Justice & Government

As Hemp Bill Nears Passage, Expert Warns of Potential Pitfalls

byMIchael Minasi

Prohibition of the plant has made scientific work on best cultivation practices impossible, and taking market share from growers outside the state could be a challenge.

Answering Five Questions Texans Have About Hemp and Marijuana

byAndrea Tinning

They’re both illegal, for now, and they’re both cannabis, but the similarities just about end there.

Texas Pundits Ponder the Importance of the BriLab Scandal 40 Years On

byShepard Price

Billy Wayne Clayton, the figure at the center of the scandal, remade the office of Texas House speaker.

Civil War Battle Rises Again in East Texas

byAndrea Tinning

The annual Battle of Blackjack Grove, a mock Civil War battle, started in 2017 in the East Texas town of Groveton and has attracted more and more attendees each year.

Apr 07, 2019

Poet Javier Zamora to Speak During Summit on Race

byJack Keyes

On April 10, New York-based poet and immigration activist Javier Zamora will join a panel discussion at the LBJ Presidential Library.

Apr 04, 2019

U.S. House Democrats Target Six Texas Districts for 2020, Face Uphill Battle

byKatherine Corley

National Democrats are targeting six congressional districts in Texas in 2020. Despite Democratic gains in the 2018 midterms, some political scientists say the party faces an uphill battle in the Lone Star State.

Mar 26, 2019

Travis County Clerk’s Dream Voting System Gains New Life

byKatherine Corley

Dana DeBeauvoir helped conceive a system that is rugged, reliable and tamper-resistant.

Mar 15, 2019

Advocates Push for Criminal Sentencing Reform

byJack Keyes

Support is growing for legislation that would allow prisoners, even those convicted of violent crimes, to reduce their sentences through good behavior.

Feb 25, 2019

Advocates Continue Push to Lessen Importance of Standardized Tests in Texas

byMorgan Kilgo

The debate over the proper role of standard tests in evaluating student performance returns to the Capitol.

Feb 21, 2019

For Texas Republicans, a Biennial Legislature Means Less Government

byClaire Allbright

Unlike most states, the Texas Legislature only meets every other year.

Oct 22, 2018

Despite Dynamic Campaign, Julie Oliver Faces Uphill Battle for Congress

byKATE GROETZINGER

While the odds are stacked against Julie Oliver in her run for U.S. Congress, she has some advantages over Democrats who have run in Texas’ Congressional District 25 in the past.

Apr 29, 2018

Kittens Help Inmates Practice Compassion, Cooperation

byBrennan Patrick

Kittens up for adoption in Austin find love, care and mountains of toys at an unlikely place: the Travis County jail.

Apr 12, 2018

Coming in 2020: More Secure Travis Voting System with Paper Trail

byChristopher De Los Santos

The new system will cost $12 million to $14 million, and some money already has been allocated.

Apr 10, 2018

Architects: Hardening Schools Won’t Solve School Shootings

byCarlos Anchondo

President Trump and the National Rifle Association tout hardening as a better response than gun-control measures.

Sep 22, 2017

UT Leaders Pledge DACA Support, But Actions Remain Uncertain

byTaylor Jackson Buchanan

If Congress does not create a legal pathway for DACA recipients to remain in the country, many will be vulnerable to possible deportation.

Aug 30, 2017

Female Soldiers Face Higher Risk of Training Injuries, Study Finds

byAlexandra Paez

Carrying 50-pound backs during training can be punishing for women. The military is responding with equipment adapted for their bodies.

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