Nathan Bernier, KUT News

Hays Seeks Alternative Groundwater Sources, Could Affect San Antonio

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:58:32 +0000

Hays County is looking for alternative groundwater supplies. An open Request for Proposals seeks to pipe in water from aquifers that could be tapped to supplement water from the Edwards and Trinity aquifers.

County Commissioner Ray Whisenant (R-Precinct 4) says the existing supply of water appears to be unsustainable with the county's current growth rate.

Religious Leaders Demand Money For Women's Health

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:04:36 +0000

Religious leaders from Christian, Buddhist, Sikh and Jewish faiths are calling on state leaders to increase funding for women’s health programs. Clergy members held a news conference at the Capitol today to highlight a statement signed by more than 370 religious leaders from various faiths.

"We are voices of faith that minister to people of all levels of economic ability in our state and we’ve seen these cuts especially affect women in poverty in Texas," said Larry Bethune, pastor of the University Baptist Church in Austin. Bethune sits on the board of the Texas Freedom Network, an organization that says it exists to counter the "religious right."

Jeb Bush Pushes Charter School Expansion, Rigorous Standardized Testing

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:56:54 +0000

One of the biggest Republican stars in the country provided some advice on overhauling public education to the state Senate today.

“I would advocate that when you have a chance to reform, it ought to be big,” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush told the Senate Education Committee. “You ought to go big or go home.”

Bush said that his state’s education policy changes would also suit Texas.

Barbara Cargill Named New State Board of Education Chair

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:04:41 +0000

For the first time since 2005, the Texas Senate has confirmed someone to serve a full term as head of the State Board of Education. Barbara Cargill, a Republican from The Woodlands, was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in 2011.

Cargill has supported a measure that requires students to question evolution. State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, says Cargill reassured him that she would not allow her religious conservatism to interfere with her leadership of the board.

From The Fort Hood Tragedy, An Unlikely Friendship Emerges

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:57:40 +0000

http://kut.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/QA-Bernier-Cahill-Hasan-NAWAL.mp3

The daughter of a man killed in the Fort Hood shooting rampage is now friends with the cousin of the accused shooter.

Kerry Cahill lost her father Michael Cahill at Fort Hood in 2009. Now, she's working with Nader Hasan, cousin of alleged shooter Nidal Hasan the alleged shooter, on Nader's effort to speak out against extremism through his organization, the Nawal Foundation.

Listen to our conversation with them by clicking the player above.

Will Surplus Revenue Go To Public Education?

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:53:09 +0000

One of the men who controls the state’s checkbook is leaving the door open to restoring some of the $5.4 billion in public education cuts enacted two years ago.

House Appropriations chair Jim Pitts took questions from lawmakers on the House floor today, including one from Austin Democrat Donna Howard.

Dewhurst Aide Accused Of Stealing $1 Million From Senate Campaign

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:13:51 +0000

A former aide to Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst is being accused of stealing at least $1 million from Dewhurt’s campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Kenneth “Buddy” Barfield was already facing accusations that he embezzled at least $600,000 from a state campaign account. Now, a spokesperson for Dewhurst says they believe Barfield stole more than $1 million from a separate campaign fund aimed at securing Dewhurst the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

Could Same-Sex Marriage Come to Texas?

Nathan Bernier, KUT News and Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 16:36:22 +0000

Could Same-Sex Marriage Come to Texas?

In recent weeks, same-sex couples in Maine, Maryland and Washington have gotten the right to marry. That's after voters in each of those states approved ballot measures clearing the way for them.

That has some people wondering: Will same-sex couples in Texas be allowed to marry?

A ruling from the U.S.

For Texas, Fewer State Layoffs In 2012

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 20:15:48 +0000

The number of state employees let go this year was down dramatically compared to 2011, according to a report from the State Auditor's Office. But that’s mainly because so many people lost their jobs last year, after lawmakers slashed the two-year state budget by $14 billion.

Those cuts led to a round of government layoffs: 1,225 people lost their jobs last year as the result of a "reduction in force," the bureaucratic term used to label job cuts caused by budget reductions. This year, that number was 96. A lot of people were fired for other reasons, but the number of state employees "involuntarily" laid off still dropped by more than 15 percent compared to last year.

Travis County DA Investigating State Cancer Institute

Nathan Bernier, KUT News — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:02:36 +0000

There’s more trouble for the state’s embattled cancer-fighting agency.

The Travis County District Attorney’s office is now investigating the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, better known as CPRIT.

Gregg Cox is the head of the Public Integrity Unit in the Travis County DA’s office. He says they’ll be looking at how contracts were awarded.