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Home
» Contributors » Melissa Ayala
Melissa Ayala
Recent Contributions
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Group lobbies to keep college affordable
May 6, 2011
Despite student activist marches, rallies at the Capitol and sit-down meetings with legislators, students have had mixed results with some of their top initiatives.
Impending end of session stresses deadline for bills
May 6, 2011
The end of the 82nd legislative session is drawing near, leaving lawmakers scrambling to hear, vote and amend a bevy of bills.
Sen. Zaffirini disagrees with UT chairmans ideas, proposal
May 3, 2011
Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, publicly disagreed with goals UT System Board of Regents Chairman Gene Powell proposed in an internal memorandum between the regents.
Concealed carry amendment kills education legislation
May 3, 2011
Concealed carry on campus may have hit another dead end after Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, pulled down her higher education bill Tuesday.
Sonogram bill clears hurdle in TX Senate after compromises
May 3, 2011
Texas senators tentatively approved the abortion sonogram bill Monday, which is one of the five emergency items Gov. Rick Perry announced at the start of the session.
Texas Senate to tackle budget, concealed carry
May 2, 2011
Texas senators are expected to debate two controversial pieces of legislation this week — the budget and concealed carry on campus.
Students interning at Capitol acquire valuable experience
April 15, 2011
It’s Friday night, and Alex Ramirez sits in the gallery of the Texas House, overlooking the 150 members who debate back and forth across two podiums in the center of the chamber.
Bills propose changes for education even with cuts
April 15, 2011
While Texas House members moved forward Thursday tentatively approving changes to education, Gov. Rick Perry reiterated his plan to increase college affordability.
Concealed carry bill stalls after two senators remove support
April 11, 2011
Senators anticipated voting on the concealed carry on campus bill Monday, but it stalled on the floor for the second time in a week.
Post-sonogram waiting period in abortion bill under discussion
April 11, 2011
Senators on the State Affairs Committee picked up the sonogram bill on Monday to figure out the amount of time women would have to wait between receiving an abortion sonogram and getting an abortion.
Concealed carry bill withdrawn on Senate floor
April 8, 2011
Texas Senators were debating the concealed-carry bill Thursday when Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, temporarily pulled the bill down until Monday.
New teachers face difficulty obtaining jobs after cutbacks
April 8, 2011
Megan Metzger will delay her plan to teach in Texas and head to South America for a job with international volunteer program Cross-Cultural Solutions after she graduates in December.
Amendment could require family values centers at UT
April 5, 2011
State university campuses with gender and sexuality centers could have to add a “traditional family values center” that receives equal state funding if an amendment to the House Budget Bill from Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, succeeds.
Budget bill passes House, cuts could cost universities
April 4, 2011
House members gathered under the Capitol dome for more than 15 hours Friday and again Sunday to hash out details of the 2012-13 biennium budget, which passed in a 98-49 vote mostly along party lines.
UT downsizes in advance of Texas Houses budget debate
April 1, 2011
The Texas House will begin debate today on the 2012-13 biennium budget, which includes contentious cuts to education, health care and other human services.
Bill to require every student get vaccinated for meningitis
March 31, 2011
Jamie Schanbaum gave a tear-filled testimony before the Texas Senate Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday, recounting her sophomore year at UT, when bacterial meningitis left her hospitalized for seven months.
Education, health care may face budget cuts
March 24, 2011
The Texas House Appropriations Committee passed the 2012-13 biennium House budget bill, which will now head to the floor.
House OKs bill requiring voters to show ID
March 24, 2011
AUSTIN A bill to require Texans to show photo identification before voting passed the Texas House on Wednesday night despite repeated efforts by Democrats to derail it.
Alum recalls 66 shooting, urges against guns in school
March 23, 2011
Jim Bryce held back tears as he recounted memories of 45 years ago, when he was supposed to meet a friend for lunch at the Texas Union, but saw a shooter inside the UT Tower on the news.
State senators political drive attributed to UT, education
March 22, 2011
Its the 1970s, and she sits at a registration table helping administrators guide students through the registration process. Inside Gregory Gym, she flips through to find index cards that have students names on them.
Firearms on campus, Rainy Day Fund use characterize session
March 21, 2011
While students were off during spring break, Texas lawmakers tackled legislation including concealed carry on campus and the Rainy Day Fund.
Bills to require vaccine shots for meningitis at University
March 11, 2011
After Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugarland, spoke at the funeral of a constituent who died from bacterial meningitis, he decided to push legislation that would require all students to get a vaccine against the disease before entering college.
Sonogram bill awaits approval by Senate after passing House
March 8, 2011
In its first vote this session, the Texas House easily approved a bill Monday that would place new restrictions on a womans right to obtain an abortion by requiring her to undergo a sonogram at least 24 hours before the procedure.
Powers, UT groups lobby government to retain funding
March 3, 2011
President William Powers Jr. testified before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday to explain how the budget cuts will hurt UT while students both inside and outside the committee room made their voices heard.
Texas' growth poses challenges for redistricting
March 2, 2011
The state’s large population increase and diversification will be obstacles Texas House members will face when they redraw the lines for state voting districts, said state representatives at a committee meeting Tuesday.
Forty Acres prepared legislators career
March 1, 2011
Standing at the top of the South Mall, he leans forward as momentum builds and he glides down the sidewalk of the hill.
Forty Acres prepared legislators career
March 1, 2011
Standing at the top of the South Mall, he leans forward as momentum builds and he glides down the sidewalk of the hill.
ESPN deal may affect next years UT budget
February 24, 2011
President William Powers Jr. testified to the Texas House Higher Education Committee about the UT-ESPN network that is expected to bring $300 million in additional revenue for UT over the next 20 years. The committee commended Powers’ investment for bringing additional funding to the University during legislative budget cuts.
State census data not reflected in student body
February 22, 2011
Census data released last week shows dramatic growth in Hispanic and Asian populations in Texas, but state trends do not necessarily reflect the demographics of UT students.
Up for the count
February 18, 2011
Census data released Thursday verifies what most Texans already know — in the last 10 years, the state has seen a huge population boom and dramatic demographic shifts.
Hearings allow public to discuss redistricting
February 17, 2011
Wednesday wrapped up the last of the statewide outreach hearings, which invited public testimony about Texas Legislature redistricting — including Austin officials who asked senators not to divide Travis County Senate District 14.
Medical branches address proposed cuts
February 16, 2011
Presidents of UT's six medical branches asked state senators Tuesday to reconsider funding cuts that could impact research, residency slots and overall funding for Texas health-related institutions for the 2012-2013 biennium.
Leaders lobby state Senators for financing in next budget
February 10, 2011
UT President William Powers Jr. was not one of the eight UT System presidents who testified before the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday because he is in the hospital recovering from a pulmonary embolism.
Deep cuts to student aid would reduce availability
February 9, 2011
The commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that lawmakers must make conservative cuts to higher education grants and funding.
Perry calls for low-cost degrees, tuition freeze
February 9, 2011
Gov. Rick Perry proposed a four-year tuition freeze on higher education and challenged institutions to develop a $10,000 bachelors degree in his State of the State speech Tuesday.
Legislators push for guns on campus
February 4, 2011
Higher education campuses in Texas have been designated gun-free zones for 15 years, but lawmakers will try again to change that this legislative session.
Proposal may cut traffic, add tolls
February 3, 2011
A new proposal may alleviate some of the notorious Interstate Highway 35 congestion in Central Texas.
Constitutionality of health care reform challenged
February 1, 2011
A Florida district judge ruled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act unconstitutional Monday because of its mandate requiring all Americans to purchase health insurance or face a penalty.
Textbook bills aim to lower student costs as tuition rises
January 28, 2011
This legislative session, students can keep their eyes on two higher education bills that could significantly alter how much textbooks cost in the coming semesters.
Voter ID bill passes Senate along party lines
January 27, 2011
Lawmakers in the Texas Senate voted 19-11 in favor of voter ID on Wednesday along party lines.
Cuts unite student political groups
January 26, 2011
University Democrats and College Republicans may butt heads on most issues this legislative session, but both will lobby to fight higher education funding cuts.
Honoring the service of wounded warriors
January 25, 2011
Six soldiers who served in Iraq and are now recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center received a warm welcome on the Capitol grounds in commemoration of Wounded Warrior Day on Monday.
Rally for life
January 24, 2011
More than 1,000 pro-life supporters marched to the Capitol steps Saturday on the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade in support of legislation that would require women to see an image of their unborn fetus before attempting to get an abortion.
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