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state agencies
Posted in
Politics
Gov. Greg Abbott orders state agencies to reduce licensing regulations, cut fees
Abbott has set a Dec. 1 deadline for agencies to tell his office how they plan to limit regulations, reduce fees and, “where appropriate,” remove licensing barriers for people with criminal records.
Posted in
Demographics
Texas demographer: Census citizenship question isn’t necessary
Responsible for providing population projections for the state, Lloyd Potter said citizenship information is not needed “for the purposes of the census.”
Posted in
State Government
Texans are waiting for birth and death certificates amid health agency understaffing
The backlog — exacerbated by the state’s switch in January to a new computer system for processing records — comes as the short-staffed Texas Department of State Health Services vies for a boost in funding. Meanwhile, families anxiously wait.
Posted in
Politics
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott closes state agencies Wednesday to mourn George H.W. Bush
In his order, Abbott encouraged Texans to gather and pay their respects to the 41st president.
Posted in
Energy
Electricity complaints filed by Texans reach three-year high, report says
Despite showing an uptick in electricity complaints this year, a report released by the Texas Coalition for Affordable Power also shows that complaints and inquiries have generally decreased over the past decade.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
After $7 million legal fight over air conditioning, Texas prison system touts new heat safety policies
Following a legal settlement, the prison system has added temporary air conditioning to one unit and made other statewide changes. But the road to change wasn’t cheap.
Posted in
State Government
Texas employees get Friday off to celebrate “Confederate heroes”
State employees have the day off on Friday for Confederate Heroes Day, which has a controversial history in Texas.
Posted in
Health care
Texas health regulators overrun by “several hundred” rats at Austin headquarters
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission has a $60,000 vermin problem, and is hiring private exterminators to deal with an estimated “several hundred” sewer rats in the building.
Posted inHealth care, Politics, State Government, Transportation
Revisit our series on the state’s preparedness for emergency evacuations
The evacuation ahead of Hurricane Rita in 2005 was marked by crowded roads and frustrated residents. But state officials say they’re better prepared now. Read our seven-part “Road From Rita” series from 2015, done in collaboration with the Beaumont Enterprise.