Past Contributions

• Early STAAR Results Are as Expected, TEA Says

  By Minjae Park June 8, 2012

  In initial results from the new State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, just more than half of students working on a ninth-grade level met the passing standards for writing, while 87 percent passed biology. Full Story 

• For Libertarians, Greens, Convention is Primary

  By Minjae Park June 8, 2012

  Like the two major parties, the Libertarians and the Greens will also hold conventions this weekend. Neither party has primaries, so the conventions will decide which candidates will be their nominees for state and federal offices. Full Story 

• After Juneteenth Project Stalls, a Replacement Emerges for State Capitol

  By Minjae Park June 8, 2012

  A Juneteenth monument was built for the Capitol, but it won't be installed after all. Concerns were raised about the design of one of the statues as well as historical inaccuracies. A new monument is coming to the Capitol instead. Full Story 

• Hunger Study: One in Four Texas Children at Risk

  By Minjae Park June 4, 2012

  A new study by Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity, says that in 2010, 27.1 percent of Texas children faced food insecurity, defined by the USDA as lacking consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Full Story 

• Interactive: Dollars Spent Per Vote in 2012 Primary

  By Ryan Murphy and Minjae Park June 4, 2012

  Republican and Democratic candidates spent $90 million in the lead-up to the May 29 primary. This interactive shows each candidate's expenditure totals, votes received and average amount spent per vote. Full Story 

• Proposed SpaceX Launch Site in Texas Draws Concerns

  By Minjae Park June 1, 2012

  SpaceX, which just sent the first private spacecraft to the International Space Station, has proposed building a launch pad in Texas. But the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is concerned the proposed site is too close to endangered species. Full Story 

• Michael Burgess: The TT Interview

  By Minjae Park May 31, 2012

  The Republican congressman from Lewisville on his objections to a law setting higher efficiency standards for lightbulbs and how he intends to stop the Department of Energy from enforcing the standards. Full Story 

• Davis to Law Enforcement: Report Rape Kit Backlog

  By Minjae Park May 30, 2012

  State Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and the Department of Public Safety are sending a reminder message to Texas law enforcement agencies: They must follow a new state law requiring them to report their backlog of untested rape kits. Full Story 

• Zedler Faces Police Chief in HD-96 GOP Primary

  By Minjae Park May 24, 2012

  Republican state Rep. Bill Zedler, who does not shy away from politically charged issues, faces a primary challenge from Mike Leyman, a school district police chief who calls himself a "reasonable conservative." Full Story 

• Report: Texas' Energy Use Could Exceed Capacity by 2022

  By Minjae Park May 22, 2012

  Texas' chief power-grid operator forecasts that in 10 years, demand for electricity in Texas will outpace the state's capacity to generate it. Demand for electricity is rising with growth in the population and the economy. Full Story