Two transportation commissioners departing.
Transportation Commissioners Victor Vandergriff (Arlington) and Tryon Lewis (Odessa) have announced that they will be stepping down from the Texas Transportation Commission, the board with oversight of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Governor Abbott appoints all members of the five-person Transportation Commission. Appointments will go through confirmation by the Texas Senate when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2019. To read more…
Investigating HHSC.
Speaker Joe Straus has asked the House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics to delve into the Health and Human Services Commission’s practices for contract oversight after a state audit report found practices by a managed care organization (MCO) violated its contract with the state. $29.6 million in bonus and incentive payments were paid out by the MCO. The Uniform Managed Care Manual specifically prohibits incentive payments. To read more…
Texans in Pyeongchang.
Three Texas athletes will be representing Team USA during the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Jonathan Garcia (Houston) in long track speedskating, Sam McGuffie (Cypress) and Justin Olsen (San Antonio) in bobsledding. The much talked about Nigerian women’s bobsled team also has a Texas connection. Seun Adigun ran track for the University of Houston. To read more…
Only in Austin…
Ruby’s BBQ, a UT campus staple for almost 30 years, will be closing February 20th. Ruby’s was named for the BBQ joint in Sidney Lumet’s, “The Fugitive Kind,” and not after its owner Pat Mares, although she’ll answer to Ruby. Go by and get your last plate of Ruby’s all-natural brisket and your favorite side before it’s too late. To read more…