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.

"Texas calls in bugs to solve a border crisis." Bloomberg Businessweek, July 20-26, 2015, pp. 27-28
Examines the possibility of Texas releasing Arundo wasps to help eradicate Carrizo cane, a dense cane that gives cover to illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, and absorbs water sources. Refers to Governor Greg Abbott's signing of legislation that authorizes the Soil and Water Conservation Board to spend $10 million to eliminate the cane.

"A guide to statistics on historical trends in income inequality (2015)." By Chad Stone, et al. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, July 15, 2015, pp. 1-19
Details the history of income inequality in the United States and examines the widening of the gap since the 1970s. Looks at commonly used statistical sources and long-term trends in wealth concentration and poverty.
See:http://www.cbpp.org/sites ...

"New evidence on the relationship between academic ability and nonmarital teen childbearing." By Adam Thomas and Cary Lou. Child Trends, July 2015, pp. 1-8
Explores new research on the connection between academic performance and teenage pregnancy. Finds girls who perform well in school are not always less likely to become teen mothers, when factoring in behavioral issues and the type of academic ability (math and reading vs. word comprehension).
See:http://www.childtrends.or ...

"Vets fight a new enemy: child porn." By Anna Mulrine. Christian Science Monitor, July 20, 2015, pp. 21-23
Discusses how wounded veterans are using their military training to track down child pornography online.

"Removing symbols is a step, but changing a campus culture can take years." By Katherine Mangan. Chronicle of Higher Education, July 10, 2015, p. A14
Reports on changes at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) to distance itself from its Confederate past and make the campus a more welcoming and inclusive place. States a previous study found that racially divisive symbols were hurting the university's national reputation and efforts to recruit and retain minority students. Highlights ongoing reviews of Confederate imagery at other universities including the University of Texas at Austin.

"What to expect as Supreme Court revisits race in admissions." By Peter Schmidt. Chronicle of Higher Education, July 10, 2015, p. A6
Considers the United State Supreme Court's decision to revisit a lawsuit challenging race-based admissions at the University of Texas at Austin. Provides answers to key questions raised by the court's decision such as: why the court took up the case again, whether any new legal questions are involved, does the recent UT admissions scandal have any effect, and how this case relates to other pending legal challenges to race-based admissions.

"Corporate relocation: when states compete for headquarters, Texas usually wins." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, July 24, 2015, pp. 4-9, 14-15, 20-22
Examines what makes Texas attractive to corporations seeking relocation sites. Addresses the return on investment for cities, critics' concerns with the use of incentives, and who is winning the economic development game.

"Civil-war memorials: too big to veil." Economist, July 25th-31st, 2015, p. 24
Highlights the debate in several states over how to commemorate America's civil war. Comments that the ubiquitous nature of Confederate memorials would present a daunting task to remove them — they are not just in the South but in several state capitols, squares, roads, schools, and military bases. Notes several states have proposed legislation to prevent the removal, relocation, or alteration of certain statues, monuments, and plaques.
Related information at:https://legiscan.com/AL/b ...
Related information at:https://legiscan.com/TN/b ...

"Wages and 2016: ways of seeing; Destination unknown." Economist, July 25th-31st, 2015, pp. 21-22, 61
Discusses several presidential candidates' strategies for increasing wages. Explains large increases in the minimum wage could have severe long-term effects on employment growth.

"2015 special legislative report." By Jeffrey Grove and Gabrielle Whitney. Internet Resource, June 2015, pp. 1-18
Summarizes final legislative and budget actions relating to education in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.
See:http://publications.sreb. ...

"Arkansas: baseline report." By Joe Thompson, et al. Internet Resource, June 2015, pp. i-iii, 1-17
Examines the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Arkansas. Details how the public and private sectors in Arkansas partnered to expand health care coverage. Explains the "private option" developed in Arkansas and how the political environment in the state shaped the implementation of the ACA.
See:http://www.rockinst.org/a ...

"Big data versus big congestion: using information to improve transport." By Carl-Stefan Neumann. Internet Resource, July 2015, pp. 1-4
Argues traffic congestion on highways, airports, and railroads can be improved by collecting and utilizing data to improve forecasting and move behavior in ways that improve reliability and increase efficiency and utilization of the transportation infrastructure. Offers examples of countries that are currently achieving these results. Addresses the difficulties of getting all users in a transportation infrastructure to work together to achieve improvement of infrastructure so offers suggestions on how to overcome these obstacles.
See:http://www.mckinsey.com/i ...

"Reducing racial and ethnic disparities in jails: recommendations for local practice." By Jessica Eaglin and Danyelle Solomon. Internet Resource, June 25, 2015, pp. 1-64 (Note Length)
Identifies six drivers of unjustified racial and ethnic disparities in local jails. Recommends strategies for reducing unnecessary incarceration and the overrepresentation of people of color in the criminal justice system.
See:https://www.brennancenter ...

"State leadership in health care transformation." By Ann Hwang, Joshua M. Sharfstein, and Christopher F. Koller. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), July 28, 2015, pp. 349-350
Examines the role of the states in changes to health care payment and delivery. Looks briefly at Medicaid, Medicare, and state- and federally-run health care exchanges.

"Courts must confront the burden of distance." By Lisa R. Pruitt. National Law Journal, July 6, 2015, p. 22
Argues the need to reverse the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit's "trend of playing down the obstacle of distance" in recent decisions about the right to vote and to an abortion. Suggests that by failing to recognize that sheer distance can constitute an undue burden, the court is undermining the constitutional rights of millions of Texas' poor and rural populations.
Related information at:http://www.ca5.uscourts.g ...

"Law clinics answer the call: veterans finding allies in dealing with VA and more." By Karen Sloan. National Law Journal, July 6, 2015, pp. 1, 4
Reports on the increasing number of law schools that are operating clinics or pro bono programs dedicated to the needs of veterans, such as helping veterans to file benefits claims or appealing unfavorable discharges that bar them from benefits and hurt their job prospects.

"Checking E-Verify: the costs and consequences of a national worker screening mandate." By Alex Nowrasteh and Jim Harper. Policy Analysis, July 7, 2015, pp. 1-24
Refutes claims that E-Verify is a low-cost way to enforce immigration laws, discourage unlawful immigration, and force those who are here illegally to return home.
See:http://object.cato.org/si ...

"Reforming SSDI for the 21st century." By A. Bentley Hankins and Jeffrey D. Joy. Regulation (CATO Institute), Summer 2015, pp. 32-39
Examines reform ideas for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, noting the federal trust that funds the program will become insolvent by late 2016. Discusses eight factors that have contributed to the disproportionate and unsustainable growth in the number of SSDI beneficiaries — an increase of 64 percent between 2000 and 2014.
See:http://object.cato.org/si ...

"Will competition arise for multi-state health plans?" By Neil R. Meredith and Robert E. Moffit. Regulation (CATO Institute), July 2015, pp. 46-49
Discusses the Multi-State Plan (MSP) program, created under Section 1334 of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Describes the MSP program's possible effect on health insurance markets and the effect of recent regulatory changes on competition in those markets.
See:http://object.cato.org/si ...

"Whataburger not shy about policy on 'open carry'." By Tony Quesada. San Antonio Business Journal, July 10, 2015, p. 3
Discusses the policy the fast-food chain Whataburger has posted on its website in response to the recently passed Texas open carry law.

"Courthouse calamity." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, July 20, 2015, pp. 1, 18
Reports several Austin lawyers and law firms across the state have formed a political action committee to finance a campaign to educate Travis County voters on the proposed $291.6 million bond for a new civil and family law courthouse. Explains the problems with the current 84-year-old courthouse that make it unsafe and unsuitable to meet the needs of the community. Notes total contributions included in the July 15 campaign finance report.

"Paxton: no duty to defend unethical judges." By John Council. Texas Lawyer, July 20, 2015, pp. 1, 20
Highlights opinion by Attorney General Ken Paxton (KP-0027) relating to Texas Local Government Code section 157.901, clarifying whether the statute requires a county to defend a judge in a disciplinary proceeding for an alleged ethical violation.
Related information at:http://www.statutes.legis ...
Related information at:https://www.texasattorney ...

"84th Texas Legislature: Texas brokers will save money; Legislative Hall of Fame." Texas Realtor, July 2015, pp. 18-21
Highlights legislation that passed in the 84th Legislature that will benefit Texas realtors and property owners across the state. Recognizes several legislators for their work on legislation important to real estate professionals and property owners.
See:http://texasrealtor.epubx ...

"Liquid assets. Marketing Texas groundwater." By Charles E. Gilliland. Tierra Grande, July 2015, pp. 8-9
Describes efforts by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to adopt an updated water management plan in 2012 intended to insure enough water will be available for its residents in the future. Considers the difficulties and obstacles that must be addressed if it is to succeed. Includes discussion of Electro Purification LLC efforts in Hays County to use water from the Trinity Aquifer to meet the needs of City of Buda, Anthem subdivision and Goforth Special Utility District. Mentions HB 3405, 84th R.S. 2014, which ensures Hays County groundwater rights and owners are protected and that central Texas aquifers will stay healthy.

"Thinking outside the box." By Harold D. Hunt. Tierra Grande, July 2015, pp. 16, 18-19
Considers manufactured housing (MH) communities as part of the solution for affordable housing. Discusses three MH communities in the Kerrville area which are examples of how attractive and successful MH communities can be.