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Ben Philpott is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin’s National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
Former Secretary of State James Baker visited the LBJ Library and Museum last night to talk with Texas Tribune Editor Evan Smith about the state of our world today. Ben Philpott, who's covering politics and policy for KUT News and the Tribune was there. And reports on Baker’' view of how the current administration is doing on some of the bigger foreign policy matters. Full Story
Former Secretary of State James Baker traveled to Austin Wednesday night to talk with Texas Tribune CEO and Editor in Chief Evan Smith about the state of the world. Full Story
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A year ago, staff at the Corpus Christi State School were forcing mentally disabled wards to fight each other, and state lawmakers raced to enact new accountability measures. How are they working out? Ben Philpott, who covers politics and public policy for KUT News and the Tribune, has this report. Full Story
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It has been a year since it was revealed that staff at the Corpus Christi State School were forcing their mentally disabled wards to fight each other. State lawmakers raced to enact new accountability measures. Ben Philpott, who's coving state politics and policy for the Tribune and KUT News, looks at what's actually changed. Full Story
The just-passed federal health care reform bill would prohibit states from dropping kids off the Children's Health Insurance Program and Medicaid until 2019. Texas budget writers used changes in CHIP eligibility to help balance the state's books in 2003. Ben Philpott, covering politics and public policy for the KUT News and the Tribune, reports on what the "no-drop" provision could mean to a state facing another multibillion-dollar budget shortfall next year. Full Story
Lawmakers from both sides of the US/Mexico border were in Mexico City this week working on plans to combat growing border drug violence. Violence that has grabbed headlines in Texas in recent days. KUT’s Ben Philpott reports on the plans to curb border violence. Full Story
Both Texas and the U.S. at large have begun climbing out of the latest economic recession. Now economists have begun looking back on the 2008-2009 downturn to see how it compared to other recent down economies. KUT reports on a new study from the Federal Reserve Bank in Dallas that puts the most recent recession at the top of the list. Ben Philpott is reporting for KUT News and the Texas Tribune. Full Story
A new study from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas compares the 2008-09 recession to other downturns — and puts it at the top of the list. Ben Philpott filed this report for KUT News and the Tribune. Full Story
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Republicans in southwest Travis County still need to choose between Paul Workman and Holly Turner before setting their sights on State Rep. Valinda Bolton, D-Austin, in November. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report. Full Story
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Republicans in southwest Travis County still need to pick between Paul Workman and Holly Turner before setting their sights on Democratic State Representative Valinda Bolton. Ben Philpott, who's covering the 2010 elections for the Tribune and KUT News, has more on the runoff race in House District 47. Full Story