KERA News | News for North Texas

Denton County Plan Takes A Focused Approach To Improving Access To Health Services

Denton County's in year two of a three-year plan to improve coordination of health information and services to its population. Dr. Matt Richardson , Director of Denton County Public Health, says the Community Health Improvement plan was not focused on the quality of care, but rather providing access to a population of nearly 900,000 people.

The civil rights group indicated the state could be putting tens of thousands of U.S. citizens on a pathway to be dropped off voter rolls — Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune

Civil Rights Groups Warn That Texas Voter Citizenship Check Could Violate Federal Law

A new government report says that the U.S. budget deficit is set to hit $897 billion this year and predicts that economic growth will slow as the effects of President Donald Trump's tax cut on business investment begin to drop off. — Associated Press

Shutdown Projected To Cause $3 Billion Permanent Hit To Economy

KERA 90.1 earns honors for journalistic excellence

By KERA staff

Dallas, TX – KERA 90.1 reporters, hosts and management garnered multiple honors this fall from a handful of organizations, including the prestigious J. B. "Buck" Marryat Award, presented to Assistant Station Manager Yolette Garcia.

Bogus patents give companies huge tax breaks

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – Sometimes when you read things on the Internet, you wish had a truth-o-meter. It might sound legitimate, but here's a case when the both the New York Times and the IRS are listening and it's all about patents. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

'If They Could Tell, You Wouldn't Ask' - A Commentary

By Rawlins Gilliland, KERA 90.1 commentator

It's Only Money

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – It's Friday so "It's Only Money," a review of the big and not-so-big-stories of the week. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

More drug deals at the consumer's expense

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – Now the FDA is going to crack down on medications that come from Canada. So while it's busy "cracking down," we have to continue to pay higher prices - as rebates are being stuffed into the pockets of everybody but the consumer. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

Arlington representative seeks to oust Robin Hood law

By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter

Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: For years, educators and legislators have said the so-called Robin Hood law - the state's 10-year-old rule that takes money from property wealthy districts and sends it to property poor ones - is broken and needs repair. Representative Grusendorf's House Bill 5 would get rid of, or "sunset" Robin Hood, by 2005.

Girl Scouts: Worth Taking a Look At

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – You don't really want to hear how much the airlines will lose if we go to war? I didn't think so. So, let's talk about the Girl Scouts. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

Why Cut Small Business Funding in Low Income Areas?

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 Business Commentator

Dallas, TX – "With unemployment rising, our nation needs more small businesses to open " etc., etc. That was from the President's State of the Union address. Then why is funding being cut for small businesses? I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

Auditor reports on CHIP program at HHSC

By State Auditor's Office

Austin, TX – The State Auditor today released two new reports, on on the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the Health and Human Services Commission and one on the Texas Department of Health's implementation of a business improvement plan.

The first report is "An Audit Report on The Children's Health Insurance Program at the Health and Human Services Commission, SAO Report No. 03-022."

Nelson bill gives teeth to state medical board

By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – The 6 percent of medical practitioners who are reportedly responsible for 50 percent of all medical malpractice claims will face a regulatory board with more teeth to prohibit them from practicing medicine if a bill that passed the Senate today clears the House.

Sen. Jane Nelson's (R-Flower Mound) SB 104 was filed, she said, as a companion to SB 12, the Medical Liability Reform Act.

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Mueller Investigation 'Close To Being Completed,' Acting Attorney General Says

By Philip Ewing • 7 hours ago

Updated at 8:45 p.m. ET

Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation is "close to being completed," Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said on Monday.

Whitaker said he has been fully briefed about Mueller's work and that he is looking forward to reviewing a final report.

"I hope that we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as possible," he said.

The acting attorney general's comments were a rare official indication of any kind from within the Justice Department about Mueller's work.

Trump's State Of The Union Rescheduled For Feb. 5 After New Pelosi Invite

By Jessica Taylor • 8 hours ago

With the government reopened — at least for now — following a 35-day partial government shutdown, President Trump's State of the Union address has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 5.

In a letter sent to the president on Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., wrote that the two had agreed upon the new date next week, after she had postponed her original offer of Jan. 29 amid the shutdown.

Polar Vortex Hits The Midwest With Life-Threatening Cold Temperatures

By Shannon Van Sant • 9 hours ago

A polar vortex is descending upon the Midwest this week, bringing the coldest weather there in a generation. Snow has already blanketed Chicago, and that will be followed by life-threatening arctic temperatures that will extend from Illinois west through North and South Dakota until Thursday.

Rich Otto, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, tells NPR, "These are probably some of the coldest temperatures that the area has seen, parts of the upper Midwest, since the mid-'90s."

The shutdown cost the U.S. economy $3 billion, Congressional Budget Office says

By Kai Ryssdal and Maria Hollenhorst • 9 hours ago

The Congressional Budget Office released two reports today — one on the agency’s 10-year economic forecast and one on its best estimates of how much the partial government shutdown cost. CBO Director Keith Hall talked about both those reports with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal today. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.

Kai Ryssdal: So you have quantified this shutdown for us. What are the headline numbers?

States Along Colorado River Working To Avert Crisis From 19-Year Drought

By editor • 9 hours ago

(SOUNDBITE OF JONATHAN LARSON SONG, "SEASONS OF LOVE")

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

The hit Broadway musical "Rent" made it to the small screen last night on Fox TV.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

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Here Are 39 Things You Should Do In Texas Before You Die

Texas Independence Day is March 2. (On that day, back in 1836, the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted at Washington-on-the-Brazos.) So, to celebrate, the KERA News staff figured we’d come up with a list of quintessential Texas experiences – a list of things you should do in the Lone Star State before you kick the bucket.