Who Pays?

May 28, 2024

By Dr. M. Ray Perryman, May 28, 2024 In fiscal year 2023, the US government collected about $4.7 trillion in total revenue, with roughly half ($2.35 trillion) derived from the much-maligned personal income tax. We don’t have a detailed breakout…

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Texas’ first-ever statewide flood plan estimates 5 million live in flood-prone areas

May 28, 2024

Photo above: A pickup pushes through flood waters in Livingston on May 2, 2024. Thousands fled their Southeast Texas homes as heavy rains saturated multiple counties. Credit: Drone Bros LLC. By Alejandra Martinez, The Texas Tribune, May 28, 2024 “Texas’ first-ever statewide…

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South Texans face a bigger burden than ever to pay rent, study finds

January 29, 2024

Photo above: The Mueller neighborhood in East Austin on Oct. 7, 2023. Credit: John Jordan/The Texas Tribune By Joshua Fechter, The Texas Tribune And Edinburg Advocate Staff Reports Edinburg, Texas, Jan. 27, 2024 — Texas renters are under more pressure from the state’s…

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VITA tax preparation services set to begin at STC

January 27, 2024

Photo Caption: Cynthia Sanchez (left), associate professor with STC’s Business Administration program and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site coordinator at the college’s Mid-Valley campus assists volunteers recently at a training. STC will be hosting the VITA program as they…

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UTRGV College of Engineering and Computer Science Receives Approval for New Ph.D. Program in Computer Science

January 27, 2024

Photo above: UTRGV President Guy Bailey and university leaders addressed the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board today in Austin as the group moved forward with the approval of the second Ph.D. degree for the College of Engineering and Computer Science.…

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Here’s what Texans need to know about the new FAFSA to get aid for college

January 23, 2024

Photo above: Early College High school juniors listen to a presentation on college applications at the Austin Community College’s Round Rock campus on May 5, 2023. Credit: Leila Saidane/The Texas Tribune By Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune Jan. 23, 2024 The launch…

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Looking Back

January 10, 2024

Dr. M. Ray Perryman January 10, 2023 As I’ve said before, one of the most striking characteristics the US economy demonstrated in 2023 was resilience. Texas set a blazing growth pace for the year, though things slowed a bit toward…

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Texas superintendents say lack of school safety funding may lead to budget cuts

December 11, 2023

Photo above: An Austin Independent School District police vehicle parked outside of McCallum High School in Austin, on Dec. 28, 2012. Credit: Tamir Kalifa for The Texas Tribune By Maia Pandey, The Texas Tribune, Dec. 11, 2023 Public school administrators were well…

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Texas fire departments are fighting stigma and pushing to provide firefighters mental health help

December 5, 2023

Photo above: Firefighters at Fire Station 48 in Houston on Nov. 22, 2023. Credit: Mark Felix for The Texas Tribune By Stephen Simpson, The Texas Tribune, Dec. 5, 2023 For more than a decade, Sam Buser watched the lights of fire trucks…

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Judge considers holding state in contempt a third time over foster care conditions

December 5, 2023

Photo above: Heart Galleries, portraits of adoptable children, on display at the Child Protective Services office at Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019. Credit: Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribune By Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune,…

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