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Female Teachers Get Probation After Admitting to Sex With Students
The women will not be required to register as sex offenders.
Gov. Abbott Demands Investigation Into Alleged Secret Transitioning of Student at Bellaire High School
A concerned parent claims her daughter was socially transitioned—referred to by male pronouns and a different name—without parental knowledge or approval.
Round Rock ISD Trustee Alleged to Have Received Illegal Payments From District
Former Round Rock ISD Trustee Mary Bone said the district paid tens of thousands of dollars to Trustee Tiffanie Harrison after she resigned from teaching.
School District Police Chief: Sex Abuse Investigation ‘Far From Done’
Newman International Academy Police Chief Matthew Antkowiak said the charter school “will not place reputation over the safety of students.”
The Archive
Turner Against Open-Carry in Houston
State Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston), a leading candidate for Mayor of Houston, has twice expressed his dissatisfaction with Houston being the largest major city where openly carrying handguns will be allowed once the law goes into effect Jan 1, 2016. At the Texas...
More of What We Already Know
Last week, Dr. Mark Jones of Rice University unveiled his spread of the Texas Senate from left to right. As with the House, the study once again validates the accuracy of the Fiscal Responsibility Index. This session, the Texas Senate served as the conservative anchor...
Straus Directly Implicated in UT Admissions Scandal
For more than two years the administration of House Speaker Joe Straus has fought against UT Regent Wallace Hall and his efforts to shed light on an admissions scandal at the University of Texas at Austin. Hall has been repeatedly stonewalled as he has investigated...
Saying ‘No’ To ObamaCare Medicaid Expansion Was Good For Texans
Conservatives have taken heat in Texas for refusing the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion favored by Democrats and liberal Republicans. But that decision is looking better every day with the Associated Press this weekend reporting that more than a dozen states now face...
Scoring Straus
One of the most common questions I get about the Fiscal Responsibility Index is “Why doesn’t Joe Straus have a session rating?” Much of the answer lies in simply the way the Index is calibrated – we only rate lawmakers based on the votes they take. By tradition,...
Houston’s Capital Improvement Budget Misallocation
Following a series of divisive debates this year, Houston City Council passed its Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) budget, which will act as a five year guide for projects across the city. Only three council members voted against the plan, with Council Member Dave...
A Closer Look at Tax Reform
Property tax reform, while a wildly popular issue among Texans, has been largely dismissed by a Republican-led legislature. While much needed attention has finally been paid towards reducing the onerous business franchise tax, too little consideration has been given...
Who is to Blame for Houston’s Credit?
Moody’s, one of three major credit rating agencies, has revised their outlook on Houston to negative citing the growing debt and pension obligations that city officials have continually failed to address. The report states, “Houston’s economy continues to benefit from...
Abbott Brings Fresh Scrutiny to Crony Carve-outs
Adopted amidst controversy in 2001, Chapter 313 of the Tax Code – titled the “Texas Economic Development Act” – has grown over the past decade to become a favored carve-out for politically connected businesses. Under the program, big businesses are empowered to...