Texas

Tuesday, Feb. 2
Austin - Texans for Public Justice, a public interest group, called for a lifetime ban on paid lobbying jobs by former legislators, the governor and lieutenant governor, along with top state agency officials. The group said 110 ex-state legislators and other ex-officials reported up to $44 million in income from lobbying.

Monday, Feb. 1
Houston — The University of Houston says it needs an additional $41 million this year to help retain and hire celebrity scholars. The funding request is an effort to boost UH to flagship status. As flagships, the University of Texas and Texas A&M; University each attract at least $100 million a year for federal research. UH gets $22 million annually.

Friday, Jan. 29
Austin - State lawmakers are lining up behind a plan to increase college scholarships as an indirect, legal way to boost minority enrollment. The idea is part of continuing efforts to increase diversity despite a 1996 federal court ruling that outlawed the consideration of race in admissions or financial aid.

Thursday, Jan. 28
Austin - The Governor's Task Force on Illegal Gambling called for a legislative crackdown on ''eight-liners,'' slot machine-like devices that have proliferated as a result of ambiguous state law. Underlying the gambling problem is the state's refusal to ban all forms of gambling.

Wednesday, Jan. 27
Austin - About 400 school teachers, chanting ''show me the money,'' demonstrated on the Capitol steps, demanding pay raises and more money for education. The teachers want a $6,000 raise over two years to bring salaries in line with the U.S. average of $39,385 a year.

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