The U.S. Supreme Court will soon consider whether to hear the Texas case of Duane Buck, who was sentenced to die in 1997 for killing two people. His small army of advocates don’t dispute his guilt but argue he is facing the harshest possible punishment primarily "because he is black."
The heady days of the Texas Legislature's superiority in state budget writing seem to have come to a close in favor of giving the governor an unprecedented amount of power over how the state spends its money.
As the end of the school year approaches, many high school seniors and their parents are looking ahead to the next big step in life — going to college. But for far too many, that excitement somehow fades between spring graduation and fall enrollment.
It is all but certain that the Legislature will resume efforts to pass “religious protection” measures next session. These efforts will pose challenges to Republican leaders attempting to keep the disparate elements that make up their party within the GOP tent — especially Gov. Greg Abbott.
Are the forces too great to make that happen? Or can the three nations of North America enact policies that will make for a stronger continent? And what would those policies entail?
The Child Protective Services-related stories that have been in the news lately are symptoms of a broken system. The deaths of children and the poor outcomes of foster youth are the result of more than just overworked caseworkers.
Truth and transparency prevent wrongful convictions and increase public confidence in the integrity and fairness of our criminal justice systems.
The more Texans we have who understand the complex issues surrounding public school finance, the more likely we are to find great solutions.
I have been asked repeatedly over the past few days "what I can say" about LifeWorks' involvement with Meechiael Criner, the suspect in the death of UT-Austin student Haruka Weiser. If he is found guilty of this terrible crime, we will be left to debate whom is to be held responsible for his fate — himself alone, school bullies, foster care, parents? I hold no hope for an easy answer.
Understanding and responding to Texas' rapidly growing population is vital to ensuring communities across the state continue to enjoy a high quality of life.
The outcome of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt could have devastating effects on Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls in Texas and all across the country.
While harsher criminal sentences for human trafficking might be an "easy sell" for state legislatures, new data suggests they do not produce law enforcement outcomes.
The Department of Labor’s impending proposal to dramatically change the cost of overtime pay exemptions under the Fair Labor Standards Act may force Texas employers to increase pay to an estimated 400,000 employees if the proposal is finalized without changes. How can employers comply with these changes?
The rise of mogul-turned-presidential candidate Donald Trump may contribute to the demise of GOP efforts to attract Latino voters to the party — or at least to avoid alienating them in large numbers.
I respect the University of Texas and Texas A&M University, but to assume those universities are the best choice for every one of our state’s best and brightest high school students is misguided.
While a vaccine against Zika might be years away, we have the ability to protect Texas from dangerous diseases right now. The Governor’s Task Force should consider expanding its priorities to include vaccine-preventable diseases and addressing non-medical exemptions.
Now more than ever, people want a voice in how and by whom they are governed. But is Texas interested in allowing them a chance to participate?
My cerebral palsy doesn’t prevent me from working and living my life, but it does stop me from turning a doorknob.
Texans do not support discrimination in the name of faith. They understand that it's bad for the state, it’s bad for the nation and — most importantly — it’s wrong.
While Texans are able to conduct a wide variety of online transactions that require sensitive personal and financial information, including renewing driver’s licenses and paying property taxes, we are among a dwindling minority of states that prohibit their citizens from being able to register to vote online.
