Subject:

Texas State Legislature

  • Blogs

    May 15, 2012

    The ACLU of Texas Wants You to Know: You Still Don't Need a Photo ID to Vote

    With early voting for the May 29 primary election already underway, and with the federal government's tet-a-tet with Texas over its 2011 voter ID law far from settled, the ACLU of Texas wants to remind you that no, you don't need to show an ID to vote and if a poll worker asks you for one, you can t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 12, 2012

    Even with a New Rape Crisis Center, Dallas is Way Behind in Caring for Rape Victims

    When she was 15, Courtney Underwood was raped by her pastor. She'd grown up in Highland Park, attended a religious private school and had no idea how to talk about what had happened to her or ask for help. It took her two years to discuss the rape at all, and much longer to tell her mother. Later, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 16, 2012

    Federal Medicaid Agency Lays Out Just How The Women's Health Program Will End

    What prompted Governor Rick Perry's frenzied bout of outraged tweeting about the Women's Health Program yesterday? As much as we'd like to speculate that it was a bad batch of PCP (and will continue to do so privately, purely for our own amusement, not because it's at all true), it was actually one ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 26, 2012

    Texas' Cottage Food Law Passed, But That Won't Stop the State from Changing It

    During the last state legislative session, the Cottage Food Law was passed, clearing the way for home bakers to sell certain goods from their home. Guidelines were established, including limiting annual gross sales to less than $50,000, requiring in-person transactions and limiting sales to non-pote ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 19, 2012

    Celebrate Electricity Deregulation! Bake a Cake! But Hold the Candles. You'll Need Them.

    ​While you were busy with all the holidays, another important reason for drinking heavily probably escaped your attention. This month marks 10 years of deregulation in Texas's retail electric market. Hey, put down that chair. No need for violence. This is the free market we're huzzahing here, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    November 17, 2011

    Dallas ISD Looks to Close 11 Campuses Next School Year, Hopes to Save $11.5 Million

    The DISD will look to consolidate, or close, the exemplary-rated James Bonham Elementary next school year.​As we mentioned Monday, the Dallas ISD trustees just got through discussing a very touchy subject: school consolidations and the repurposing of facilities -- or closures, for those who aren't ... More >>

  • Blogs

    September 16, 2011

    In the Medrano Vote Fraud Case, Let's Not Tie the Noose Just Yet

    ​OK, I do understand that we're all primed now to string up the entire Medrano family for a massive vote fraud conspiracy bordering on terrorism, communism and cannibalism. All I want to do is toss out a couple modest words of caution. The Dallas Morning News has a lead editorial today insist ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 3, 2011

    Charter Chain Harmony Public Schools Celebrates 10 Big Ones at the Winspear

    Photos by Patrick MichelsLaura Leppert accepts an award for support of education, on behalf of her husband Tom Leppert, from Harmony Superintendent Soner Tarim.Harmony Public Schools, Texas' largest chain of charter schools, packed all but the uppermost tier of the Winspear last night for a celebrat ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 15, 2011

    Catfish Industry Promises Shortage Will End in June

    The catfish shortage that's lately beset North Texas should be over by June, a catfish industry spokesman says. The Catfish Institute​As NBC's local affiliate first reported, all but one location of Babe's Chicken Dinner House locations have scratched catfish from their menus, citing inadequa ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 7, 2011

    As DISD Prepares to "Declare a Financial Exigency," Super Discusses Perry-Doggett Fight

    This is this weekend, incidentally.​At last week's budget town hall, Dallas Independent School District trustee Edwin Flores took a thinly veiled shot at U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, who he did not name, over the $830 million in federal Education Jobs Fund money presently sitting in D.C. As Flores tol ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 4, 2011

    Dallas Court Officially Declares Cornelius Dupree Jr., Innocent After 30 Years In Prison

    Photos by Andrea GrimesCornelius Dupree Jr., surrounded by friends, family and many of his fellow DNA exonerees, was officially declared innocent of robbery and sexual assault this morning in Dallas court.​"It's a joy to be free again," Cornelius Dupree Jr. told a courtroom full of lawyers, courth ... More >>

  • News

    December 23, 2010

    Mass deportation, strict border enforcement, amnesty. What will comprehensive immigration reform look like if the feds take action--or if they don't?

    Photos by Andrea GrimesCornelius Dupree Jr., surrounded by friends, family and many of his fellow DNA exonerees, was officially declared innocent of robbery and sexual assault this morning in Dallas court.​"It's a joy to be free again," Cornelius Dupree Jr. told a courtroom full of lawyers, courth ... More >>

  • Blogs

    August 5, 2010

    Despite Dismissals, Challenge to Dallas Bike Helmet Law Still Alive in Federal Criminal Court

    For a guy coping with the dismissal of his long-running challenge to the city's bike helmet law, Paul Woodfield sounded in awfully good spirits this morning when I reached him by phone.Could've had something to do with the 160-mile bike ride through Washington State from which he and his wife have ... More >>

  • Blogs

    July 27, 2010

    Safelight Dude and the Red Light Enforcement Commission Get Plugged In to Traffic Safety

    From the Automated Red Light Enforcement Commission's PowerPoint given this morning​City Hall's all parked up, and when I told the garage guard where I was headed, he assured me "everyone's going to the red light camera meeting." It's hard to tell who "everyone," might have been, because I'm joine ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 11, 2010

    No Get Out of Jail Free Card, Dallas County's Veterans Court Heard Its First Two Cases Today

    Judge Mike Snipes​A Vietnam veteran accused of forcing a 6-year-old girl into his car to ride on his lap became the first to sign on for Dallas County's new veterans court program on Tuesday, with a chance to avoid having a conviction on his record if he completes a six-month treatment program. Ch ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 28, 2010

    Coming Soon, Dallas County's Latest Specialty Court for Veterans

    District Judge Mike Snipes, who served with the Army's First Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004.Back in January, the paper version of Unfair Park featured Megan Feldman's story on a specialized Dallas County court that's connecting ex-prostitues with treatment and, provided they stick ... More >>

  • News

    April 15, 2010

    Raise a Toast to the Political Pros Helping to Turn Dallas Wet

    District Judge Mike Snipes, who served with the Army's First Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004.Back in January, the paper version of Unfair Park featured Megan Feldman's story on a specialized Dallas County court that's connecting ex-prostitues with treatment and, provided they stick ... More >>

  • Blogs

    December 30, 2009

    Interested in Boning Up on Dallas's Old Vices? Then the Library's Got Just the File For You.

    ​I went over to the Dallas Public Libraries' Texas/Dallas History & Archives Division Web site in search of something entirely unrelated to this post. (Hint: It has to do with this photo taken by our pal Justin Terveen.) There, I noticed that the department was still in the process of updating ... More >>

  • Blogs

    January 16, 2009

    Hophead Extra: What Does Beer Have In Common With The Blind Salamander?

    Photos by Benjamin Lewis Some people consider it uncouth to begin drinking before 5 p.m. Thankfully, you won't run into any of those spoilsports at the "Blind Salamander Day" tour and tasting at Rahr & Sons brewery tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. I took my first tour of the brewery last weekend ... More >>

  • Dining

    October 16, 2008

    Want More Beer? Change This Law!

    Photos by Benjamin Lewis Some people consider it uncouth to begin drinking before 5 p.m. Thankfully, you won't run into any of those spoilsports at the "Blind Salamander Day" tour and tasting at Rahr & Sons brewery tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. I took my first tour of the brewery last weekend ... More >>

  • Blogs

    May 10, 2008

    Angela Hunt on the "Tens of Millions" Dallas is Losing

    Photos by Benjamin Lewis Some people consider it uncouth to begin drinking before 5 p.m. Thankfully, you won't run into any of those spoilsports at the "Blind Salamander Day" tour and tasting at Rahr & Sons brewery tomorrow from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. I took my first tour of the brewery last weekend ... More >>

  • News

    October 25, 2007

    Texas Concealed Gun Laws Loosen

    Have a gun? Feel free to travel.

  • News

    March 1, 2007

    Shoot Up Your Kid

    Have a gun? Feel free to travel.

  • News

    November 2, 2006

    Little Lost Boys...and Girls

    Is the move to privatize Child Protective Services leaving huge gaps in care?

  • News

    August 24, 2006

    Play Dead

    Texas has some of the weakest animal protection laws in the country

  • Blogs

    August 16, 2006

    A Letter to the Editor (of The New York Times)

    Texas has some of the weakest animal protection laws in the country

  • Blogs

    March 24, 2006

    Drunk with Power?

    Texas has some of the weakest animal protection laws in the country

  • News

    August 4, 2005

    Drink Up

    Loosened Texas laws spawn a litter of Dallas street wineries. Ready for Preston Hollow Pinot Grigio?

  • News

    June 16, 2005

    Stuff It

    Dallas City Hall thumbs nose, gives Bronx cheer to Legislature

  • News

    December 9, 2004

    Dear Santa

    A certain state representative needs some coal in his stocking

  • News

    August 7, 2003

    MADD Again

    With Texas No. 1 in DWI deaths, MADD gets down to business

  • News

    July 31, 2003

    Oklahoma Snubbed

    Dems bolt for Albuquerque

  • News

    April 24, 2003

    Passing the Plate

    Proposed new license tags weigh in on the abortion debate

  • News

    October 18, 2001

    Wheel of Justice

    Dallas judges struggle to find a fair way to appoint lawyers for the poor

  • News

    October 11, 2001

    Deadbeating the System

    Eight years ago, Kim Sullivan turned to the state for help collecting overdue child support. She's still waiting.

  • News

    July 19, 2001

    The Searchers

    Dallas police reissue guidelines on how officers conduct roadside searches

  • News

    June 14, 2001

    Pass the Plate

    God and Texas taxpayers answer the prayers of a prison-based ministry

  • News

    April 5, 2001

    Belo Bashing

    The News' parent levels a historic building as the paper opines for a new hotel

  • News

    March 22, 2001

    Joint Effort

    "Aging hippies" team with the desperately ill and one lawmaker to fight for medical marijuana in Texas. Is that just a smoke screen?

  • News

    January 11, 2001

    Hello, My Name is Pervert

    Outcasts among us, sex offenders struggle to find treatment and lead normal lives in a justice system that gives them little of either

  • News

    December 21, 2000

    Night Moves

    Bachman Lake residents say a new business is moving into their neighborhood--hookers

  • News

    July 20, 2000

    Behind the curve

    Courts that aim to treat, not punish, addicts gain a slow toehold in Texas

  • News

    December 23, 1999

    Buzz

    Art lovers; Justice at work

  • News

    July 8, 1999

    Cruel and Unusual

    Mentally ill Texans used to go to hospitals. Now, increasing numbers of them go to prison instead.

  • News

    May 27, 1999

    Gold gamble

    Voters would decide if Olympic efforts get up to $100 million in state subsidies

  • News

    July 23, 1998

    Getting dumped

    Despite shoddy science, bad economics, and catastrophic health risks, a West Texas border community may become the nation's nuclear dumping ground

  • News

    July 9, 1998

    Deathtrap

    While Erica Sheppard sits on death row, penniless and convicted of a gruesome murder, her cadre of elite Dallas lawyers tries to prove that the justice system has gone fatally awry

  • News

    December 26, 1996

    Thank you, ma'am

    Medical City still practicing drive-through deliveries

  • News

    February 16, 1995

    Bad lawyer joke

    'Tort reform' is a misleading euphemism--an excusefor insurance companies to gouge more

  • News

    January 12, 1995

    Cruelest cut

    Deadbeat-dad Newt Gingrich wants to slash program for disabled children

  • More >>
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