state agencies

Ethan Nadelmann: The TT Interview

By Julián Aguilar March 29, 2012

The executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance on how drug policies are making Texas’ criminal justice system “horrific,” and who has the most to gain and lose by amending current drug policies. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
First Minority Cancer Month Highlights Disparities

By Paul Theobald March 28, 2012

Lawmakers and health care advocates gathered today to kick off the state's first annual Minority Cancer Awareness Month, designated in the last legislative session to bring awareness to racial disparities in cancer survival. Full Story
Texas Farmers Watered Crops, Knowing That They Wouldn't Grow

By Kate Galbraith March 28, 2012

By mid-summer last year, it was so hot and dry that many West Texas cotton farmers gave up hope of producing a crop. Yet they had to keep watering, pumping from diminishing aquifers like the Ogallala, to claim crop insurance. Full Story

Credit: USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Interactive: Primary Care Workforce Shortages in Texas

By Ryan Murphy and Thanh Tan March 27, 2012

If the Supreme Court upholds the Affordable Care Act, Texas may see a surge in newly insured patients seeking primary care. As this interactive of primary-care workforce shortages from 2001 to 2011 shows, the number of physicians in your county isn't likely to keep up with demand. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman / Reynaldo Leal / Ryan Murphy
Updated: Lawsuit Can't Cover All Kids in Long-Term Foster Care

By Emily Ramshaw March 23, 2012

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the national child advocacy group Children's Rights cannot file its class-action suit on behalf of all 12,000 youth in Texas' long-term foster care system. Full Story
Interactive: Mapping Women's Reproductive Health in Texas

By Becca Aaronson March 22, 2012

Texas women’s reproductive rights have drawn attention lately over the federal government's decision to cut funding for the state’s Women’s Health Program. Use this interactive to see just how many pregnancies, births and abortions occur across the Lone Star State. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman
Senate Committee Tackles Rural Child Welfare

By Gerald Rich March 21, 2012

Child Protective Services officials got an earful on Wednesday at a Senate hearing on improving the caseworker retention rates in rural communities. And they got a minor scolding from Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
Districts Take Advantage of STAAR Rule Change

By Anna Whitney March 21, 2012

School districts are taking advantage of the Texas Education Agency's decision to waive the requirement that STAAR exams count for 15 percent of students' grades for the 2011-12 school year. Full Story

Credit: Rune Mathisen
Inside Intelligence: On Retirement, Term Limits and Planned Parenthood

By Brandi Grissom March 19, 2012

Will the Planned Parenthood brouhaha affect elections? Should state officeholders be able to collect retirement while they're still on the job? And should Texas lawmakers have term limits? Full Story
Texas Gets a D+ in Public Integrity Study

By Paul Theobald March 19, 2012

Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Farmers and Regulators Square Off in Battle Over Ogallala Aquifer Rules

By Kate Galbraith March 18, 2012

As the Ogallala Aquifer slowly declines, some West Texas farmers are facing a new type of regulation: a limit on the amount of water they would pump from wells on their own land. And many aren't happy about it. Full Story

Credit: Jason Janik
Prison Radio Show is Inmates' Link to the Outside World

By Holly Heinrich March 16, 2012

Part news program, part call-in show, "The Prison Show" aims to help inmates stay connected to family, friends and the outside world. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Interactive: Texas' Economy Bounces Back

By Becca Aaronson March 15, 2012

Since Texas' lowest dip in the recession, the state has added nearly 500,000 jobs. This interactive explores how the economy has changed by industry and region. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Becca Aaronson
State Spends Big to Pay Outgoing Workers for Unused Vacation Time

By Emily Ramshaw and Becca Aaronson March 15, 2012

State agencies have paid fired or resigning state employees more than $500 million in unused vacation time over the last decade. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Tax Breaks for Sporting Events Raise Questions

By Jay Root March 13, 2012

Critics are questioning the use of state money they say is being spent to attract sporting events that originated in Texas and don’t appear to be leaving anytime soon. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Jay Root
Combs: Santorum "Only Real Conservative" in 2012 Race

By Evan Smith March 10, 2012

Comptroller Susan Combs endorsed Rick Santorum in the 2012 GOP primary for president today, telling the Tribune the former Pennsylvania senator is "the only real conservative left in the race." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Texas Still on Track to Economic Recovery

By Becca Aaronson March 9, 2012

Still on the track to recovery, Texas added 67,200 jobs in January. For the 18th consecutive month employment in the state has grown. In 2011, the state gained a total of 258,200 jobs. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Amid Finger-Pointing, Hurricane Relief Lags

By Becca Aaronson March 9, 2012

Nearly four years after Hurricanes Ike and Dolly ravaged the Texas coast, thousands are still waiting for housing assistance. Full Story

Credit: Michael Stravato
Interactive: 25,000 Fewer Public School Employees

By Morgan Smith and Ryan Murphy March 8, 2012

Public schools in Texas employ about 25,000 less employees than they did at this time last year. Use this interactive to see what happened in your school district. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Next Texas Voting Controversy: Photo ID

By Julián Aguilar March 8, 2012

With the redistricting battle headed to resolution, another controversy could await lawmakers next week. After months of wrangling with the Department of Justice, a decision on the voter ID law could come as soon as Monday. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman