The latest state agencies news from The Texas Tribune.
Jewish prison inmate Max Moussazadeh is demanding that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice serve him kosher food. On Monday, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear his case. Full Story
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More black and Hispanic students in Texas are taking the SAT, but they aren't doing as well, according to a report released Monday by the Texas Education Agency. Full Story
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We're liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's Law & Order track, which includes panels on exonerated inmates, forensic science, prosecutorial misconduct and the future of juvenile justice. Full Story
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We're liveblogging this weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's Energy & Environment track, which includes panels on the future of water in Texas, the state's electricity woes and the upcoming legislative session. Full Story
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With the launch of its new Moon Shots Program on Friday, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center hopes to go where no cancer research center has gone before: It wants to cure eight types of cancer. Full Story
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The cost to treat Texas inmates with hepatitis C is expected to soar by as much as 380 percent next year. Legislators, already facing a strained budget, will have to find millions more dollars to pay for this care. Full Story
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Texas has a severe shortage of mental health professionals, according to the federal government. This interactive map provides information on state-funded mental health care statewide. Full Story
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El Paso Democrat Martha Dominguez's apparent absence from the campaign trail has prompted her SBOE opponent to call her a "ghost" — and has sparked criticism from members of her own party. But that may not stop her from winning the race. Full Story
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The Texas secretary of state's office doesn't allow online voter registration, because it requires a signature. But there are other simple ways to register to vote. Full Story
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Insurance experts, legislators and coastal residents on Wednesday discussed how to reform the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association at the first hearing of the Joint Committee on Seacoast Territory Insurance. Full Story
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UPDATED: Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman replied to a letter from a Texas legislator urging her to reopen an investigation of State Farm over its handling of homeowners' claims after Hurricane Ike, saying the department will continue to monitor the company. Full Story
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The top 10 homeowners insurers in Texas paid out more than $270 million in claims related to last year's Bastrop wildfires, according to a new report. But that is still much less than some other catastrophes, like Dallas' April hailstorms, which led to $2 billion in insurance losses. Full Story
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New Texas Education Agency Commissioner Michael Williams will get a salary bump of about $29,000 over his predecessor, the governor's office confirmed Friday. Full Story
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Texas Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman has been the subject of concerns raised by lawmakers and consumer advocacy groups. But she deflects the criticism, saying her focus is only on how to best serve Texas consumers. Full Story
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Texas plans to join the more than 30 states that have already asked for a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind Act's requirements, according to a letter new state Education Commissioner Michael Williams sent school districts Thursday. Full Story
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At its first open forum, the Coastal Windstorm Task Force on Wednesday discussed potential legislative solutions to rising premiums and the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association’s financial challenges. Full Story
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As solitary confinement grows in the national spotlight, Texas lawmakers and advocates are concerned about the re-entry of prisoners held for years without much human contact. For many, it's a matter of public safety. Full Story
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In San Antonio, officials want to make Alamo Plaza appealing to both tourists and residents, but there isn't a consensus on the best way to do that. Some want vendors on the premises, but others say that would be disrespectful. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Transportation will decide soon whether to grant a new stretch of toll road the fastest speed limit in the country. More than just bragging rights are at stake. Full Story
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State senators on Thursday took advantage of a committee hearing on cross-state health coverage to question Insurance Commissioner Eleanor Kitzman on her controversial decision to delay previously-approved consumer protections. Full Story
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