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.

"The age of innocents." By Kevin Davis. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, September 2014, pp. 57, 60-61
Discusses a 2014 report from the National Registry of Exonerations that shows an increase in exonerations for cases where it was determined that no crime had actually been committed, as opposed to cases that involved murder and rape. Notes that the number of cases using DNA evidence has declined, since new cases involve DNA testing before trial.
Report at: https://www.law.umich.edu ...
Related information at:https://www.law.umich.edu ...

"Early childhood program enrollment: indicators on children and youth." Child Trends, August 2014, pp. 1-11
Analyzes trends in early childhood education enrollment for 3- to 6-year-old children for the years 2007-2012, including indicators of poverty, race and ethnicity, mother's employment status, and highest level of education. Finds a significant increase in the number of Hispanic children involved in early childhood programs.
See:http://www.childtrends.or ...

"Presumed guilty." By Robin Wilson. Chronicle of Higher Education, September 5, 2014, pp. A38-A42
Reports an increasing number of college men who feel unfairly accused of rape are fighting back, with the help of parents, lawyers, and a new national advocacy group. Discusses the founding of the group, Families Advocating for Campus Equality, and its mission to bring about change in policies and procedures employed on college campuses when allegations of sexual misconduct are presented to ensure fairness and the right to due process of law for all parties involved.
Related information at:http://www.facecampusequa ...

"Building backlash." By Simon Brown. Church & State, September 2014, pp. 6-9
Reports how various groups have responded to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, relating to the contraception mandate in the Affordable Care Act.

"High price of proton therapy." By Bill Hethcock. Dallas Business Journal, September 5, 2014, pp. 4-5, 7
Reports on the construction of two high-tech, high-cost ($305 million) cancer treatment centers in North Texas, noting the Dallas-Fort Worth area is the nation's largest metropolitan area without a proton therapy center. Estimates that close to 13,000 patients a year have cancer best treated by proton therapy, rather than by radiation. Compares the two centers that will be located in Dallas and in Irving.

"The abuse of mobile-phone data: the two towers." Economist, September 6th-12th, 2014, p. 34
Reports that, while mobile-phone-tower location data is widely used in courts, its misuse can put innocent people in jail. Notes criminal defense attorneys are hiring more experts to challenge the accuracy of tower evidence.

"The internship: Generation i." Economist, September 6th-12th, 2014, pp. 61-63
Discusses what unpaid internships mean for universities, for employers, and for the next generation of employees. Explains some firms are rethinking unpaid internships to reduce the risk of lawsuits for back pay. Points out several states have passed laws to protect unpaid interns from sexual harassment.

"The connected car: smartphones on wheels." Economist Technology Quarterly, September 6th, 2014, pp. 16-18
Discusses how mobile communication technology is changing the way cars are made, bought, and driven. Notes "connected cars" will eventually change the way cars are integrated into transportation systems.

"Workers in lower-paid white-collar occupations need overtime protections." By Heidi Shierholz. EPI Issue Brief, September 2, 2014, pp. 1-13
Investigates wages and benefits in occupations in which a larger share of workers would gain from increasing the overtime protection threshold. Includes the poverty and twice-poverty rates in occupations that would be affected by increasing the overtime threshold. Notes that one in seven full-time, salaried workers live below twice the poverty line.
See:http://www.epi.org/files/ ...

"The drama of Mexico's (black) gold." By Jeffrey Ball. Fortune, September 1, 2014, pp. 90-94, 96, 98
Reports that, 76 years after nationalizing the oil industry, Mexico will now allow international oil firms into the country to drill. Examines how this change could affect Pemex, the state-owned petroleum company, and the country overall.

"How can states fix their Medicaid programs? By changing how they pay for them." By Chris Kardish. Governing, September 2014, pp. 46-49
Highlights state changes from the traditional Medicaid fee-for-service system to accountable care organizations (ACOs), which involve doctors in lowering costs and maintaining quality health care service. Describes the movement toward ACOs in Minnesota, Oregon, and Colorado.
See:http://www.governing.com/ ...

"Netflix government." By Tod Newcombe. Governing, September 2014, p. 60
Looks at cloud computing in state and local governments and the potential for a model procurement agreement to speed adoption of cloud technology.
See:http://www.governing.com/ ...

"School choice today: voucher laws across the states." Internet Resource, 2014, pp. 1-20
Provides analysis and state-by-state comparison of the fourteen voucher programs currently used in the United States. Ranks and scores voucher programs based on student eligibility requirements, program design, preservation of private school autonomy, and student participation.
See:https://www.edreform.com/ ...

"State early care and education updates, 2014." Internet Resource, August 2014, pp. 1-7
Presents an update on state actions in early childhood education, including access to child care assistance and prekindergarten programs.
See:http://www.nwlc.org/sites ...

"U.S. states: for richer, for poorer?" Internet Resource, 2014, pp. 1-12
Explores threats to the nation's standard of living and actions government could take to increase workforce participation and improve the productivity growth rate. Analyzes the implications of changing demographics for the United States, as well as other countries.
See:http://www.accenture.com/ ...
Related information at:https://beta.congress.gov ...

"The post-clinic abortion." By Emily Bazelon. New York Times Magazine, August 31, 2014, pp. 20-25, 44-45
Discusses the possibility of a future where most abortions take place at home. Profiles an abortion activist's efforts to provide medical abortions using telemedicine for women living where abortion clinics do not exist or are difficult to access. Reports self-administered abortions are getting more notice in Texas, since abortion clinics are closing due to the new state law that requires clinics follow regulatory standards of ambulatory surgical centers.
See:http://www.nytimes.com/20 ...

"Cradle of commerce." By Michele McMurry. San Antonio Business Journal, August 29, 2014, pp. 4-5
Explores tourism in San Antonio and the Alamo's role in bringing tourists to San Antonio. Answers trivia about the Alamo.

"Small firms slow to embrace ACA business exchanges." By Christine Vestal. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), August 27, 2014, pp. 1-8
Reports a very small number of eligible businesses have checked out or signed up for Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchanges, available in several states since October 2013 under the Affordable Care Act. Cites the delay in launching SHOP exchanges in most states and complicated eligibility requirements as reasons why SHOPs have gotten off to a slow start.
Report at: http://www.gao.gov/assets ...
Related information at:http://www.gao.gov/assets ...
See:http://www.pewtrusts.org/ ...

"Lawyers predict next move in Perry case; Perry claims indictment violates Constitution." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, September 1, 2014, p. 5
Presents commentary of three criminal law attorneys — all former federal prosecutors — on the legal merits of the arguments submitted to dismiss the indictments filed against Governor Rick Perry.

"Perry's veto impact on D.A.'s Public Integrity Unit." By Angela Morris. Texas Lawyer, September 1, 2014, p. 4
Explains how Governor Rick Perry's gubernatorial veto of the Public Integrity Unit's 2014 and 2015 state funding has affected the unit's employees and its caseload. Foresees further budget cuts in 2015 and additional downsizing if the Texas Legislature does not restore funding for the 2016-2017 biennium.
Related information at:http://www.lrl.state.tx.u ...

"Questions remain about Perry's legal bills." By Miriam Rozen. Texas Lawyer, September 1, 2014, p. 7
Reports that, prior to a grand jury's indictment of Governor Rick Perry, Representative Joe Deshotel had requested an attorney general's opinion seeking answers to several questions relating to the payment of attorney fees when an elected official is defending a criminal prosecution. Includes comments by Representative Deshotel.
Related information at:https://www.texasattorney ...

"Crossing the border." By Kara Nuzback. Texas Medicine, September 2014, pp. 41-44
Explains how tropical diseases, such as dengue and chikungunya, are emerging in the United States, including in Texas.

"Reporting for duty." By Amy Lynn Sorrel. Texas Medicine, September 2014, pp. 33-40
Discusses how physicians in Texas are stepping in to help veterans amid systemic problems in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs [VA] medical care facilities. Includes a question and answer section with a former chief of medicine and director of a VA medical facility.

"Crossing the line." By Saul Elbein. Texas Observer, September 2014, pp. 12-19
Recounts one East Texas family's experience with TransCanada Corporation, the construction company laying the Keystone XL pipeline. Explains the company and its affiliates did not honor any of the promises made to the family and only settled with them earlier this year, when the family hired a Nebraska attorney who was working with other Nebraska families who had sued the company.

"Mute the messenger." By Jason Stanford. Texas Observer, September 2014, pp. 22-25
Discusses the testimony presented by a professor at the University of Texas at Austin at a 2012 legislative hearing. Reports how a large testing company responded to his presentation that their standardized testing did not test how well students learned but how well they could take a test.