Past Contributions

• The Bookshelf: May 24, 2016

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  In this week's Bookshelf, our content partner Kirkus Reviews highlights The Human Superorganism. Full Story 

• Men Should Test for Breast Cancer Gene Mutations

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Dangers posed by mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are not only factors for women worried about breast cancer – men with the mutation are likelier to be diagnosed with more aggressive and lethal prostate cancer. Full Story 

• Texas Losses Mount from Refusal to Expand Medicaid

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Hospitals in North Texas will face losses if state leaders continue to refuse Medicaid expansion. Texas could lose federal funds for uninsured care if it does not find a solution before a waiver expires in December 2017. Full Story 

• Health Care Nonprofits Woo Private Investors

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Although they don’t answer to shareholders, nonprofit companies that run large health care operations are paying increasing attention to investors, with roadshows, investment calls and promises of greater transparency. Full Story 

• CDC: Eighty Percent of Pools Fail Health, Safety Tests

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 23, 2016

  Routine tests by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of public pools in five states – including Texas – found that almost eight out of 10 had at least one safety violation and about 1 in 8 had to be closed. Full Story 

• The Brief: Mark Cuban Is Latest Texan To Tout Himself for Veep

  By Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 23, 2016

  As conventions for Republicans and Democrats draw closer, presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle are looking toward the general election and focusing selecting a running mate. Full Story 

• Democratic Super PAC Makes Early Buy in Gallego-Hurd Contest

  By Abby Livingston, Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 19, 2016

  Also, Gov. Greg Abbott kicks off his book tour and a certain tweeting Texas Supreme Court justice pops up on a shortlist of U.S. Supreme Court nominees in a Trump administration. Full Story 

• The Brief: Texas Justice Lands on Trump's Shortlist for Supreme Court

  By Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 19, 2016

  Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett was one of 11 justices named by the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump as potential nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court – if Trump is elected. Full Story 

• Report: Texas Must Increase Water Conservation Efforts

  By Madlin Mekelburg May 18, 2016

  Most of the water utilities in Texas need to "substantially increase" efforts to conserve water, according to a recent review of more than 300 city utilities by the Texas Living Waters Project. Full Story 

• The Brief: State Leaders React to Obama's Transgender Directive

  By Madlin Mekelburg and John Reynolds May 18, 2016

  Attorney General Ken Paxton submitted a letter seeking clarification on a directive from the Obama administration advising public schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms aligned with their gender identity. Full Story