Current Articles

The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. Each week, librarians select and abstract articles of interest to the legislature from the latest issues of over 300 journals, newsletters, state documents, and trade publications. Electronic copies of the Current Articles list are distributed to legislative offices each Friday.

The Legislative Reference Library is located on the second floor of the State Capitol building in Room 2N.3. For more information, please call the Library at 512 463-1252.

May 10, 2012 list Print (PDF)

"Chasing the dream." By G. M. Filisko. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, May 2012, pp. 48-53
Examines nine basic issues in immigration law and policy to separate myth from fact. Considers issues such as the immigration process, receiving public benefits, paying taxes, and immigrant assimilation into American society.
Report at: http://www.fairus.org/Default.aspx?PageID=12601441 ...
Report at: http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/high-school/top-1 ...
Report at: http://www.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/repor ...

"Business advice meets academic culture." By Goldie Blumenstyk. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 4, 2012, pp. A1, A14-A16
Profiles the University of North Texas at Dallas. Discusses the institution's history and traces its evolution from a traditional metropolitan university to its proposed new direction as an outcome-oriented career college. Examines how this change has been influenced by state budget cuts, demographic issues, and the ideas of management consultants Bain & Company. Explores the reasons behind the university leadership's adoption of the "Bain model" and discusses objections to the proposed changes.

"With GI Bill's billions at stake, colleges compete to lure veterans." By Libby Sander. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 4, 2012, pp. A1, A5-A6, A8
Reports that many public and private colleges are aggressively competing to enroll veterans and some are using potentially deceptive marketing tactics to lure students. Explores ways for schools and governments to reach veterans and help them choose appropriate programs.

"Drilling boom squeezes power generators." By Matt Joyce. Dallas Business Journal, May 4-10, 2012, pp. 14-15
Reports natural gas prices may affect the reliability of the Texas power grid. Notes lower prices discourage the construction of new power plants to meet peak demand.

"Employers' $147 billion problem." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, May 4-10, 2012, pp. 1, 11
Reports obesity-related medical care totaled $147 billion in 2008. Points out public schools do not provide adequate funding for physical education and health programs, noting that lack of physical activity in school is a contributing factor in the rising rate of childhood obesity.

"Drought in the south-west: prospecting." Economist, May 5th-11th, 2012, p. 34
Addresses the drought in Texas and the need for water conservation. Explains how the San Antonio Water System reduced its average water consumption from 200 gallons per person in the 1980s to the current 149 gallons per person.
Related information at: http://www.saws.org/conservation/

"Remittance corridors: new rivers of gold." Economist, April 28th-May 4th, 2012, pp. 77-78
Discusses changes in the remittance business. Notes that remittances come from a wider variety of countries than previously thought and are helping poor countries in the downturn.

"Analysis links zoning policies and disparities." By Nirvi Shah. Education Week, April 25, 2012, pp. 1, 24
Reports a recent Brookings Institute study finds that the price of housing costs an average of 2.4 times more near a high-scoring public school than near a low-scoring one. Considers the test score gap in the 100 largest metropolitan areas. Lists the top ten areas with gaps of more than 30 percent between the test scores of the average school attended by low-income students and the average school attended by middle- or high-income students.
Report at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2 ...

"Project-based learning helps at-risk students." By Liana Heitin. Education Week, April 25, 2012, pp. 8-9
Profiles a successful alternative public high school in Oregon which has adopted a project-based curriculum model. Addresses criticisms that state and national standards for alternative schools are diluted. Notes that test scores at the Oregon school are on the rise, dropout rates are falling, and the school has a 180-student waiting list.

"An earthquake in financial markets." By Michael Castellon. Fiscal Notes, May 2012, pp. 1-3
Interviews James K. Galbraith of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs on the European debt crisis. Explores how the debt crisis developed, the current bailout plans, and the potential effect on the Texas economy. Points out that, in 2010, Texas exported goods worth $17.4 billion to the 17 nations of the "eurozone," accounting for about 8.4 percent of the state's total exports for that year.
See: http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/fnotes/fn12 ...

"Power lines." By Dylan Scott. Governing, May 2012, pp. 48-51
Examines whether local sustainability initiatives can coexist with for-profit utilities that are operating out of financial self-interest. Discusses how Boulder, Colorado, in order to reduce energy consumption, is breaking away from its utility provider and creating a publicly-owned municipal utility.
See: http://www.governing.com/topics/energy-env/gov-gre ...

"Going after Hispanic vote." By Richard Larsen. Hispanic Business, April 2012, pp. 10-11
Explores strategies the Democratic Party is employing to gain Hispanic votes in the upcoming presidential election.

"Hidalgo visionary leader generates amazing achievements." By Michelle Adam. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, May 7, 2012, pp. 38-40
Details the transformation of Hidalgo High School in the Hidalgo Independent School District from one of the lowest performing schools in the 1980s to eleventh among America's best high schools in 2007. Notes that 95 percent of the 2010 senior class graduated with college credit.

"New programs at South Texas and Brazosport take students to graduation." By Marilyn Gilroy. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, May 7, 2012, pp. 32-33
Profiles programs at Brazosport College and South Texas College that are producing positive results in the colleges' retention and completion rates. Notes Brazosport College's Learning Frameworks program has received state and national awards.

"Top 100 colleges for Hispanics." By Mary Ann Cooper. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, May 7, 2012, pp. 9-19
Presents the annual lists of top 100 institutions for Hispanics by degree level (bachelor's, master's, and doctoral) and by academic program.

"A compendium of law relating to the electronic recording of custodial interrogations." By Thomas P. Sullivan. Judicature, March/April 2012, pp. 212-215
Introduces findings of a study of state and federal agency practices with respect to the recording of custodial interrogations. Presents reported benefits of custodial interview recordings for law enforcement and suspects and summarizes current laws and practices in all 50 states. Relates endorsements of electronic recording of custodial interviews by national organizations, including the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.
Report at: http://www.ajs.org/ajs/publications/Judicature_PDF ...
Related information at: http://www.law.upenn.edu/bll/archives/ulc/erci/201 ...

"Raw deal." By Dana Goodyear. New Yorker, April 30, 2012, pp. 32-37
Explores the growing popularity of raw milk. Discusses how state and federal authorities are attempting to eliminate raw milk consumption by cracking down on "milk traffickers." Reports that many libertarian and small-government groups, such as the Tea Party, are adopting the raw-milk cause as an example of excessive government regulation. Quotes Congressman Ron Paul.

"Taco USA." By Gustavo Arellano. Reason, June 2012, pp. 22, 24-28
Describes the history of Mexican cuisine in the United States, including governmental attempts at regulation. Examines how Mexican food has affected American culture, especially in the Southwest, and traces the development of regional sub-specialties, such as Tex-Mex. Discusses scholarly objections to the "Americanization" of traditional Mexican food. Argues that this leads to an appreciation of Mexican culture and creates business opportunities for Mexican immigrants.

"Fracking fracas." By Jacquelyn Pless. State Legislatures, May 2012, pp. 14-16
Examines the process of fracking, which pumps liquid — water mixed with sand and chemicals — underground to crack shale rock, which allows the extraction of natural gas. Discusses the consequences of using this method for the economy, the environment, and public health. Quotes Senator Jane Nelson.

"Gas gusher." By Glen Andersen. State Legislatures, May 2012, pp. 12-13
Considers the pros and cons associated with the abundant supply of natural gas in the United States. Quotes Senator Jane Nelson.

"Rural Rx." By Joshua Ewing. State Legislatures, May 2012, pp. 20-22
Describes a New Mexico project that links urban doctors with rural doctors and their patients using telecommunications technology. Reports the program, which addresses the shortage of primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas, has been adopted in other states to address physician shortages.

"Hot pot: how Barack Obama's medical-marijuana plans went up in smoke." By Michael Scherer. Time, May 14, 2012, p. 14
Discusses effect of the federal government's recent crackdown on the medical-marijuana industry in states that have legalized marijuana for medical use. Reports President Obama was forced to change positions on the regulation of the medical-marijuana industry due to its explosive growth, lack of local regulation, and the appearance that the industry is also supplying recreational users.

"Learning that works." By Joe Klein. Time, May 14, 2012, pp. 34-38
Reports vocational education, now referred to as career and technical education, is making a comeback in the United States due to new educational approaches that encourage students to graduate and get jobs. Suggests the education establishment's dismissal of vocational education is contributing to a rise in dropout rates and in the number of high schools graduates unprepared for employment. Profiles a successful vocational school on the Navajo reservation in Kayenta, Arizona.

"A test worth teaching to: the race to fix America's broken system of standardized exams." By Susan Headden. Washington Monthly, May/June 2012, pp. A11-A19
Traces the evolution of educational testing and accountability in the United States. Explores complaints that educators' focus on "teaching to the test" as a result of current accountability standards has led to a degradation of teaching and learning. Notes obstacles to improving tests and raising achievement include ongoing resistance to common and rigorous standards and a focus on "cheaply measurable skills." Concludes next-generation tests being produced by a state-led consortium committed to common core standards will go a long way toward providing educators with a test worth teaching to.

"Transcontinental education." By Robert Rothman. Washington Monthly, May/June 2012, pp. A4-A11
Provides details and background on the next wave of school reform — the adoption of common core standards. Discusses cost savings and other benefits associated with the adoption of common standards as well as programs and materials designed to implement the change, including common assessments, teacher preparation programs, and online curriculum materials.