Enlarge photo by: Marc Morrison

Contracted workers from U.S. Environmental Services organize boom for deployment at the Venice, La., staging area Thursday, April 29, 2010. Staging areas have been placed in areas so quick deployment of assets and personnel could be utilized to protect environmentally sensitive areas.

Your afternoon reading.

In the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, Republicans lead Democrats in every statewide race.

Your afternoon reading.

The SBOE's last day, Dallas could turn all "wet," El Paso ranked one of the safest cities in the U.S. and the truth behind the BP oil spill. 

Your afternoon reading.

Calderon and Obama talk immigration and cartels, fun times with the SBOE, Bill White's cheat sheet and the smoking ban that wasn't in San Antonio. 

Your afternoon reading.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Your afternoon reading.

The state misused the blood samples of Texas babies, and lawmakers yesterday showed they are not happy about it.

Your afternoon reading.

Thomas Jefferson isn't safe yet.

Your afternoon reading.

Opposites attract and all that, but Annise Parker and Rick Perry still make very strange bedfellows.

Your afternoon reading.