State of Texas
Recent News About State of Texas
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TIFA executive director: Changes in visitation hugs and hand-holding ‘because that’s how the drugs are being passed’
Sharon McKinney, executive director of the Texas Inmate Families Association, said that visitation policies have changed significantly, restricting physical contact due to concerns about drug smuggling. McKinney was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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TIFA executive director: The ‘biggest part of our mission is education’
Sharon McKinney, executive director of the Texas Inmate Families Association, said their main focus is education, conducting statewide support meetings for families affected by incarceration, despite Covid challenges, stressing the meetings' vital role in providing support and addressing stigma. McKinney was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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TIFA Executive Director: Two brothers with an incarcerated brother created TIFA to support families with loved ones in prison
Sharon McKinney, executive director of the Texas Incarcerated Families Association, said that TIFA was founded 30 years ago by two brothers who were not familiar with navigating the prison system in Texas. They established a support group after meeting with Brad Livingston, then executive director of TDCJ. McKinney was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Director of advocacy at Cicero: ‘Let’s see if we can accelerate the influx of doctors into the system’
Bryan Sunderland, director of advocacy at the Cicero Institute, said that granting two-year temporary licenses to internationally licensed doctors with five years of experience can accelerate the influx of doctors in the U.S. healthcare system. Sunderland was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Director of advocacy at Cicero: A ‘service-first approach’ is necessary in addressing homelessness
Bryan Sunderland, director of advocacy at the Cicero Institute, said that various factors cause homelessness and that there is a need for a service-first approach to address these issues and provide assistance. Sunderland was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Director of advocacy at Cicero: ‘Cicero was founded’ on the ‘idea that we need to have transparent, accountable government’
Bryan Sunderland, director of advocacy at the Cicero Institute, said that Cicero analyzes public policy and collaborates with lawmakers and policymakers to achieve transparent, accountable government and address inefficiencies in public systems. Sunderland was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO: ‘We feel like we're not getting the ROI that we want and we desire out of our city government’
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said it's crucial to assess government spending and services, particularly comparing the cost of services and what residents get in return. Sindelar was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Metrics and Accountability: Bryan Sunderland Explains Cicero's Approach To Public Policy
Highlights from our interview with Bryan Sunderland, director of advocacy at the Cicero Institute
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Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO: ‘It's going to be really interesting’ to see the political shifts ‘over the next 10-20 years in Texas’
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said that Texas' political landscape is undergoing significant changes, pointing out historical party transitions of key figures and the unpredictability of political shifts. Sindelar was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas Public Policy Foundation CEO: We try to ‘ensure that the federal government is staying out of the way’
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said the foundation is dedicated to research-based initiatives, aiming to empower states and limit federal intervention in policymaking. Sindelar was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas Restaurant Foundation chair: We partner with the re-entry and integration program so incarcerated individuals ‘can have that second chance hiring'
Russell Woodward, chair of the Texas Restaurant Foundation, said they collaborate with educational institutions and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to provide culinary and hospitality training for formerly incarcerated individuals, fostering second-chance hiring opportunities. Woodward was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas Restaurant Foundation chair: The teachers participating in our training program are ‘one important piece of our workforce’
Russell Woodward, chair of the Texas Restaurant Foundation, said that their annual ProStart Educators Training Conference is pivotal for workforce training objectives, gathering a hundred teachers for hands-on programs. Woodward was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas Restaurant Foundation chair: One area of high focus is ‘high school level culinary programs and hospitality’
Russell Woodward, chair of the Texas Restaurant Foundation, said that they have long-term involvement with high school culinary programs and that culinary and hospitality education is shaping the future workforce. Woodward was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Austin restaurant attorney: The Debt Service Tax is ‘the constitutional way to incur debt’
Bill Aleshire, the attorney representing Dirty Martin's and the other plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Austin's light-rail project, said the Debt Service tax is the constitutionally dedicated way to retire debt. The city's deviation from Texas norms by funding the project through a transfer of general fund revenues raises legal and constitutional concerns as well as significant questions about whether the debt payments could be stopped at any point. Aleshire was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Austin restaurant owner: ‘It doesn't make any sense' to close streets to vehicular traffic for Light Rail operations
Mark Nemir, the owner of Dirty Martin's in Austin, said implementing Light Rail systems across intersections poses traffic disruption concerns, especially if Guadalupe Street closes to vehicles, emphasizing the practical challenges and population density around the University of Texas. Aleshire was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Austin restaurant attorney: ‘You wouldn't need to bulldoze Dirty Martin's or other places’ if a bus system used dedicated street lanes
Bill Aleshire, the attorney representing the owner of Dirty Martin's, said that the Via system could fulfill promised routes at a fraction of the cost, eliminating the need for property demolition, while expressing concern over the exclusion of the rail line to the airport and its impact on East Austin. Aleshire was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Local restaurant owner: ‘ I don't know how I could survive' displacement caused by Austin's Project Connect
Mark Nemir, the owner of Dirty Martin's in Austin, said he remains uncertain about the fate of his property amidst the city of Austin's transit plans and is awaiting written clarification regarding potential traffic diversions. Nemir was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani: All members of the community should be ‘recognized and celebrated’
Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani said it's important to recognize and honor all religions and celebrate the work and achievements of public servants. Bhojani was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.
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Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani: ‘Good relationships’ between both parties are important for legislative success
Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani said bipartisan collaboration, respectful dialogue, and private consultation in discussing bills and fostering mutual understanding among colleagues are crucial in legislative endeavors.
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Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani: Both parties ‘want what's best for Texas’
Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani said it is important to foster good relationships across party lines to advance the interests of the state. Bhojani was a guest on a recent episode of the Texas Talks Podcast.