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Panel should help determine flagship university status in Texas
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
by Editorial Board
Austin American-Statesman
While just about everyone agrees that more top-tier universities would be a tremendous boon to Texas, taking the next steps to accomplish that goal has been quite difficult.
The problem,…
Watson proposes panel to designate top-tier universities
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
by Ralph K.M. Haurwitz
Austin American-Statesman
A blue-ribbon panel would be established to help navigate the politically dicey question of which Texas universities should be elevated to top-tier status, under legislation introduced Monday by state Sen.…
Watson sets out priorities for upcoming 81st Legislature
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
by Kimberly Reeves
In Fact Daily
Two issues near and dear to Sen. Kirk Watson two years ago – climate change and creating a process to launch a third public flagship university – will be at…
Watson wants budget ‘transparency’
Monday, November 10, 2008
by Mike Ward
Austin American-Statesman
With January’s legislation fast approaching and an expected state budget pinch expected to be Topic A, Austin state Sen. Kirk Watson says he intends to push for more “transparency” in…
In speech, Watson ruminates on shape of session to come
Monday, November 10, 2008
Quorum Report
On the day that unofficially kicks off the session – the first day to file bills – Sen. Kirk Watson speculated the current economy and last week’s Democratic wins…
Watson to file bill designating Texas 71 as ‘scenic’
Monday, November 10, 2008
by Eleni Himaras
Lake Travis View
State Senator Kirk Watson attempted to pass a measure through the legislature last year that would classify Texas 71 as a scenic highway, thereby banning future billboards along the road.
…Clean air strategy quietly drifts off
Friday, October 31, 2008
by Matthew Tresaugue
Houston Chronicle
A Texas Senate committee this week quietly withdrew recommendations that would require the state's environmental agency to adopt stringent new limits on hazardous air pollutants.
The reversal came four weeks…
Budget leaders: Don't look for costly changes to state business tax
Thursday, October 30, 2008
by Peggy Fikac
San Antonio Express-News
AUSTIN – Small businesses are unrelenting in pushing for changes to a new state tax that many say has left them gasping, but budget leaders today suggested any revamp can’t…
An in-depth look to ecofriendly school buses
Thursday, September 25, 2008
KXAN
The Texas Clean School Bus program can issue $8 million to reimburse Texas School districts that retrofit school buses, and one of the unique buses was being showcased Thursday morning.
State asks schools to cut back on bus emissions
Thursday, September 25, 2008
News 8 Austin
State officials encouraged Texas school districts to clean up their school bus fleets Thursday.
Officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Senator Kirk Watson and the Executive…
Leaders question no needle exchange
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
KXAN
The Allison Elementary school students were on recess at the nearby Civitan Park.
KXAN photojournalist Manuel Montana spotted another dirty needle at the park on Wednesday.
Texas is…
Texas PUC approves additional wind capacity
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Energy Current
The Public Utility Commission (PUC) of Texas today selected a transmission scenario that will eventually transmit a total of 18,456 MW of wind power from West Texas and the Texas…
Texas lawmakers line up behind wind power
Monday, July 14, 2008
by Elise Hu
KVUE News
Texas lawmakers say wind energy is the ticket to the state's economic future. But how much will wind power add to your electric bill?
"We could position ourselves in Texas…
Sunset review calls for more oversight of TxDOT
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
by Ben Wear
Austin American-Statesman
The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, in a rebuke to the Texas Department of Transportation, called Tuesday for putting the agency on what amounts to a four-year leash.
The commission's staff,…
CAMPO Decision Tree Takes Root
Thursday, May 08, 2008
by Katherine Gregor
Austin Chronicle
"It's a very significant point in the history of transportation planning in this community," heralded Sen. KirkWatson. After five months, the Transit Working Group this week unanimously endorsed a new,…
