The latest René Oliveira news from The Texas Tribune.
Democratic state Rep. René Oliveira almost avoided a runoff in the primary for House District 37, but his recent arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated has given renewed momentum to challenger Alex Dominguez. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/63e60ec20198a88e45e70579b52c32b5/Dominguez_Oliveira_TT.jpg)
State Rep. René Oliveira, D-Brownsville, has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to authorities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/65fabb2d4dca98fbb82bea58a0e1c37c/Rene_Oliveira_mug_TT.jpg)
The chairman of the House Business & Industry Committee said he was "stunned" to learn there is an obscure law that makes it easy for rent-to-own companies to file criminal charges against customers who fall behind on payments. The committee is looking at changing the law after a joint investigation by The Texas Tribune and NerdWallet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/1bf474dd3f4111837fad36867af3671c/Matt_Grynwald_LS_TT.jpg)
The Texas Division of Workers' Compensation is not maintaining race data on all valid worker injury claims, despite a law requiring it. Advocates say without the data it's impossible to tell if injured minorities face discrimination at work. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/10/09/Glenn-2.jpg)
More than 20 years after the Texas Legislature passed a law establishing a 24-hour work safety hotline, real people are answering the telephone calls around the clock. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/08/HurtingHotline-6.jpg)
State authorities are supposed to maintain a bilingual, 24-hour hotline for workers to report safety violations. Officials acknowledged Friday that the hotline has been inoperative after hours. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Workers.jpg)
At least half a million Texas workers have no workplace insurance coverage, either through the workers' compensation system or the private market, state insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b9c1abec19fd4f11a0e144c28988e81/BD%20INC%20House%20379%202013)
Your evening reading: toll road swap floated for Austin; Texas Supreme Court hears same-sex divorce cases; new poll shows Abbott with commanding lead Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TrafficCongestion_on_I35.jpg)
A bill up for debate in a House committee on Tuesday would prohibit ticket brokers and live event venues from restricting how fans re-sell their tickets. Venues and sports teams say the measure protects scalpers, not consumers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/01/TicketMasterTickets.jpg)
Some are waiting to see what the courts will do. Others want to see if any opponents surface. Regardless, with six days to go until the filing deadline, how many incumbents haven't filed yet? A whole bunch. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DuncanRobert.jpg)
They lost in 2010, but some candidates are hoping by now that voters have changed their minds. The 2012 ballot will be stippled with officeholders who were cast out by voters last election but want to try again. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cc018698d0a006d8abe4faf643df4668/DONT%20USE%20Former%20Reps%202011)
Legislation banning “sanctuary city” policies in Texas was voted out of the House State Affairs Committee today, sending the controversial bill to the full House for consideration. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Sanctuarycities_1.png)
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services is holding a public hearing today to present proposed cuts to its budget and to hear feedback. The five-percent reductions are in response to a request for state agenices to slash costs in light of a projected multibillion-dollar state budget shortfall. Ben Philpott, who's covering Texas politics and policy for KUT News and the Tribune, says lawmakers have also started looking for ways to increase revenues. Full Story