Democrats Hit Debate Stage, Taxpayers Foot Big Bills for City Parties, STAAR Results Out

The Daily Dossier on KLBJ

The first round of Democratic debates featured sharp attacks on inequality and President Donald Trump’s administration with health care and immigration the top issues. 

Of the 10 Democrats on stage in Miami on Wednesday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren stood out in calling for “fundamental change” across the American economy and government to address a widening gap between the rich and the middle class. 

A second debate with another 10 candidates is scheduled for Thursday night.

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The City of Austin is spending big bucks on parties for city employees, and you’re footing those bills.  

That’s according to a new KXAN investigation which found five city departments spent at least $10,000 on a single party last year, including a $15,000 Christmas party for the City Services Department.  

Taxpayer advocates call that kind of spending extremely irresponsible.

Not a single member of the Austin City Council was willing to comment on the spending habits.

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The Mobility Authority has set the toll rate for the first phase of a the 183 South project stretching between Highway 290 and Bolm Road.  It’s expected that by August, 12 new lanes will open up.  CTRMA says the toll for the entire 8-mile road will be $3 at the most.  You’ll be able to ride for free for the first month if you have a toll tag.

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Consumer confidence in the U.S. ebbed to its lowest level in two years, with expectations about the economy and jobs dropping amid trade tensions. 

The Conference Board’s June survey also showed that the share of consumers foreseeing an interest rate cut in the near future reached its highest level in three years. 

Meanwhile, sales of new homes fell to their lowest in five months in spite of lower mortgage rates as pricing discouraged prospective buyers.

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The TEA releases an early look at STAAR test scores for grades 3-8.

Overall, students fared will with the STAAR test.  

Round Rock ISD showed the highest level of mastery across all three categories of reading, writing, and math.  

The Austin school district saw a majority of students reaching at least the minimum requirements.  But a breakdown of reading scores for 5th graders shows districts have a lot of work to do.  

Looking at almost every Austin-area district, the lowest rate of 5th grade students who were NOT reading on grade level is in Lake Travis at 29-percent.  

The highest is in Bastrop ISD at 73-percent.  

59-percent of 5th graders in Austin ISD were also unable to meet the minimum reading standards.

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