Alisa Semiens
By Alisa Semiens:
Truancy Reform Legislation Headed to the Governor
Truancy Decriminalization Bill Could Squeak Through Legislature
After a long stand-off between the House and Senate, a last-minute compromise may save the prospects of truancy reform, which has gained broad bipartisan support. Read More
Senate Moves to Decriminalize School Truancy
Under his legislation, Whitmire said school administrators and judges would have all the same tools they have now to try to ensure kids are not skipping school. The difference, he argued, is there would be no criminal charge to follow a young person around for the rest of their life. Read More
Third Time the Charm? Texas House Passes Texting-While-Driving Ban
“Text and drive? Pay a fine.” That may be a warning sign seen around Texas soon if a texting-while-driving ban approved by the House on Thursday makes it into law. Lawmakers voted 104-39 for House Bill 80, by state Rep. … Read More
Report: Texas Prosecutes More Truancy Cases Than All Other States Combined
A new report by Texas Appleseed finds Texas prosecutes kids for truancy twice as often as all other states combined, targeting minorities. Read More
The Hidden Confederate History of the Texas Capitol: An Unofficial Guide
A visitor to the Capitol gleans a particular story of Texas from the monuments and plaques: one that celebrates the state’s involvement in the Civil War and offers a revisionist history of the causes of the conflict. (Read: not slavery.) Read More
Will the Lege Pony Up for Pre-K Expansion?
A bipartisan plan would fund full-day pre-K for tens of thousands of Texas students, and institute strict accountability measures, at a likely cost of more than $300 million. Read More
Julian Bond at LBJ School: ‘Jim Crow May be Dead, but Racism is Alive and Well’
At the LBJ School yesterday, Julian Bond said the election of Barack Obama doesn't mean we’ve achieved a post-racial society. Read More
Six Weeks Before a Scheduled Execution, Protesters Ask Abbott to Grant Clemency
Supporters continue to call for DNA testing in Rodney Reed's 1996 rape and murder case. Read More