By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – Texas state agencies have begun responding to a request from Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick to cut their budgets by at least 7 percent for the remainder of the fiscal year.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – As earning season winds down, you've got to admit I've spared you the daily chatter of what's up and what's down. So today, without going into great detail, let's take a look at some earnings. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Suzanne Sprague, KERA 90.1 reporter

Dallas, TX – Sprague: To the uninitiated, the numbers may seem startling. More than four million women and children world-wide are currently working against their will as prostitutes, domestics and sweat shop labor. The U.S. government estimates at least 50,000 thousand people are brought into this country illegally each year as modern day slaves. Many times, they have been tricked by human traffickers.

Austin, TX – A new HB 707 has been filed by Rep. Rangel. The caption reads, "Relating to a uniform strategy to ensure that public institutions of higher education employ faculty and staff who reflect the population of Texas." This bill replaces a previously filed bill numbered HB 707 that was withdrawn Thursday

By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com

Ausitn, TX – The "Texas Healthy Schools Kids Act," legislation to implement a statewide coordinated approach to school students' health through physical activity, good nutrition, prevention of tobacco use and recreation, was introduced today by Sen. Eliot Shapleigh (D-El Paso) and Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson) at a press conference at the capitol.

By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – With more than 20 Democratic members of the House standing behind him in support, Rep. Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) today lashed out against Tuesday's House Committee on Public Education vote to pass a substituted version of HB 604, which repeals the Robin Hood method of public school finance by 2005.

"Never in memory has the Committee on Public Education taken such action with such haste, with such little discussion, on such a major issue," Dunnam said.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – It's quiz time. What do Louis Lumiere, William Lincoln, and W.K.L. Dixon have in common? It's a multi-billion dollar industry we primarily use on weekends. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Lee Cullum, KERA 90.1 commentator

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – American to furlough more employees hoping to stay out of bankruptcy protection, and Fleming and Kmart part ways because of bankruptcy protection. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Jennifer Bendery, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – The House Committee on Public Education held its first meeting of the 78th Legislature today and heard testimony from a range of witnesses regarding HB 604, which relates to public school finance. The bill, authored by committee chairman Kent Grusendorf (R-Arlington), was voted favorably as substituted.

HB 604 would end what is known as Robin Hood, the portion of the Texas school code that regulates school finance, with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2005.