Wade Goodwyn http://wvasfm.org en Health Officials Decry Texas' Snubbing Of Medicaid Billions http://wvasfm.org/post/health-officials-decry-texas-snubbing-medicaid-billions The state of Texas is turning down billions of federal dollars that would have paid for health care coverage for 1.5 million poor Texans.<p>By refusing to participate in Medicaid expansion, which is part of the Affordable Care Act, the state will leave on the table an estimated $100 billion over the next decade.<p>Texas' share of the cost would have been just 7 percent of the total, but for Gov. Thu, 23 May 2013 22:05:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 28472 at http://wvasfm.org Health Officials Decry Texas' Snubbing Of Medicaid Billions At NRA Convention, Dueling Narratives Displayed With Guns http://wvasfm.org/post/nra-convention-dueling-narratives-displayed-guns The National Rifle Association is holding its annual convention in Houston this weekend. More than 70,000 people are expected to attend for speeches and demos and acres of guns, ammo and camo.<p>The NRA is coming off of a major victory: <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/04/17/177638177/senate-rejects-expanded-background-checks-for-gun-sales">the defeat</a> of gun control legislation in the Senate. Sat, 04 May 2013 09:51:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 27330 at http://wvasfm.org At NRA Convention, Dueling Narratives Displayed With Guns Officials Seek Answers In Aftermath Of Deadly Explosion http://wvasfm.org/post/officials-seek-answers-aftermath-deadly-explosion With the house-to-house search over and the living and dead largely accounted for, the town of West, Texas, began the transition from shock and disbelief to communal grieving.<p>On Friday night, mourners gathered at St. Mary Church of the Assumption to remember the dead. Many of the dead were first responders who were fighting a roaring fire for 30 minutes before the explosion, which was felt 80 miles away in Fort Worth.<p>Texas Sen. Sat, 20 Apr 2013 09:21:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 26545 at http://wvasfm.org Officials Seek Answers In Aftermath Of Deadly Explosion Texas Contractors Say Playing By The Rules Doesn't Pay http://wvasfm.org/post/texas-contractors-say-playing-rules-doesnt-pay <em>This story is part of a two-part series about the construction industry in Texas. Find the first part <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/04/10/176677299/construction-booming-in-texas-but-many-workers-pay-dearly" target="_blank">here</a>.</em><p>Homes in Texas are cheap — at least compared with much of the country. Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:21:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 26032 at http://wvasfm.org Construction Booming In Texas, But Many Workers Pay Dearly http://wvasfm.org/post/construction-booming-texas-many-workers-pay-dearly Like almost everything in the Texas, the construction industry in the Lone Star State is big. One in every 13 workers here is employed in the state's $54 billion-per-year construction industry.<p>Homebuilding and commercial construction may be an economic driver for the state, but it's also an industry riddled with hazards. Years of illegal immigration have pushed wages down, and accidents and wage fraud are common. Of the nearly 1 million workers laboring in construction here, approximately half are undocumented.<p>Many of those workers have been in the U.S. for years, even decades. Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:20:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 25961 at http://wvasfm.org Construction Booming In Texas, But Many Workers Pay Dearly Enron's Skilling Could Win Early Release From Prison http://wvasfm.org/post/enrons-skilling-could-win-early-release-prison Former Enron CEO Jeffery Skilling could be released early from federal prison under a reduced sentencing agreement being considered at the Justice Department. Skilling was sentenced to 24 years in prison for his role in the energy trading giant's collapse Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:31:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 25714 at http://wvasfm.org Texas Study Points To A Longer Natural Gas Boom http://wvasfm.org/post/texas-study-points-longer-natural-gas-boom There are few things in life more joyful than discovering a giant oil or natural gas field in Texas. You're suddenly rich beyond your wildest dreams. When the scope and size of the natural gas reservoir in the Barnett Shale in North Texas first became apparent, there were predictions that the find would last 100 years.<p>Well, that was over the top. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:01:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 23749 at http://wvasfm.org Texas Study Points To A Longer Natural Gas Boom Merger Of American Airlines and US Airways Will Create World's Largest Carrier http://wvasfm.org/post/merger-american-airlines-and-us-airways-will-create-worlds-largest-carrier The boards of US Airways Group and AMR have approved the merger of American Airlines and US Airways. The resulting company will become the world's largest airline. American is in bankruptcy, so its creditors will own a big chunk of the new company and US Airways shareholders will own the rest. Thu, 14 Feb 2013 22:14:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 22983 at http://wvasfm.org Obama's 2nd Term Rankles Die Hard Republicans http://wvasfm.org/post/obamas-2nd-term-rankles-die-hard-republicans Transcript <p>DAVID GREENE, HOST: <p>In his inaugural address yesterday, President Obama pressed Americans to put aside mindless partisanship. He said we cannot treat name-calling as reasoned debate. At the same time, he strongly defended his political views, voicing support for gay rights and the role of government.<p>The crowd of supporters out on the National Mall liked it. Republicans watching in Texas had a different view. Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:52:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 21659 at http://wvasfm.org Beleaguered American Airlines Looks For A Fresh Start With New Look http://wvasfm.org/post/beleaguered-american-airlines-looks-fresh-start-new-look American Airlines unveiled the first change to its logo and the look of its planes since 1968 on Thursday. Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:57:00 +0000 Wade Goodwyn 21454 at http://wvasfm.org