Texas Legislature Opens 2013 Session
The 83rd Texas Legislature has convened for its 140-day regular session where it will tackle the state budget, students testing, water issues, health care and hundreds of proposed new laws.
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The 83rd Texas Legislature has convened for its 140-day regular session where it will tackle the state budget, students testing, water issues, health care and hundreds of proposed new laws.
The Texas economy has surely bounced back and is expanding again, and because of sales tax revenues have increased, the state has more money to spend.
A state budget expert testified Monday about the scope of the projected budget deficit Texas faced when the Legislature slashed public school spending by nearly $5.4 billion.
A criminal investigation marred Texas' signature programs that use taxpayer funds to boost private startups in 2012, and lawmakers this year must decide how much of an appetite they have to keep the money flowing.
Shortfall and sacrifice: that's how the Texas Legislature two years ago defended gutting $5.4 billion from public education, laying off thousands of public workers with slashed spending and stripping Medicaid to the bone.
The tug-of-war between Texas Gov. Rick Perry and state universities is still going strong heading into the 2013 legislative session with new skirmishes over money looming.
Supporters of casinos and expanded gambling in Texas say they're more united before the upcoming legislative session, but their proposals will still face long odds.
Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has promised a more conservative state Senate in 2013. That's saying a lot.
After years of chatter, water appears to have finally percolated to the top of the Texas Legislature's agenda.
If the Texas Legislature is in session, there must be a fight about Medicaid going on.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says lawmakers will fund public schools this session enough to keep up with booming enrollment growth _ a $2 billion proposition.
An education expert says Texas is "above average" compared to other states in public-school student performance.
A new study says Texas oil and natural gas companies are claiming trade-secret exemptions to keep from revealing the chemicals used for hydraulic fracturing or "fracking".
A coalition of people who depend on Medicaid for their health care and jobs called on the Texas Legislature to fully fund the program when they meet next year.
The Texas Legislative Budget Board set a $77.9 billion cap on state spending Thursday for the 2014-15 budget year, a 10 percent increase above the current discretionary spending limit.
The Texas Legislative Budget Board has set a $77.9 billion cap on state spending in the 2014-15 budget year, a 10 percent increase.
Top Texas republicans are calling for some legal changes to the state's welfare and unemployment benefit programs. Governor Rick Perry and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst want to require mandatory drug screenings for applicants.
Texas lawmakers have begun filing their bills ahead of the 2013 legislative session. Many of them familiar reruns, while others set the tone for politics next year.
A school finance expert says Texas needs to spend at least an additional $8 billion annually to ensure its students meet tough new academic standards.
The sweeping school finance lawsuit going to trial Monday in Austin isn't only about money.
Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball) who authored an Arizona style immigration bill for Texas, thinks that allowing illegal immigrants to legally drive on roadways would be slap in the face to the Texas legal system.
Long-simmering tensions between a tea party-backed U.S. Senate candidate and a leading tea party voice in the Texas Legislature have boiled over.
The two Democrats competing in a runoff for their party's nomination to replace U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison disagreed on how the federal government should address the faltering economy, on immigration and on the war on drugs during a debate Tuesday afternoon.
Republican and Democratic state senators agreed Wednesday that Texas must do more to help the mentally ill by providing services before a crisis or crime takes place.
Deep cuts in school funding approved by the Texas Legislature last summer could energize angry parents to vote out incumbents.
The woman charged in connection with the death of a newborn baby whose body was found 24 years ago in a ditch in Johnson County has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, officials announced Thursday.
A date and opponent have not been announced yet.
A quaint home in Grapevine is drawing big attention, not for its renovations or location, but for its former occupant.
The Balch Springs Police Department said it is working in partnership with the FBI.
Officials say the location of the fire was at a homeless encampment and at least 8 dogs inside the camper died.
The woman charged in connection with the death of a newborn baby whose body was found 24 years ago in a ditch in Johnson County has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, officials announced Thursday.
A date and opponent have not been announced yet.
A quaint home in Grapevine is drawing big attention, not for its renovations or location, but for its former occupant.
According to the TEFA website, more than 1,400 private schools from Pre-K to high schools are participating.
The Balch Springs Police Department said it is working in partnership with the FBI.
The CEO a Dallas nonprofit resigned after a CBS News Texas I-Team investigation that revealed the organization had failed to follow through on its core promises.
Seven years after a deadly school bus-train crash in Athens, the same crossing still lacks gates or lights—despite repeated promises to fix it.
A CBS News Texas investigation found those daily meals no longer being delivered to schools, despite the nonprofit's claims to the contrary.
It once fed thousands of kids. So, how did a Dallas non-profit's core mission fall apart? CBS News Texas investigates.
A Fort Worth firefighter severely burned in the line of duty is speaking out after his family, the public and politicians said the workers' compensation system failed him, denying him of much needed care.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said that CAIR is the "American face" of the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist group based in Egypt.
President Trump told NBC News he didn't know why Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was at the search of the Georgia county's elections office.
President Trump said he is directing all federal law enforcement to be at the "complete disposal" of Savannah Guthrie's family as the search continues for her mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Chairwoman of the Tarrant County Democratic Party Allison Campolo discusses the big upset victory by Democrat Taylor Rehmet over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in the Texas Senate District 9 race. She tells Jack Fink that she predicts a blue wave in Tarrant County in November.
Chairman of the Tarrant County GOP, Tim Davis, discusses the Democrats' big win in the Texas Senate District 9 race, a Republican majority district. He tells Jack Fink that he predicts Republicans will win the seat back in November.
A lawsuit filed late last month took Chicago-based McDonald's to task over the McRib sandwich, calling its name a form of false advertising.
While retailers like Amazon, Macy's and Target are extending their return window for gifts bought during the holidays, some stores are adding fees to return purchases.
Less than two days after Delta Air Lines offered $30,000 to each passenger on board the flight that crashed and flipped in Toronto on Monday afternoon, the company is facing its first two lawsuits in the incident — and they likely won't be the last.
Texas Agricultural Commissioner Sid Miller is calling for a statewide ban on non-water additives, such as fluoride, in the public water system.
Last year, over 16 million vehicles drove on North Texas toll roads without paying, accumulating more than $69 million in unpaid tolls.
U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024 - the highest mark in American history. But the U.S. still ranks below dozens of other countries.
Weather-related closures left Carter BloodCare 4,000 units of blood and blood components short of what it needs.
The state of Texas is investing $50 million in research on psychedelic therapies.
Walk with a Doc invites community members to join low-pressure group walks led by physicians.
The largest nurses strike ever in New York City is underway as thousands of NYSNA members walk off their jobs at major hospitals.
Prominent political and business leaders are named in the documents released by the Justice Department in connection with its investigations into Jeffrey Epstein.
A Dallas coffee chain says it's caught in a political firestorm after a walkout over an ICE discount.
During the World Cup, soccer fans will be able to get a taste of what North Texas' new professional soccer team, Atletico Dallas, has to offer.
Salad and Go, a drive-thru salad chain, said on Wednesday that it will close all remaining Texas and Oklahoma stores.
Venezuela is said to have the largest amount of these reserves in the world.
Nico Harrison's vision for the Dallas Mavericks is officially dead.
American athletes are preparing for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. These are some of the top Team USA competitors to watch.
The death last month of former NFL player Kevin Johnson is possibly linked to three other killings of unhoused people in the same area that occurred over the last four months, detectives said.
Thomas Harley scored at 2:05 of overtime, and the Dallas Stars matched their longest winning streak of the season at five games with a 4-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets.
Munn was promoted from defensive coordinator after Riley Dodge joined the staff at SMU.
A quaint home in Grapevine is drawing big attention, not for its renovations or location, but for its former occupant.
The 5th Dimension had broad crossover success and won six Grammy Awards, including record of the year twice.
The sheriff says the note was sent to a local Arizona news station, which agreed not to report on it, following the disappearance of "Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie.
Chuck Negron, a founding member of Three Dog Night whose lead vocals powered a string of hits for one of the top rock acts of the late 1960s and early '70s has died. He was 83.
Many Super Bowl 60 ads are already online, along with teasers for commercials that will be unveiled during the NFL championship on Feb. 8.
The Red Bull Flugtag Airshow returned to Las Colinas on Saturday after a 12-year hiatus. Teams are tasked with constructing a flying machine and putting it to the test. It's estimated that around 25,000 people attended the event.
A suspect was taken into custody after an attack on Pearl Street Mall in Boulder on June 1 in which there were 15 people and a dog who were victims. The suspect threw Molotov cocktails that burned some of the victims, who were part of a march for Israeli hostages.
The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit babies at Texas Health locations across North Texas celebrated Valentine's Day.
As Anthony Davis prepared for his debut game at the AAC, Dallas Mavericks fans took to the arena to protest the controversial trade.
A look back at the esteemed personalities who've left us this year, who'd touched us with their innovation, creativity and humanity.
