House Democrats Target Alternatives to Abortion Program
As the Texas House prepares for a floor fight Tuesday over its budget, a flurry of amendments filed by Democrats seeks to defund the state's Alternatives to Abortion program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/22/Protesters-Split.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond -
Health Commission Experienced a Program Failure, Report Says
Leadership problems at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission in the wake of a contracting scandal leave the agency too vulnerable to consolidate at this time, according to a report released Monday by Gov. Greg Abbott's "strike force" team. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Janek-Listens.jpg)
![Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texas Scientists Find Antibiotic Resistance Blowing in Wind
In a study slated for publication next month, two Texas Tech University scientists may have made their biggest discovery yet: DNA from antibiotic-resistant bacteria in cattle feedlots is airborne. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/17/IMG_8630.jpg)
![Thousands of cattle spend their final months at feed yards like this one, located in Hale Center.]()
Credit: Eva Hershaw -
FBI at Health Commission Asking About 21CT Deal
FBI agents have interviewed Texas Health and Human Services Commission employees about the agency's problematic contract with Austin firm 21CT, Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek said Thursday, the first time any official with direct knowledge of the FBI's involvement has confirmed it. Full Story
![Executive Commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Dr. Kyle Janek]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: A Conversation With Clay Johnston
Full video of my 3/26 conversation with Clay Johnston, dean of the University of Texas at Austin's Dell Medical School. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DSC_7942.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Terrell State Hospital Privatization Deal Scuttled After Audit
A plan to privatize Terrell State Hospital is dead following a scathing audit that raps the state health commission for bypassing its own contracting procedures. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/25/Terrel_State_Hospital_TTcrop.jpg)
![Terrell State Hospital is one of 10 state psychiatric hospitals.]()
Credit: Texas Department of State Health Services -
Abbott to Foster Care Agency: Get Your Act Together
In the wake of three child deaths under the state’s ward so far this year, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday told the Department of Family and Protective Services to straighten up and fly right. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/17/BDS_4051CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott annouces several emergency legislative items in his first State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Obamacare Cash Helps Pay State's Medicaid Bill
Texas Republicans have long used the Affordable Care Act as a political punching bag, but that hasn’t stopped state budget writers from taking $102 million from the president's signature health care law to pay some bills. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Committee Considers Banning E-Cigarette Use by Minors
The House Public Health Committee on Tuesday discussed five bills that would extend current restrictions on tobacco products to vapor products like e-cigarettes. The Senate passed similar legislation last week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/07/17/E-Cig.jpg)
![E-cigarettes vaporize a liquid solution for inhalation. They have grown steadily in popularity since they were introduced in 2005.]()
Credit: Joseph Morris -
Rural Hospitals Struggle to Keep Their Doors Open
Policymakers must decide whether to spend more money on small hospitals serving a limited number of patients that, in most cases, cannot keep their doors open without government assistance. But without them people, inevitably, will die. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/19/EmptyHospitalRoom.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Supplemental Budget Would Cost $433 Million, House Members Learn
House budget writers intend to add $433 million to the current two-year budget with a supplemental bill laid out Thursday, though some lawmakers expressed concern with plans for millions in leftover funds from some state health programs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/04/_KCA8357.jpg)
![State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, in the Texas House of Representatives, Feb. 8, 2011.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Post-Scandal, Lawmakers Changing Gears on Health Agency
As the state’s largest health agency reels from a scandal over how it awarded contracts to private vendors, lawmakers on Wednesday said they are slowing down on their ambitious — and controversial — plan to restructure it. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/14/Sunset027Nelson.jpg)
![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, wraps up the Sunset Advisory Commission hearing on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Bill Would Bar Doctors From Asking About Guns
State Rep. Stuart Spitzer is afraid the federal government can use medical records to identify gun owners. Over the objections of the medical community, he has filed a bill that would prohibit doctors from asking patients whether they own a firearm. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/HandgunsAtFiringRange.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Edward A. Ornelas/San Antonio Express-News -
Map: Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Providers
The Senate's proposed changes to the state's breast and cervical cancer screening program — intended to cut funding for Planned Parenthood clinics — could hit low-income women in rural and West Texas hardest. Use our map to see how. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/17/WomensHealthServicesMap.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Michael Stravato / Becca Aaronson -
New in Trib+Health: Healthy Body, Healthy Brain
In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: How healthy lifestyles lead to a healthier brain, a big milestone in Liberia's fight on Ebola and an interview with Belinda Reininger of the University of Texas School of Public Health Brownsville Regional Campus. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/03/Trib-Plus-Health-leadart002.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
State Medicaid Probes Produce Paltry Results
Three years ago, the office responsible for rooting out Medicaid fraud and abuse set a goal of finding $1 billion a year in misspent funds. But it's collecting about $995 million less than that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/13/oig-badge.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Revisit Our Five-Part Undrinkable Series
The Texas Tribune's five-part Undrinkable series looks at border communities that lack reliable, clean water despite a multibillion-dollar effort that has spanned decades. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/06/Undrinkable-leadart-repush.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Jennifer Whitney, Spencer Selvidge -
Competing Bills Filed Over End-of-Life Care for Pregnant Women
Lawmakers have filed two competing bills about who should have the authority to decide whether to terminate a brain-dead pregnant woman's life — a preview of what promises to be a fiery legislative battle over end-of-life medical care in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/12/7C2A3596.jpg)
![Erick Muñoz, widow of Marlise Muñoz, speaks at the Texas Capitol after "Marlise's Law" was introduced during a press conference on March 12, 2015. A picture of his late wife and her family sits on the table.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
For Two Border Towns, Clean Water Plan Crashes
From our Undrinkable series: most Rio Bravo and El Cenizo residents don't trust the tap water despite a treatment plant intended to better the two towns' standard of living. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/06/Undrinkable-leadart-riobravo.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
Fractured System Keeps Clean Water From Some
In theory, clean, safe water should be flowing to all of Rio Grande City's 14,000 residents, but a long-standing arrangement with a handful of locally owned corporations keeps it from some parts of town. This is part of our five-story Undrinkable series. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/06/Undrinkable-leadart-riogrande.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/05fc0d5517cc55823b742b1627c50149/BD%20INC%20Turner%20Frown%2002%202011)