More than four years after Texas lawmakers approved a law allowing for the drug testing of certain out-of-work Texans applying for unemployment, supporters blame the Obama administration for keeping the program from getting started.
83rd Legislative Session
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Nearly 3 Years Later, Program to Drug Test Unemployed Not in Place
Nearly three years after Texas enacted a law requiring some applicants for unemployment benefits to pass a drug test, the state has yet to test a single applicant, and it remains unclear when the program will get going.
Posted in
Politics
Old Rivals Face Off in Dallas House Race
Bennett Ratliff lost his Dallas-area Texas House seat to Tea Party-backed Matt Rinaldi in 2014, and is running to win it back in a March 1 GOP primary that parses the definition of conservative.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Sitting Pretty, Even Without Old Friends
Many of the legislators who originally elevated Joe Straus into the House speaker’s chair four legislative sessions ago are gone. But as he enters another election cycle with his eye on another term, Straus is in remarkably good political shape.
Posted in
Health care
A Look Back at the 83rd: How Some Issues Played Out in the 2013 Session
With the 84th Legislature underway, we’ve renewed our State of Mind video series, a look at various issues that communities across the state are talking about. First up, a look at some issues from the last session.
Posted in
Public Education
Against Orders, Charter Schools Stay Open
In June, the state ordered Honors Academy Charter District to close its campuses due to poor academic performance. But Honors’ campuses remain open — and the district publicizes itself as accredited.
Posted in
Politics
TribLive: A Conversation With Nichols and Clardy
Full video of my 10/23 TribLive conversation with state Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, and state Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University.
Posted in
Health care
U.S. Supreme Court Puts Provision of Texas Abortion Law on Hold
A provision of the Texas abortion law that closed all but eight abortion facilities in the state almost two weeks ago was put on hold Tuesday by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted in
Public Education
Abbott to Appeal School Finance Ruling to State Supreme Court
UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott will appeal a ruling that the Texas school finance system is unconstitutional, according to a notice his office sent Friday to attorneys in the case. The appeal is set to go directly to the Texas Supreme Court.
Posted in
Politics
TribFest: One-on-One with Joe Straus
Full video of Ross Ramsey’s 2014 Texas Tribune Festival keynote conversation with state Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, Speaker of the Texas House.