The latest economy news from The Texas Tribune.
Use these interactive maps to compare the level of food insecurity across Texas to the number of Texans who receive federal food stamps and the estimated economic impact of the food assistance funding. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/SNAPStamps.jpg)
The Legislative Budget Board — headed by House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — is asking state agencies to assume they'll have 10 percent less to spend in the next budget than they have now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/budgetcuts004.jpg)
A massive expansion of the Panama Canal will double the capacity of its trade route by 2014. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, it will likely mean a significant increase in freight traffic for Texas, which is looking at how to accommodate the extra boats, trucks and trains set to travel through the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Panama-Canal.jpg)
Nearly 100 local government entities in Texas have online access to a database with Texans’ employment information. This interactive shows which entities access the database — and how often. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Law-EnforcementApp.jpg)
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked some questions from the latest UT/TT poll about the economy, the state of the state and the country, and the most important problems ahead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1.png){kind=logo}
Economists don’t think the loss of state jobs will have a significant continuing impact on the Texas economy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/want_ads.JPG)
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, discussed his opposition to Gov. Rick Perry's anti-tax pledge, which he says is "disrespectful" to the "adults" in the Legislature. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ACaronaJohn078CMS.jpg)
Although economic growth has slowed, April marks the 21st month in a row that the state has gained jobs, according to the latest statistics released by the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/JOBS.jpg)
According to demographic data released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, 55.2 percent of Texas' 2011 population was of a race other than non-Hispanic white, making it one of five "minority-majority" states in the nation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CensusApp-Latinos.jpg)
Expanding the role of advanced practice nurses in the next legislative session would add nearly 100,000 permanent jobs to the current Texas economy, according to a new report by economist Ray Perryman. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/NursingMapApp.jpg)
With the state government tightening its belt, there are now 10,200 fewer state government employees, according to our latest analysis of data collected by the state auditor’s office. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/EmploymentDataApp_1.jpg)
Democrats see the governor as wounded and unpopular, and the more he becomes an issue in the 2012 elections, the happier they are. He has become their favorite whipping post and fundraising foil. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PerryCompact.jpg)
As Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, most of the Texas students identified as homeless by their school districts are ineligible for federal aid because of mixed definitions of what it means to be homeless. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/homeless.jpg)
Amazon.com will start collecting sales taxes from Texas customers and invest $200 million and create 2,500 jobs in the state over the next four years. In return, the state will drop its efforts to collect back taxes from the company. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Amazon.jpg)
Lawmakers used money from the Crime Victims Compensation Fund to balance their budget, and now the fund is short of money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB9433.jpg)
Two House committees held a joint hearing today to explore how scientific research at universities can be commercialized for the benefit of businesses and the state economy. They heard testimony from the state's leading research universities. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/University-Research.jpg)
Amazon.com and the state are working on a deal to get the online retailer to pay sales tax and create jobs in Texas, reviving talks that fell apart at the end of last year's legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/AmazonTexas2_1.jpg)
There's another positive report on the Texas economy: 10,900 jobs were added in March, and the unemployment rate dropped to 7 percent from 8 percent last year, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story
Ben, Evan, Ross and Emily talk about races to watch in the fast-approaching primary, Gov. Rick Perry's budget compact announcement and the Planned Parenthood merger. And Evan hears from some special birthday guests. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
When Walmart, one of Texas’ largest private employers, dropped out of the state’s workers’ compensation system, it was a heavy blow to advocates of the system who have watched more large companies offer private injury benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Walmart-CartPush-2.jpg)