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Top Stories: 85th Texas Legislative Session Gets Underway; Libraries And Homelessness

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The top local stories this afternoon from KERA News:

San Antonio Republican Joe Straus was unanimously re-elected as House Speaker. In a record-tying fifth term, Straus did not receive any competition for Speaker. In his acceptance speech, Straus identified public education as one of the core principals lawmakers will address over the next several months.

Other stories this afternoon:

  • For the Texas Legislature, the budget is tighter – due to a dip in oil prices. State lawmakers will have less money to spend this session, and have about $105 billion in state funds. It amounts to about a 2.7 percent decrease compared to the last session two years ago.
  • On Tuesdays, KERA’s One Crisis Away project looks at life on the financial edge. This week, how a big city library has turned around the way it deals with some of its most marginalized visitors. As KERA’s Courtney Collins explains, the Dallas Public Library has committed to not just tolerating, but welcoming every homeless person who walks through the door.

You can listen to North Texas stories weekdays at 8:22 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on KERA 90.1 FM.