‘No Soda’ Campaign Aims to Reduce Obesity in Austin

Health advocates are working to combat obesity in Austin’s lower-income neighborhoods through a no-soda pledge campaign.

Dreaming of a Better Future Through Deferred Action

President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program could help more than 150,000 people in Texas avoid the threat of deportation while attending college or seeking work permits.

Voting Hurdles Remain for People With Disabilities, Advocates Say

People with disabilities, facing inaccessible roads and buildings as well as a lack of privacy in the polling booth, often find themselves unable to vote.

Aid to Non-Citizens in College Draws Conservative Opposition

Texas conservatives are expected to make a push to stop both in-state tuition and financial aid for undocumented residents.

Out of Foster Care, Into Their Own Homes

A new housing program sets the stage for women 18 to 23 who have aged out of the foster care system but are not quite ready to make the leap from living in a group home to living on their own.

In the Wake of a Controversy, Eisner and Political Cartoonists Take Stock

The controversy surrounding the Daily Texas editorial cartoon about Trayvon Martin points out the hazards inherent in subjective journalism, of which Stephanie Eisner is now very much aware.

Fewer State Teachers, Yet More Students

The increase of Texas public school students comes at a time when fewer teachers are on the payroll because of budget cuts.

Getting Political on Social Networks

Younger voters may be more likely to show their political support by “liking” candidates on social networking sites.

Youth Help Keep Ron Paul Afloat

Ron Paul still holds appeal to young Texans, as his campaign rallies across the state recently proved.

Are Hard Times Forcing Youth to Amend the American Dream?

The faltering job market has made achieving the traditional American dream less likely, prompting young adults to reinterpret the dream itself.

LSAT Numbers Fall in Texas, Nationally

The number of people taking the Law School Admission Test fell by more than 16 percent nationally, mirroring concerns that getting a law degrees does not provide immunity in a tough job market.

Bastrop Team Dedicated to Long Recovery

The president of the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Committee said that many people believe “this disaster is over. It is not over. It will not be over for another four to five years.”

Austin Candidates Go Digital and Social

With individual campaign donations limited to $350 in Austin city campaigns, free social media could play sizable roles in next month’s local elections.

Texas State Parks Trying to Cope With Budget Cuts

Fort Boggy  in Centerville, like other state parks, is showing the effects of recent budget cuts  in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

City of Austin Rolls Out Plan to Boost Urban Density

The Downtown Austin Plan includes over 100 recommendations to increase downtown density over the next 10 years. The City estimates that improvements to the area would cost between $250 million and $350 million over the next ten years.

Human Trafficking: Slavery in our Backyards

Texas House Proposes State Services Cuts

The Texas House held hearings this week about proposed cuts to state services. Disabled Texans and child advocates have been pressuring legislators to tap the so-called Rainy Day Fund, to avoid hefty cuts to Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

She Teaches

Protesters of Death Penalty March to Capitol

Citizens recently gathered on the steps of the Texas Capitol Steps for the 11^th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty. Among those in attendance were six individuals who once sat on death row, all having been exonerated of the charges against them.

Rally to Restore Sanity Draws Diverse Crowd

An estimated 5,000 people, including Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Martinez, gathered at the Texas Capitol in November  for Austin’s Rally to Restore Sanity, an offshoot of the national rally in Washington sponsored by The Daily Show host, Jon Stewart.