Some counties question need of special courts for law enforcement
July 3rd, 2017by Jolie McCullough, The Texas Tribune July 3, 2017 There’s one new law on the books intended to help police in Texas that has gotten less attention than several others in a year when lawmakers touted their “back the blue” bills. It’s a measure that will allow counties to create pretrial…
Texas is putting troubled nursing homes on notice
July 3rd, 2017by Marissa Evans, The Texas Tribune July 3, 2017 Texas nursing homes beware: The state’s tolerance for mistakes is dropping fast. In September, a new state law takes effect that will make it more difficult for long-term care facilities cited for repeat violations to avoid hefty fines from regulators. It’s…
Annual Report Ranks Texas 41st for Children’s Well-Being
July 3rd, 2017AUSTIN, Texas – Texas children are starting their lives near the back of the pack, according to a new report. The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released today, ranks Texas 41st overall in the country for child well-being, and in the bottom half of states in…
What the Texas Supreme Court decided — and didn’t — in its 2017 term
July 3rd, 2017by Emma Platoff, The Texas Tribune June 30, 2017 The Texas Supreme Court on Friday issued its last opinions of the 2017 term. As the nine justices set out for their summer recess, here’s a look back at some of the cases they decided. Same-sex benefits In perhaps its most…
Nearly Two Tons of Marijuana Confiscated In 18 Wheeler Tractor-Trailer Loaded With Lettuce
July 2nd, 2017By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2017 United States Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection Officers confiscated over 3,700 pounds of marijuana being crossed from Mexico into the United States on an 18 Wheeler Tractor-Trailer loaded with lettuce at the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge in Laredo,…
Intra-Industry Trade with Mexico May Aid U.S. Global Competitiveness
July 2nd, 2017By: Jesus Cañas, Aldo Heffner and Jorge Herrera Hernández, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas The U.S.–Mexico commercial relationship reflects decades of production integration, starting with Mexico’s border industrialization program that established the maquiladora industry in the 1960s. Expansion of trade between Mexico and the United States—a large portion of it…
Presidential Commission Demands Massive Amounts of State Voter Data
June 30th, 2017By: Jessica Huseman, ProPublica On Wednesday, all 50 states were sent letters from Kris Kobach — vice chair for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity — requesting information on voter fraud, election security and copies of every state’s voter roll data. The letter asked state officials to deliver the…
Former Texas Nurse Convicted of Baby-Killing Told Authorities ‘I Was Heinous’
June 30th, 2017By: Peter Elkind, special to ProPublica In a newly obtained letter sent to Texas authorities, Genene Jones — the former nurse suspected of killing more than a dozen infants — apologized “for the damage I did to all because of my crime.” This marks the first time that Jones, who…
Report: GOP Health Care Bills Would Leave Vets, Families Uninsured
June 30th, 2017Eric Tegethoff, Public News Service – WA SEATTLE – A new report finds nearly a half-million veterans would lose health coverage over the next decade under the GOP’s health-care bills. About 1.8 million veterans rely on Medicaid, according to an analysis by the Center for American Progress. Nearly a quarter…
Medicaid Cuts in Senate Health Plan Could Fall on Texas Kids
June 30th, 2017Mark Richardson, Public News Service – TX HOUSTON – More than 3 million low-income Texas children could lose their health care if the U.S. Senate’s repeal-and-replace bill, known as the “Better Care Reconciliation Act,” becomes law, according to a new analysis. The Center for Public Policy Priorities analysis determined that the…
