state agencies

Despite Job Growth, Texas Unemployment Rate Worst in Decades

By Emily Ramshaw Aug. 19, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry — touting the state's job growth on the campaign trail — got some bad news this morning: The state's unemployment rate is the worst in nearly a quarter century. Full Story

Credit: Ben Philpott
Perry Claims Texas Teaches Creationism in Public Schools

By Becca Aaronson Aug. 18, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry told a child questioner in New Hampshire today that Texas public schools teach creationism alongside evolution — a statement that state education experts are refuting in varying degrees. Full Story

Credit: Jay Root
Head of State Housing Agency Resigns

By Becca Aaronson Aug. 18, 2011

The head of the Texas agency that oversees programs to help low-income households has turned in his resignation. Full Story
Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa: The TT Interview

By Julián Aguilar Aug. 18, 2011

The state senator from McAllen sat down with the Tribune to talk border security, how Democrats move forward after voter ID and what he thinks the upper chamber will look like in 2013. Full Story

Credit: Julian Aguilar
DNA Implicates Another Man in 25-Year-Old Murder Case

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 17, 2011

New DNA test results in a 25-year-old murder case cast doubt on the conviction of Michael Morton, who was accused of killing his wife, Christine, in their Williamson County home on Aug. 13, 1986. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Skinner, Awaiting DNA Ruling, Gets New Execution Date

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 16, 2011

For the fourth time, the state of Texas is scheduled to execute death row inmate Hank Skinner for the 1993 murders of his live-in girlfriend and her two sons, potentially quashing his ability to request DNA testing under a new state law. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant MIller
Storm Insurer Remade, But Vocal Critics Remain

By Becca Aaronson Aug. 14, 2011

A Texas Tribune analysis found that the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association mishandled claims after Hurricane Ike and paid millions of dollars to defend its fraudulent behavior and claimants’ lawyers profited from huge settlements and legal fees. Full Story

Credit: Dave Levinthal
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 13, 2011

Our all-hands-on-deck series on new laws — 31 Days, 31 Ways — continues, Root covers a challenge to the governor's school finance fix and the tax that makes it work, Philpott forecasts a presidential media tsunami will hit Texas, Murphy with a look at midyear campaign reports from candidates and PACs in Texas, yours truly on the quiet spot at the top of the 2014 ballot, Hamilton on government-required vaccinations against meningitis, Grissom reports on the heat wave in un-air-conditioned Texas jails, Aguilar on the private security business along the state's border with Mexico and M. Smith's interview with Nicole Hurd on how to get more high school students into college: The best of our best content from Aug. 8 to 12, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
31 Days, 31 Ways: Driver's License Policy Becomes Law

By Julián Aguilar Aug. 12, 2011

DAY 12 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: applicants for driver's licenses and IDs must furnish proof of legal status. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Executions Probably Not an Issue — for Now

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 11, 2011

This week, Martin Robles became Texas' ninth execution of the year. Convicted in a Corpus Christi gang shooting, his death was not among the most controversial to happen on the watch of Gov. Rick Perry. During his decade in the Texas governor's office, Perry has overseen more than 230 executions, more than any governor in modern history. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
On the Border, Selling the High Price of Security

By Julián Aguilar Aug. 11, 2011

It's not a sales pitch heard too often in the Rio Grande Valley, but farmers and ranchers here have a new, tax-deductible option for improving their businesses — and the company offering it promises to take a bullet for its client. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Matthew High
On the Records: 2011's Top Political Donors

By Ryan Murphy Aug. 10, 2011

The 15 largest donors to Texas politicians and PACs gave a total of $4.7 million in the first six months of 2011, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of Texas Ethics Commission filings. The biggest beneficiary of their largesse: the Texans for Lawsuit Reform Political Action Committee. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
31 Days, 31 Ways: Protective Orders May Cover More Texans

By Thanh Tan Aug. 9, 2011

DAY 9 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Lawmakers expanded protective orders to include pets and victims of teen dating violence, sexual assault and stalking. Full Story
Inmates Complain of Sweltering Prison Conditions

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 9, 2011

As the heat index statewide soars above 100 degrees day after day, Texas inmate advocates say complaints about sweltering conditions are increasing along with concerns about prisoners’ health. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmerich
31 Days, 31 Ways: Students Switch from TAKS to STAAR

By Morgan Smith and Thanh Tan Aug. 8, 2011

DAY 8 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Armed with fewer resources, educators prepare students for rigorous new STAAR test. Full Story

Credit: Texas Education Agency / The Texas Tribune
31 Days, 31 Ways: Intellectual Disability Funds Avoid Worst Cuts, Mental Health Services Preserved

By Ben Philpott, KUT News, and Thanh Tan, The Texas Tribune Aug. 6, 2011

DAY 6 of our 31-day series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Mental health funding was spared draconian cuts, but some who rely on the state for intellectual disability aid will lose services. Full Story

Credit: By Daniel Reese for KUT News
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Aug. 6, 2011

Aguilar on the denial of asylum petitions by border judges, Galbraith on the history of wind, Grissom talks to the head of the Jail Standards Commission, Hamilton on plans for the state's new online university, Murphy and Ramsey on political warchests at midyear, Philpott on Texas' trucker shortage, Ramsey talks data privacy and abortion with Susan Combs, Ramshaw on the Rick Perry's experimental adult stem cell procedure, Root on the response to The Response, M. Smith on the country's could-be next first lady and Tan on a few of the ways Texas will change on Sept. 1: The best of our best content from Aug. 1 to 5, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva
Too Tough, But Not for Long

By Julián Aguilar Aug. 4, 2011

An Austin judge ruled this week that the Texas Department of Public Safety overstepped its authority when it enacted tougher requirements for immigrants trying to obtain driver's licenses, giving immigrants' rights groups and some business leaders a glimmer of hope. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ben Hasson
Political Warchests at Midyear

By Ross Ramsey and Ryan Murphy Aug. 4, 2011

About two dozen candidates and political action committees have more than $1 million in their accounts, some of them much more, according to our analysis of midyear filings with the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson
School Ratings "Far More Accurate" — and Lower

By Morgan Smith Aug. 4, 2011

The vise squeezing Texas schools since the Legislature voted to remove $4 billion in state funding is getting a little tighter. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera