Take a photographic trip through Sen. John Carona's career in the Texas Legislature, from his swearing in as a freshman House member in 1991 to his chairmanship of the powerful Senate Committee on Business & Commerce.   (May 20)

The constitutional provision of a part-time Legislature whose members have full-time jobs back home blurs the line between public responsibilities and personal ambition — as the story of a certain powerful state senator illustrates. (May 20)

It's easier, it seems, for lawmakers to regulate others than to regulate themselves. Ethics and transparency legislation has had a bumpy ride in the current legislative session. (May 20)

Smart electricity meters have long been criticized by those who say they present a health risks and infringe on individual rights. Now, with legislative action to allow property owners to deny meters failing, municipalities are picking up the slack. (May 20)

The U.S. Department of Energy announced on Friday that it would allow a Texas facility to become the second place in the country that can export liquefied natural gas to new markets.  (May 20)

With a budget deal struck, the spotlight now shifts to Gov. Rick Perry. (May 20)

Legislators are preparing to dedicate hundreds of millions more dollars to mental health care for the first time in years. Haven for Hope in San Antonio serves as a model of the services and success they aim to emulate. (May 19)

From the budget bill to a new university in South Texas, a number of big agreements were reached in the Capitol this week. Fittingly, our playlist inspired by this week's Texas news opens with The Format's "The Compromise." (May 18)

In this edition of the Newsreel: Will lawmakers finish the budget? Will the governor call for a special session? And when this is over, who will be running for office in 2014? (May 18)

M. Smith on a key player in education policy, Ramshaw on an "Obamacare" critic putting his frustrations to music, Aguilar finds that misclassification bills are losing steam, Murphy adds the latest financial statements to our Ethics Explorer, Grissom on Perry's signing of the Michael Morton Act, Aaronson on the fight over end-of-life legislation, Galbraith and Batheja discuss Texas' infrastructure challenges, Root on a bipartisan effort in D.C., and Ramsey leads an ethics discussion and looks at the proposed budget's impact on legislators' pensions. The best of our best content from May 13-17, 2013. (May 18)

A House bill designed to curb Medicaid fraud became a vehicle to save floundering health care legislation on Friday.  (May 17)

Independent pharmacists struggling to keep their doors open could soon expect more transparency in negotiating rates with Medicaid managed care organizations.     (May 17)

An amendment that would have allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain a permit to legally drive and purchase insurance in Texas was derailed Friday on a point of order. (May 17)

Managed care plans would be required to offer more mental health services to Medicaid recipients under a bill tentatively approved by the House on Friday. (May 17)

On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: A look at how quickly things can change in the waning days of a Texas legislative session. (May 17)

Your evening reading: budget deal reached; Gonzalez says she'll seek re-election; debate over end-of-life bill gets personal (May 17)

The House tentatively approved a bill to reform the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, bringing the state one step closer to restoring financing for the beleaguered agency. (May 17)

The Senate passed a House bill that would allow teachers and other public school staff to use holiday greetings like "Merry Christmas” and "Happy Hanukkah" and to display Christmas trees, menorahs and other cultural icons of winter celebrations.  (May 17)

After days of negotiations, House and Senate representatives agreed to a budget plan that would add roughly $4 billion in extra funding for public education. It also paves the way for a $2 billion fund for water infrastructure projects. (May 17)

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. (May 17)