The Texas House gave tentative approval to billions of dollars in bonds for campus construction projects on Monday. The version it approved totaled nearly $2.7 billion, up from about $2.4 billion initially approved by the Senate.

Premont Independent School District will avoid closure by joining with Texas A&M University-Kingsville, state and local officials plan to announce on Tuesday.

University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers was a popular topic Monday as the Senate Nominations Committee had several questions for the three nominees for the UT System's Board of Regents.

The Texas House unanimously approved a bill on Friday that was amended to reflect a compromise struck by the Rio Grande Valley delegation that will create a new university and medical school in the region.

UPDATED: Friday morning's clash between the House and Senate appears to be water under the bridge. Lawmakers in the upper chamber said it was a tussle over a local Houston matter — but that they're working to resolve it.

The cause of the West fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people on April 17 has been ruled “undetermined,” officials announced at a press conference in the town's high school parking lot on Thursday.

The Texas Senate on Thursday unanimously passed a controversial committee substitute to House Bill 1000, which creates a new university and medical school in the Rio Grande Valley.

UPDATED: House lawmakers on Wednesday put their stamp of approval on a measure that would keep the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in business for another 12 years. But they tacked on a few more amendments. 

Evan, Emily, Ben and Reeve discuss the musical stylings of Houston physician and major Republican donor Steve Hotze, recently released emails from the governor to University of Texas System regents, and the state of the state's water funding.

UPDATED: After the Senate concurred with amendments in the House, a bill adding restrictions and requirements for regents of the state's university systems is on its way to the governor's desk.

During a tense meeting of the Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations on Tuesday, state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer asked UT System Regent Brenda Pejovich about the controversy surrounding the system board's governance.

Legislative leaders are working to establish a permanent endowment to help alleviate some of the financial costs public universities incur educating veterans and their family members, who are exempted from tuition and most fees.

A bill that would have increased vehicle registration fees to generate money for transportation projects met its demise in the Texas House on Thursday.

Ross, Reeve, Becca and Jay cover a range of topics including bills dying in the legislature, a political fight over religious gestures, the effort to create a new university in South Texas and President Obama's visit to the state.

UPDATED: After months of waiting, there is finally movement on legislation to create a new university and medical school in South Texas. But now disagreements are emerging over who will decide where the medical school is located.