March 14, 2010

Melissa Ludwig

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Nestled among tall eucalyptus and pine trees, the University of California at San Diego has a camplike feel, reminiscent of the days when scientists bunked in seaside cottages pursuing the mysteries of the Pacific Ocean.

The flame for discovery that started with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the early 1900s was passed on to a medical school and university created on top of the marine institute in the 1960s.

March 1, 2010

Walter C. Jones


ATLANTA - - If the University System of Georgia's Board of Regents weren't already concerned enough about mounting cuts to the budget year that begins July 1, now comes the prospect that funding from bonds for construction projects could also be limited one day.

A shrinking state budget and a growing list of construction projects means the regents could soon bump into the maximum bonding capacity.

Since the government sells bonds to investors as a way to borrow money for major construction projects, the system has been able to launch building campaigns even in years when day-to-day spending for operations might be tight. Only a fraction of the money needed to build a dorm or classroom building would have to be available in a given fiscal year because the bulk of the bonds are repaid over 20 years.

March 2, 2010

Melissa Ludwig


The cost of attending the University of Texas at San Antonio could rise by 9.2 percent to $4,395 per semester for a full-time student in the next two years under a proposal up for approval this week.

Set to go before the University of Texas System's board of regents Wednesday, the proposal increases tuition and fees by 4.5 percent in 2010 and 2011.

If UTSA students approve a $12-per-semester transportation fee increase this month, the cost could go up even more, to $4,407 per semester in 2011.

State lawmakers asked that public universities hold increases to 3.95 percent per year, but the resolution was not binding.

March 2, 2010

Matt Stiles

We've launched a simple new data application that details $150 million in campaign fundraising and spending by the major-party candidates since January 2009. 

The app allows users to scan a chart of the top fundraisers on the ballot or filter the chart by selecting specific candidates, races or candidate types (incumbents, challengers, etc). Viewing the data this way reveals some interesting tidbits: 

• As expected, the top statewide elected officials — and the strongest gubernatorial challengers — led the list in both spending and fundraising. But House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, raised about $2.8 million, even though he doesn't have a Republican primary challenger or a Democratic opponent this fall. Comptroller Susan Combs, who also doesn't have a major-party opponent, collected more than $1.7 million. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison raised and spent more than anyone in her bid for governor.

Board accepts increase over next two years, says education still affordable

March 4, 2010

By Shabab Siddiqui


The Board of Regents approved a system-wide 3.95-percent tuition increase for the next two years during its meeting Wednesday. 

The total tuition increase for resident UT undergraduates amounts to $241 per semester in 2010-11 and $186 in 2011-12. For resident graduate students, tuition will increase by $218 per semester the first year and $162 per semester the second. The same percentage increase applies to out-of-state students.

The 3.95-percent increase does not include the $65 Student Activities Center fee, which will be applied in the coming year. The increase will allow the University to maintain a flat budget and provides no additional money for faculty and staff raises and other University programs. 

March 10, 2010

By Shabab Siddiqui


While tuition hikes at UT caused some students to take to the West Mall in protest, student reactions to increases at other UT System universities were mostly mild — and even optimistic about what additional funds could bring.

Presidents and student representatives from the System’s nine universities each spoke about tuition increases at their respective schools at the UT System Board of Regents meeting March 3. The regents unanimously passed the tuition-increase recommendations for the next two school years during the meeting but said they could revisit the issue next year depending on the state’s economic situation.

March 14, 2010

Melissa Ludwig


SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Nestled among tall eucalyptus and pine trees, the University of California at San Diego has a camplike feel, reminiscent of the days when scientists bunked in seaside cottages pursuing the mysteries of the Pacific Ocean.

The flame for discovery that started with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in the early 1900s was passed on to a medical school and university created on top of the marine institute in the 1960s.

Today, it’s a Tier One research institution with 29,000 students, at least six Nobel laureates and 51 doctoral programs.

In Texas, the University of Texas at San Antonio opened in the early 1970s with similar optimism and dreams of research prowess.

March 31, 2010

Gromer Jeffers, Jr.


Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert , who has flirted with the idea of running for the U.S. Senate , said Tuesday he's leaning toward seeking re-election as mayor.

"I'm moving toward that point," Leppert told The Dallas Morning News. "We're setting up and moving toward going forward on that. That's what I can tell you."

Tuesday marked the first time Leppert has publicly discussed the possibility he'll run for another term. Dallas' next mayoral election is in May 2011.

For much of last year, he explored a campaign for the U.S. Senate, presumably to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison , who unsuccessfully challenged Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary earlier this month.

Rep. Dan Branch helped honor Sergeant David Guzman at halftime of the 2010 Patriot Cup Lacrosse Championships. Raised in Utah and Texas, Guzman joined the Army in 1989 after graduating high school and technical school. After 9/11, Guzman was stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington before being deployed to Iraq in July, 2004. As a convoy escort, many of the missions he undertook were at night. On one such reconnaissance escort mission, Guzman suffered injuries to his leg, wrist and mouth from a bomb explosion. Since his injury and return home, he has been active with the Wounded Warrior Project.

Rep. Branch visited the University of Texas at Arlington and spoke to the Arlington Chamber of Commerce at the group's March luncheon.