In this week’s TribCast, Ethe gang discusses the Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi, Bill White calling out President Barack Obama, and Mike Toomey’s ties with the Green Party.
Austin
Posted in
Energy
TribBlog: EPA Shoots Down Texas Pollution Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency has formally denounced the state’s air-pollution permitting system for some of its biggest industrial plants — and reactions are pouring in.
Posted in
Energy
TribBlog: Uribe to the Rescue
“I’m all for Texas turning blue, but not like this,” said Hector Uribe, Democratic candidate for land commissioner.
Posted in
Energy
EPA to TCEQ: Step Off
The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t think Texas is doing enough to keep its air clean, so today the agency is expected to tell the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that the feds will take over air quality permitting for about 39 plants. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Latest Gun Battle
Texans involved in the gun debate are reacting to a landmark ruling Monday by the U.S. Supreme Court. A slim 5-to-4 majority ruled that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments — putting the wheels in motion to overturn a handgun ban in Chicago, one of the strictest in the nation. As Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, Texas activists on both sides of the issues are claiming victory.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Health Hacker?
The FBI is investigating whether a hacker broke into the state’s confidential cancer database, possibly accessing personal information and medical records. Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs says state health officials notified his office in early May that a hacker was holding the Texas Cancer Registry hostage and demanding a ransom. Suehs says preliminary investigation results from the FBI indicate the threat may be a hoax but that if private records were compromised, health officials will quickly notify the people listed in the registry.
Posted in
State Government
Enthusiasm, Yes. But Can the Democrats Win?
The Texas Democrats wrapped up their convention in Corpus Christi on Saturday, and the party’s grass roots activists headed home newly energized to elect their candidates — including Bill White as governor. But as Ben Philpott of KUT and the Tribune reports, excitement may only be able to carry them so far.
Posted inState Government
2010: Goodbye, Green Party?
If today’s court ruling stands, there will be no Green Party on the November ballot in Texas.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: No Raises at UT
The latest victim of the budget crunch at the University of Texas at Austin? Employee raises.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: “Older and Sicker” [Updated]
After Thursday’s lively state hearing, where health advocates told lawmakers they were bracing for massive Medicare cuts, doctors got some rewarding news: Congress had voted to delay a 21 percent cut in Medicare payments six months.