Current Articles for August 01, 2024
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 Thursday.
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.
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Stop the double talk around diversity hiring.
By Mark Burgess.
Chronicle of Higher Education, July 2024, pp. 24-25, 27.
Examines current diversity hiring practices in U.S. and Canadian colleges and universities. Argues that academia uses diversity hiring to discriminate in the hiring process. Calls for thoughtful approaches and greater transparency in diversity hiring in colleges and universities. -
H5N1: Betting the farm.
Economist, July 20th-26th, 2024, pp. 64-65.
Considers whether the global population and health care infrastructure worldwide are prepared for a H5N1 pandemic.
See: https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/07/17/h5n1-avian-flu-could-cause-a-human-pande ...
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Housing reform: Yes, please.
Economist, July 20th-26th, 2024, p. 62.
Discusses the possible effects of the city of Austin’s recently adopted land development code amendments on the housing market. Compares these reforms to those adopted by the city of Auckland, New Zealand.
Related information at: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/home-amendments
See: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/07/17/yimby-cities-show-how-to-build-homes-and- ...
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Are underground lines the solution to outages?
By Florian Martin.
Houston Business Journal, July 19-25, 2024, p. 4.
Discusses the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl in Houston and whether burying power lines would decrease the risk of outages. Looks at Austin, which buries its power lines as often as feasible, as a potential model. Notes the challenges involved in burying Houston power lines, as well as some of the pros and cons of underground lines. -
Dual transformation in dual enrollment.
By Anna O'Connor.
Jobs for the Future, June 20, 2024, pp. 1-4.
Touts the benefits of dual enrollment on high school and college education outcomes. Holds up Texas dual enrollment as an example of a successful program in STEM education. Calls for continuous strengthening and expansion of dual enrollment opportunities.
See: https://www.jff.org/dual-transformation-in-dual-enrollment/
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Inside the Trump plan for 2025.
By Jonathan Blitzer.
New Yorker, July 22, 2024, pp. 29-37.
Highlights the Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI), a wealthy Capitol Hill network comprising some of former President Donald Trump's strongest supporters. Traces the group's history and its involvement in Trump's administration, reelection campaigns, and the January 6 protests. Focuses on the group's plan for a second Trump administration.
See: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=178404699&site=ehost-live
See: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/07/22/inside-the-trump-plan-for-2025
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Shadow budgets: How mass incarceration steals from the poor to give to the prison.
By Brian Nam-Sonenstein.
Prison Policy Initiative, May 6, 2024, pp. 1-20.
Analyzes data on “Inmate Welfare Funds,” revenues from communication fees, commissary purchases, disciplinary fines, and more, that are meant to benefit incarcerated populations. Finds that prisons use them more like slush funds that, in many cases, make society’s most vulnerable people pay for expenses such as prison operations and staff salaries and benefits.
See: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/shadowbudgets.html
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Out of step: U.S. policy on voting rights in global perspective.
By Nicole D. Porter, et al.
Sentencing Project, June 27, 2024, pp. 1-55.
Presents research showing that the U.S. still lags behind most of the world in protecting the right to vote for people with criminal convictions. Examines the laws of the 136 countries around the world with populations of 1.5 million and above, finding that the majority never or rarely deny a person’s right to vote because of a conviction. Adds that, even when it comes to the other 63 countries, where laws deny the right in broader sets of circumstances, the U.S.is more restrictive and disenfranchises more people with criminal convictions via state law.
See: https://www.sentencingproject.org/app/uploads/2024/06/Out-of-Step-U.S.-Policy-on-Voting-Rights-in-Gl ...
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Floodplains and why they matter.
By Joe Trammel.
Texas County Progress, August 2024, pp. 12-21.
Discusses the importance of floodplains and the role Texas county commissioners play in preserving them. Lists some county activities to protect floodplains that include the regular maintenance of county roads and bridges, the cleaning of channels and drainage systems, the maintenance of vegetation adjacent to roadways and removal of debris after storms, and more. -
Lifelong leadership.
By Emma Freer and Brent Annear.
Texas Medicine, July 2024, pp. 4-6.
Profiles the life and career of U.S. Representative Michael Burgess. Highlights his work with the Texas Medical Association.
See: https://www.texmed.org/TexasMedicineDetail.aspx?id=64458
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Clear as MUD: Municipal Utility District notification compliance made easier.
By Kerri Lewis.
Tierra Grande, Summer 2024, pp. 10-12.
Explains the role of a Municipal Utility District (MUD) in providing water, sewage, drainage infrastructure, as well as the MUD notice sent to homebuyers with information on current and future tax obligations. Discusses legislative changes to the MUD notice form in HB 2815 and HB 2816, 88th Legislature, R.S., and the new Texas Real Estate Commission form.
See: https://trerc.tamu.edu/article/clear-as-mud/