control services to new mothers would be in conflict with the Catholic Church.
Feds: No timeline for completing Gulf relief well
By Harry R. Weber, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 18 August 2010
The government's point man for the Gulf oil spill said Wednesday he cannot provide a timeline right now for when BP's blown-out well will finally be plugged for good.
Texas high school seniors score about the same this year on ACT exam
By Terrence Stutz, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 18 August 2010
Texas high school students were in a holding pattern on the ACT this year as the state's average score on the college entrance exam was unchanged from a year ago, although a greater percentage of students met college readiness benchmarks.
Dallas businessman Perot gives $20 million to M.D. Anderson
By Todd Ackerman, HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 18 August 2010
Dallas businessman H. Ross Perot is giving the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center $20 million for research into therapies targeted at patients' specific tumors.
People
Life after politics: Swinford considers career as lobbyist
By Enrique Rangel, AMARILLO GLOBE-NEWS, 18 August 2010
Retiring state Rep. David Swinford confirmed Tuesday what had been rumored for weeks. He is thinking about becoming a lobbyist after leaving the Texas Legislature.