In keeping with our goal of making government data more accessible, we’ve created a simple application for searching fines issued by the Texas Ethics Commission.
state agencies
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: A Timely Announcement
Gov. Perry made a timely announcement today: He’s proposing initiatives to improve mental health programs for veterans.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Reading Exams Fail the National Test
Federal officials say Texas’ testing standards in reading are below the “basic” proficiency standards — and that low bar means those passing the TAKS may not be as proficient as advertised.
Posted in
Demographics
Broken Border, Part Two: The Checkpoint Conundrum
Texas’ chain of inland checkpoints has created a border within a border, separating abused and sometimes undocumented children in counties adjacent to Mexico from services north of the invisible line.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Case Open
If you’re waiting for closure on questions of Cameron Todd Willingham’s guilt or innocence, get comfortable. The Texas Forensic Science Commission’s new chair tells the Tribune that he doesn’t yet have the rules or resources to investigate whether faulty science led to the Corsicana man’s conviction and execution.
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: A Conversation With the State Schools Chief
Rather than deliver curriculum by book or even CD — one product per student — “We’re going to buy content and get a statewide license and deliver it to anyone who wants it” over the web, says Robert Scott. Much of that content will come from “smaller content providers who have been shut out of the market.”
Posted in
Public Education
TribBlog: Education Department could make restraint reporting mandatory
The U.S. Education Department is considering making restraint reporting mandatory for school districts nationwide, starting this school year.
Posted in
Higher Education
The Tipping Point: Texas Textbook Politics Meets the Digital Revolution
Under new legislation, school districts for the first time can spend a portion of state “book” money on computer hardware and digital content. Some fear the explosion of choice will produce an erosion of quality content.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Brief: November 6, 2009
A clearer picture of Thursday afternoon’s events is beginning to shape.
Posted in
Economy
State psychiatrists making top salaries
State psychiatrists are making crazy money. Of the 100 highest paid state employees, 45 are psychiatrists, most of them employed by the state’s 10 mental hospitals.
