The Brief: House panel takes up Convention of States
Lawmakers on a Texas House select committee are expected to consider today a resolution calling for a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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Cassandra Pollock
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Cassandra Pollock was a state politics reporter for the Tribune. She joined the Tribune full-time in June 2017 after a fellowship during the 85th Texas Legislature. Pollock spent her first two years at the Trib as an engagement reporter, which meant her name likely landed in your inbox every weekday morning with “The Brief,” a newsletter on all things Texas politics and public policy. Pollock is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. Pollock left The Texas Tribune in 2021.
Past Contributions
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
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Sen. Huffman, advocates at odds over best way to combat sexual assault
Some sexual assault survivors and advocates are clashing with a Texas senator over the best way to combat sexual assault on college campuses. Full Story
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![State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, during a meeting of the Senate State Affairs Committee on March 27, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
The Brief: An often-absent Dawnna Dukes
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, has missed more record votes during the current legislative session than any of the 150 members of the House by far, a Texas Tribune analysis shows. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, outside the Travis County Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center before being arraigned on Jan. 18, 2017.]()
Credit: Tim Park for The Texas Tribune -
Data shows Dukes has missed most votes in Texas House
State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, has missed more than 100 record votes during the current legislative session, the most of the 150 members of the House, according to a Tribune analysis of data from a legislative analytics website. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin, speaks on the House floor during the budget debate on April 6, 2017.]()
Credit: Laura Skelding for The Texas Tribune -
Doctors recommend five tests to determine heart disease risk
A new study found that five tests are better for predicting who may develop heart disease, the world's leading cause of death. Full Story
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Can a blood test determine which antidepressant is right for you?
Researchers exploring a possible link between inflammation and depression have found that certain protein levels in the blood can predict whether an antidepressant is likely to relieve depression symptoms. Full Story
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The Bookshelf: April 11, 2017
In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights The Plant Paradox. Full Story
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![The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in "Healthy" Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain]()
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Study: Telemedicine works well for concussion evaluations
When athletes are injured in remote or rural areas, telemedicine can work as well as doctors on the sidelines to evaluate players for concussions, according to a new study. Full Story
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![A health care provider demonstrates a form of telemedicine using a video consultation. Physicians' and industry groups are negotiating new rules governing telemedicine.]()
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Aging brains hinder deep sleep
One reason deep sleep declines as people get older is because aging brains have a hard time picking up the signals of fatigue, researchers determined in a recent study. Full Story
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Zika testing urged for some in South Texas
Texas health officials urged pregnant women in parts of South Texas to be tested for the Zika virus as warm weather approaches, since it increases the likelihood the mosquito-born disease can spread. Full Story
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![Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can transmit the Zika virus, which has been linked to birth defects, to humans. Officials say there have been no cases of mosquito-to-human transmission in Texas.]()
Credit: Erik F. Brandsborg / Flickr