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.

"Why some return home to rural America and why it matters." By John Cromartie, Christiane von Reichert, and Ryan Arthun. Amber Waves, July 6, 2015, pp. 1-7
Examines research into why young adults move away from small, rural communities, and the reasons that factor into decisions about whether or not to return. Discusses major draws for those who relocate back to smaller communities, such as family, the small town environment, and schools, while also including a number of concerns — low wages, lack of career opportunities, and fewer cultural amenities — cited by those who choose not to return home.
See:http://www.ers.usda.gov/a ...

"The battery revolution." By David J. Unger. Christian Science Monitor, August 31, 2015, pp. 27-32
Reports on actions of companies such as Tesla Motors, Argonne National Laboratory, Google, major automobile companies, and various countries to invest heavily in battery technology, which is believed to be the future of energy. Notes that if done well, it would mean energy would be used more wisely, more widely, and more cleanly. Includes sidebar article "Batteries will spark big change."

"Genome editing: the age of the red pen." Economist, August 22nd-28th, 2015, pp. 19-22
Reports on a new technology for editing the human genome. Discusses the need for rules to monitor and govern new techniques for manipulating genes in human and non-human species.

"Black arts." By Katia Savchuk. Forbes, September 7, 2015, pp. 134-136, 138, 140-142
Highlights practices at the Academy of Art University (AAU), an 86-year-old for-profit institution that has become America's largest private art university, that jeopardize AAU's federal aid eligibility due to implementation of new regulations designed to improve the quality of degrees at for-profit colleges. Points out that thirteen out of sixteen programs at AAU would not meet new standards. Notes AAU's accreditor issued a formal notice of concern because of the university's low graduation rate — 32 percent of full-time students graduate in six years, versus 59 percent for colleges nationally.
Related information at:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/ ...

"Public nuisances." By Daniel Fisher. Forbes, September 7, 2015, pp. 50, 52
Explains how California attorneys are advancing a controversial legal theory, using the state's nuisance law, to get defendant companies to clean up the state's lead paint problem. Notes that courts in other states have rejected the public-nuisance theory to hold companies liable for selling a legal product that turns out to be unsafe.
Related information at:http://www.fairwarning.or ...

"Tesla's secret formula." By Jeff Dyer, Hal Gregersen, and Nathan Furr. Forbes, September 7, 2015, pp. 91, 94, 98, 102, 104, 113-114, 116, 118
Provides an inside look at Tesla Motors, ranked first in Forbes' list of World's Most Innovative Companies. Calls Tesla a "high-end disruptor" that is changing the auto industry.
Related information at:http://www.forbes.com/inn ...

"The Denton fracking ban fallout." By Chris Brown and Mary Barkley. Fort Worth Business Press, August 24-30, 2015, pp. 74-75
Discusses the potential effects of HB40, 84th Legislature on municipalities. Criticizes the vagueness of the "Denton fracking bill" especially regarding the meaning of "commercially reasonable." Addresses the lack of safety and setback regulations.

"Who votes? Congressional elections and the American electorate: 1978–2014." By Thom File. Internet Resource, July 2015, pp. 1-15
Examines voting trends by demographics, such as age and race, in the United States.
See:http://www.census.gov/con ...

"Economic and fiscal trends in expansion and non-expansion states: what we know leading up to 2014." By Laura Snyder, et al. Issue Brief (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured), September 2015, pp. 1-32 (Note Length)
Compares economic factors in states that have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to states that have not.
See:http://files.kff.org/atta ...

"Lifestyles and cognitive health." By Sudeep S. Gill and Dallas P. Seitz. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), August 25, 2015, pp. 774-775
Discusses lifestyle modifications older adults can make to improve their cognitive outcomes, such as exercise and dietary changes.

"The many pulls of state tax incentives." By Joel Busch. Journal of MultiState Taxation and Incentives, September 2015, pp. 20-25
Examines the difficulty in translating state tax incentive legislation into practice. Describes potential difficulties with businesses understanding how to quality for and report on state tax deductions, exemptions, or credits, and problems with the state tax authority's ability to administer incentive programs. Highlights examples in California, Maryland, and Arizona.

"Thou shalt not flip flop: Senators' religious affiliations and issue position consistency." By John McTague and Shanna Pearson-Merkowitz. Legislative Studies Quarterly, August 2015, pp. 417-440
Uses a data set which includes senators' religious affiliations and "culture war" issues like abortion and gay and lesbian rights to determine their influence on senators' votes from 1976 to 2004. Discovers different religious groups vary in their voting consistency.

"Lower oil prices, Texas, and the national economy." By Serah Hyde. Monthly Labor Review, August 2015, p. 1
Discusses how lower oil prices affect states with a large share of energy-sector jobs, with a focus on Texas.
See:http://www.bls.gov/opub/m ...
Related information at:https://www.dallasfed.org ...

"School-level practices to increase availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and reduce sodium in school meals — United States, 2000, 2006, and 2014." By Caitlin Merlo, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), August 28, 2015, pp. 905-908
Assesses school-level nutritional policies related to school meals.

"Vaccination coverage among children in kindergarten — United States, 2014–15 school year." By Ranee Seither, et al. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), August 28, 2015, pp. 897-904
Examines national, state, and local vaccination data on kindergarteners.

"Harvesting the sun." By Greg Beato. Reason, October 2015, pp. 70-71
Discusses the concept of agrivoltaics in which farm land is used to raise crops and house solar array installations. Presents results of studies showing crops grown under half-density solar arrays do equally as well as crops planted in normal plots and that the shade created by the panels allows the plants to utilize water more efficiently. Suggests agrivoltaics could be an important method of water conservation and could make the land 60-70% more productive.

"As Arctic drilling starts, Shell-funded researchers keep watch." By Eli Kintisch. Science, August 21, 2015, p. 778
Discusses arrangements between Royal Dutch Shell and the locals of Barrow, Alaska, related to exploratory oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea.

"Big archaeology fights big oil to preserve ancient landscape." By Michael Balter. Science, August 21, 2015, pp. 774-775
Discusses the effects of oil and gas drilling on Chaco Canyon and Chaco Culture National Historic Park in northwestern New Mexico.

"Pinch hitting." By Michelle Ancell. State Legislatures, September 2015, pp. 22-25
Provides an overview of community paramedicine systems which several states have implemented to address the shortage of doctors and nurses in rural areas. Explains with additional training, EMT personnel can provide health assessments, monitor chronic diseases, ensure patients use medication correctly, give vaccinations and follow up after hospital discharges. Points out this care can be provided without the expense and inconvenience of going to the hospital.

"Some states take aim at 'discriminatory' auto insurance pricing." By Sarah Breitenbach. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 28, 2015, pp. 1-6
Reports several states introduced legislation this year to prevent insurance companies from using credit scores, occupation, education level or other standards to determine how much drivers should pay for car insurance. [References CA 15.08.2, "The truth about car insurance," Consumer Reports]
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"States pressed to increase efforts to reduce drownings." By Michael Ollove. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 27, 2015, pp. 1-8
Promotes Washington state's anti-drowning policies as a model for other states. Notes that in many states, anti-drowning initiatives are undertaken by activists who partner with local agencies, rather than by state governments. Includes the number of 2014 pool and spa deaths in each state for children under fifteen.
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Beware of smartphone spyware." By Cindy Diggs. Texas Lawyer, August 24, 2015, pp. 20, 22
Warns about spyware tools that allow cyberstalkers to remotely access and use real-time data on smartphones for unauthorized purposes. Mentions federal and state laws that prohibit spyware use.
Related information at:http://www.ncsl.org/resea ...
Related information at:http://www.ncsl.org/resea ...

"Class action alleges jail policy unconstitutional." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, August 24, 2015, p. 9
Reports on class action lawsuit alleging that recent changes to Grayson County Jail's attorney visitation policy violate inmates' constitutional rights to effective assistance of counsel and access to the courts.

"'Obergefell' and its impact on same-sex surrogacy." By David W. Dummer. Texas Lawyer, August 24, 2015, pp. 24-25
Explains that under the United States Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex couples will be able to take full advantage of statutory rights under Texas surrogacy laws, including enforceable gestational agreements that allow both parents to appear on a child's birth certificate.
Related information at:http://www.statutes.legis ...

"Doctors on life support." By Mandy Oaklander. Time, September 7, 2015, pp. 42-51
Examines the movement to rescue the mental health of physicians in America's hospitals. Reports doctor burnout and depression has reached epidemic levels, and in turn, is affecting patient and doctor safety — the profession has one of the highest suicide rates. Identifies factors leading to burnout and the hospital programs attempting to improve the well-being of their doctors.