Democratic state Rep. René Oliveira almost avoided a runoff in the primary for House District 37, but his recent arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated has given renewed momentum to challenger Alex Dominguez.
René Oliveira
Posted in
Criminal Justice
State Rep. René Oliveira arrested, charged with DWI
State Rep. René Oliveira, D-Brownsville, has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, according to authorities.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmakers weigh changing Texas law that lets rent-to-own stores file criminal charges on customers
The chairman of the House Business & Industry Committee said he was “stunned” to learn there is an obscure law that makes it easy for rent-to-own companies to file criminal charges against customers who fall behind on payments. The committee is looking at changing the law after a joint investigation by The Texas Tribune and NerdWallet.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Injury Data by Race Goes Uncollected in Texas
The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation is not maintaining race data on all valid worker injury claims, despite a law requiring it. Advocates say without the data it’s impossible to tell if injured minorities face discrimination at work.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Work Safety Hotline Upgraded
More than 20 years after the Texas Legislature passed a law establishing a 24-hour work safety hotline, real people are answering the telephone calls around the clock.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Texas Worker Safety Hotline Falters
State authorities are supposed to maintain a bilingual, 24-hour hotline for workers to report safety violations. Officials acknowledged Friday that the hotline has been inoperative after hours.
Posted inState Government
Hundreds of Thousands of Texans Without Workplace Insurance
At least half a million Texas workers have no workplace insurance coverage, either through the workers’ compensation system or the private market, state insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday.
Posted in
Health care
The Evening Brief: Nov. 5, 2013
Your evening reading: toll road swap floated for Austin; Texas Supreme Court hears same-sex divorce cases; new poll shows Abbott with commanding lead
Posted in
State Government
Bill Would Limit Non-Transferable Sports, Concert Tickets
A bill up for debate in a House committee on Tuesday would prohibit ticket brokers and live event venues from restricting how fans re-sell their tickets. Venues and sports teams say the measure protects scalpers, not consumers.
Posted inState Government
Updated: The 2012 Holdouts List
Some are waiting to see what the courts will do. Others want to see if any opponents surface. Regardless, with six days to go until the filing deadline, how many incumbents haven’t filed yet? A whole bunch.