Buoyed by positive economic news, the Legislature rides back into town today, with a daunting list of priorities in tow.

Can’t get enough of the Texas Lege? Starting Tuesday, you’ll be able to view live video streams of the House and Senate on The Texas Tribune whenever the chambers are in session. The House and Senate convene at noon CST. 

According to a new report, students who try to save money on bachelor's degrees by beginning at community colleges tend to borrow as often and as much as their counterparts who begin at a four-year university.

Texas' coastal residents say repeat hikes in premiums by the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association have pushed them to rally for change. One coastal lawmaker is preparing to file legislation that would overhaul TWIA.

House Speaker Joe Straus faces a challenge on the first day of the 83rd Texas Legislature, and the Senate gets another run at a rule that empowers political minorities and sometimes frustrates majorities.

The Legislature is back for the 83rd time, and we've refreshed our directory of statewide officials and legislators. Many of the old names are here, and so are the names of the numerous freshmen.

Starting today, the Tribune is a "responsive" website, meaning it automatically resizes to whatever device you're on — and looks damn good doing it.

As 181 members of the Texas Legislature work during the 83rd session, use this application to navigate the Capitol and locate lawmakers' offices.

The School Land Board voted Tuesday to release $300 million into the Available School Fund for public schools. The funds had been caught in a standoff between the Legislature and the board, whose members include Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson.

Gov. Rick Perry warned Texas lawmakers not to start making grand plans for the multibillion-dollar budget surplus and the growing Rainy Day Fund.

House Speaker Joe Straus won another term in that position after his challenger, Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview, withdrew from the race.

The contentious rule that allows a minority of senators to block legislation is again under fire, but Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said the two-thirds rule will continue in the Senate for another session.

Your evening reading: Straus re-elected after Simpson withdraws; Dewhurst says Senate will keep two-thirds rule; Perry cautions lawmakers against spending budget surplus

Legislators, journalists and others shared thousands of tweets and photos on Tuesday, the first day of the 83rd legislative session. Check out this selection of what they shared.

The Lower Colorado River Authority's board of directors on Tuesday unanimously approved an emergency plan that could cut off water for most rice farmers downstream to protect supplies for the city of Austin.

Even a surging local economy, aided by the oil and gas industry, hasn't spared the coastal town of Port Lavaca from the pain of state budget cuts, which have hit local schools especially hard.