Dr. Ron Anderson, longtime jefe at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, is being replaced as the chief executive there and will move into a newly created salaried position there. His contract expires at the end of the year, and the board acted after federal officials raised questions about patient safety at the regional hospital. No replacement has been named.

John Barton will head the Texas Department of Transportation on an interim basis while the board looks for a permanent replacement for Amadeo Saenz, who retired at the end of the fiscal year (the last day of August). Barton has been at the agency for more than two decades and had been the interim deputy director. He's losing the "deputy" part, but not the "interim" part.

Anne Heiligenstein, head of the state's Department of Family and Protective Services, will retire by the end of the year after three years running the agency. She's been a state employee (with a break serving in the Bush administration in Washington) since 1980.

Brian Guthrie is the new executive director of the Teacher Retirement System, and Ken Welch is the new deputy director. Guthrie, the former deputy, is taking over for Ronnie Jung. Welch has been the agency's chief financial officer since April 2008.

David Baker is the new deputy director of law enforcement operations at the Texas Department of Public Safety, if the agency's board approves the appointment by DPS Director Steven McCraw. Baker started as a trooper in Lubbock in 1978 and has been the chief of the Texas Highway Patrol since 2009.

Ian Randolph, chief of staff to Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, is retiring after 22 years in the Texas Senate. Before Lucio, he worked for Sens. Ted Lyon, D-Mesquite, and David Cain, D-Dallas.

Richard Kouri is the new executive director at the Texas State Teachers Association, replacing E.C. Walker, who is retiring. And Ed Martin, a longtime Democratic strategist and consultant, joins that association as the head of its public affairs operation.

Press corps moves: Patti Kilday Hart, who has been reporting for the Houston Chronicle and writing a once-a-week column for the paper, will drop the reporting gig in October and become a full-time columnist for the paper. She joined the Chronicle earlier this year after freelancing for years at Texas Monthly, where she co-wrote the biennial list of Best and Worst Legislators.

Gov. Rick Perry has appointed Raymond Palacios Jr. of El Paso to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Board for a term to expire Feb. 1, 2013. Palacios is president of Bravo Chevrolet Cadillac and Hummer.

Perry has appointed four members to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas Board of Trustees: T. Karen Charleston of Houston, a space management assistant for Prairie View A&M University; Joe Colonnetta of Dallas, a private investor; David Kelly of Plano, managing partner of Straight Line Realty Partners; and Anita Palmer of Wichita Falls, a published artist and author, community volunteer and retired educator in the Wichita Falls Independent School District.

Perry has appointed seven members to the Juvenile Justice Services and Facilities Transition Team. Chelsea Buchholtz of Austin is a policy adviser for the Office of the Governor Budget, Planning, and Policy Division. Albert Hawkins of Austin is a public policy consultant and former executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon of San Antonio is the state representative for House District 120. David “Scott” Matthew of Georgetown is chief juvenile probation officer of Williamson County Juvenile Services, and a municipal judge for the Cities of Jarrell and Granger. Vicki Spriggs of Austin is executive director of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission. Cheryln “Cherie” Townsend of Austin is executive director of the Texas Youth Commission. Debbie Unruh of Austin is the Independent Ombudsman of the Texas Youth Commission.

Perry also appointed three members to the University of North Texas System Board of Regents. Donald Potts of Dallas is founder of Capital Institutional Services and an institutional broker and dealer. Al Silva of San Antonio is COO of Labatt Food Service. Michael Williams of Fredericksburg is CEO of Hill Country Memorial Hospital.