The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"'Drone economy' faces threats from regulators." By Gary Shapiro. Austin Business Journal, February 5, 2016, p. 23
Advocates a coordinated national approach to drone regulation and local/state government deference to federal jurisdiction on drone-related matters.
Related information at:https://www.faa.gov/uas/p ...

"No cheers when Walmart packs up." By Shannon Pettypiece. Bloomberg Businessweek, February 07, 2016, pp. 18-19
Focuses on the plight of small towns when Walmart closes down a store and leaves the residents with no local grocery or pharmacy. Highlights Godley and Merkel, Texas, two small towns that had their local grocery stores close when Walmart expanded into their communities. Reports that cost cutting measures aimed to please investors may leave some rural small towns across America without grocers.

"Opportunities for states to coordinate Medicaid and SNAP renewals." By Jennifer Wagner and Alicia Hugulet. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 5, 2016, pp. 1-19
Looks at the overlap in eligibility and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, and Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Highlights the ways states can coordinate policies and procedures to improve administration, customer service, and participation in these benefit programs.
See:http://www.cbpp.org/sites ...

"State job creation strategies often off base." By Michael Mazerov and Michael Leachman. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, February 3, 2016, pp. 1-13
Analyzes recent data from federal government databases on the job creation records of specific businesses while accounting for ownership changes. Concludes that the majority of jobs are created by businesses already present in a state, not by the relocation or branching out by out-of-state firms, and that startups and young companies are responsible for most new jobs. Examines state economic development policies and argues against tax cuts and luring businesses from other states. Includes a state-by-state table of new jobs created by businesses already present in a state.
See:http://www.cbpp.org/sites ...

"Suburban America's tipping point." By Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, February 1, 2016, pp. 21-23
Examines how two Texas suburbs, McKinney and Missouri City, are becoming more diverse and how they are responding to this change in demographics. Includes a discussion of two Maryland suburbs, Montgomery County and Prince George's County that experienced the same and the approaches each used in response to increased diversity in their areas.

"Building a new research-university system." By Jonathan R. Cole. Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2016, pp. B10-B13
Argues that universities should borrow the model of intercollegiate athletics associations to create academic associations, not as formal mergers of schools, but academic leagues. Suggests creating a league around a topic or problem, such as the Earth Institute, a consortium of universities put together by Columbia's Jeffrey D. Sachs on the issue of sustainability. Explores other examples, such as philosophy departments working in informal relationships to allow students access to classes and expertise across universities.

"Chill on funding still puts limits on gun-violence research." By Eric Kelderman. Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2016, pp. A10-A11
Examines support for gun-violence research since 1993. Focuses on the drop in federal funding for research after the 1996 Dickey amendment which barred the CDC's National Center on Injury Prevention from spending money to "advocate or promote gun control." Suggests private funding is improving but states large federal grants are necessary to compile independent data and to conduct long-term studies.

"Poor kids, limited horizons." By Scott Carlson. Chronicle of Higher Education, January 22, 2016, pp. A22-A27
Highlights the plight of low-income students who have trouble bridging the gap between the college aspirations and the reality of financial insecurity, family pressure, bad schools, lack of social or cultural capital, fear of debt, and discrimination. Suggests these students do not have "career-choice privilege" and that while having the desire to graduate from college, the barriers overtake them and change their perceptions of what is possible.

"Texas companies outpacing rest of nation." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, February 5, 2016, p. 3
Reports the latest findings from the National Center for Middle Market's Q4 2015 Middle Market and Texas Middle-Market Indicators. Explains middle-market companies in the United States generate $10 trillion in annual revenue. Expects Texas companies to outperform the rest of the nation in 2016.
Related information at:http://marketing.middlema ...

"Texas open carry: landlords see little impact so far from new laws." By Candace Carlisle. Dallas Business Journal, January 29, 2016, p. 18
Reports North Texas property owners haven't yet experienced negative effects from the Texas open-carry law that took effect on January 1, 2016. Explains building owners are still considering how to inform the public about prohibitions of open carry, noting owners are not using the statutory language required by law.

"Organ preservation: wait not in vain." Economist, February 6th-12th, 2016, pp. 71-72
Reports developments in the science of cryogenically storing human organs could make cryopreservation a valuable technology in the near future. Points out that less than ten percent of the need for transplantable organs is being met.

"School choice: a lottery to lose." Economist, February 6th-12th, 2016, p. 29
Highlights a new study that examines first-year outcomes in Louisiana's statewide voucher program, the Louisiana Scholarship Program.
Report at: http://seii.mit.edu/wp-co ...

"Both the 'private option' and traditional Medicaid expansions improved access to care for low-income adults." By Benjamin D. Sommers, Robert J. Blendon, and E. John Orav. Health Affairs, January 2016, pp. 96-105
Compares Medicaid expansion in Kentucky, the private option in Arkansas, and non-expansion in Texas. Finds that under both expansion and the private option, health care coverage for low-income adults increased.

"Medicaid expansion did not result in significant employment changes or job reductions in 2014." By Angshuman Gooptu, et al. Health Affairs, January 2016, pp. 111-118
Analyzes labor-market participation of low-income adults in Medicaid expansion and non-expansion states to determine whether Medicaid expansion affects employment rates.

"Dietary guidelines for Americans." By Karen B. DeSalvo, Richard Olson, and Kellie O. Casavale. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), February 2, 2016, pp. 457-458
Discusses the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture.
Related information at:http://health.gov/dietary ...

"Separate, unequal, and deadly: how the US let dozens of immigrants die in segregated, private prisons." By Seth Freed Wessler. Nation, February 15, 2016, pp. 12-21
Investigates the use of privatized, immigrant-only prisons by the federal Bureau of Prisons, including prisons in Reeves County and Big Spring, Texas. Documents the dangers for inmate health and medical care and the role of GEO Group.
See:http://www.thenation.com/ ...
Report at: https://oig.justice.gov/r ...

"Baby Doe: a political history of tragedy." By Jill Lepore. New Yorker, February 1, 2016, pp. 46-57
Illustrates the problems with state child protective services and presents the troubling statistic that one in three children who die from maltreatment belongs to a family that has previously been investigated. Highlights the history of the child-protective movement from 1837 to the current day. Suggests a cycle of scandal and reform, with resulting pendulum swings between foster homes versus institutions and reunification versus termination of parental rights, has been part of the problem.
See:http://www.newyorker.com/ ...

"Proceed with caution." By Laura D'Alessandro. Public Power, January-February 2016, pp. 28, 30-31
Describes utilities concerns about the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Act as without a federal model plan it is unclear how the states will choose to comply. Points out that in addition to having no federal model, there are a number of lawsuits pending and states are hesitant to prepare a plan before the legal challenges are resolved. Notes most utilities believe rates for their customers will increase.

"Securing the foundation." By Laurel Lundstrom. Public Power, January-February 2016, pp. 20-25
Discusses how the energy sector is addressing cyber attacks to their infrastructures. Describes the collaborative efforts of the industry to strengthen cybersecurity. Points out cybersecurity is an ongoing process as threats evolve and tools to address these attacks mature.

"A cancer legacy." By Jennifer Couzin-Frankel. Science, January 29, 2016, pp. 440-443
Discusses the link between childhood cancers and inherited gene mutations.

"Texas health coverage lags as Medicaid expands in U.S." By Jason L. Saving and Sarah Greer. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Fourth Quarter 2015, pp. 3-7
Discusses Texas' distinction of now having the largest number of medically uninsured residents (5 million) in the states, and the decision of the state not to expand Medicaid coverage. Explains Medicaid's funding system of state matching rates and state-by-state decisions on Medicaid expansion.
See:http://www.dallasfed.org/ ...

"Texas ports stay busy as trade values fall along Gulf, rise inland." By Jesse Thompson. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), Fourth Quarter 2015, pp. 10-13
Examines the value of trade moving through Texas land, ocean, and air ports in 2014, and forecasts more growth and import demand for Texas ports. Notes four of the nation's top fifteen port districts are in Texas.
See:http://www.dallasfed.org/ ...

"Amid health, privacy fears, states are letting people reject 'smart meters'." By Sarah Breitenbach. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), February 5, 2016, pp. 1-6
Reports consumers' concerns relating to smart meters has spurred legislators in several states to consider giving customers more options on digital devices that measure gas and electricity consumption. References HB3421, 84th Legislature.
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Drones take agriculture to new heights." By Jessica Domel. Texas Agriculture, February 5, 2016, pp. 6-7
Discusses the ways three Texas farmers and ranchers are utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) in the management of their operations, including: examining crops throughout the growing season, tracking livestock, and remotely diagnosing malfunctioning equipment. Includes sidebar which examines legal questions surrounding drone use.

"Lawyers donate heavily to SCOTX incumbents." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, January 25, 2016, pp. 1, 27
Highlights Texas Supreme Court campaign contributions from the latest reporting period, focusing on judicial races that drew the most and least money from the legal community.