A previously tame special session looks likely to end in a burst of political fireworks.  (Jun 12)

UPDATED: A second University of Texas System regent has lashed out at fellow Regent Wallace Hall, following Hall's latest request for information from the University of Texas at Austin. (Jun 11)

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has decided to end operations at two privately run Texas prison facilities — the Dawson State Jail in Dallas and the Mineral Wells Pre-Parole Transfer Facility — on Aug. 31. (Jun 11)

Your evening reading: Perry adds abortion legislation to special session agenda; lawmakers moving quickly to find transportation funding; Perry to veto integrity unit unless district attorney resigns (Jun 11)

On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: This week marked the end of a long legislative journey for one bill and the beginning for another. (Jun 11)

The special session's agenda now includes the hot-button issue of abortion — which is sure to spark partisan warfare. Gov. Rick Perry also ordered the Legislature to take up a measure dealing with sentences for 17-year-olds convicted of capital felonies. (Jun 11)

With transportation funding added to the special session call, lawmakers are already planning hearings and considering different proposals. The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday. (Jun 11)

For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the redistricting issues facing the state's legislators and lawyers, about whether lawmakers will find a solution, whether maps will be ready in time for elections and who might be held responsible for the unfinished state of things. (Jun 11)

Gov. Rick Perry would deal a "huge blow" to prosecutors who handle public fraud and corruption cases if he carries out a threat to end state funding for the state's public integrity unit, the unit's director said.   (Jun 11)

Republicans in Texas have their near-supermajorities. They could forfeit many of their arguments over redistricting, make the courts and most of the Democrats happy, and still get what they want. (Jun 11)

For higher education followers, one of the great lingering mysteries of the 83rd session is the fate of a special committee that was formed to examine governance issues at the University of Texas System. (Jun 11)

With legislation to ban smoking in public workplaces failing for the fourth legislative session in a row, proponents and critics say they are ready for another face-off in 2015. (Jun 11)

Part of the state fee that Texans pay for car inspections is supposed to go toward enforcement, but some say the state isn't properly spending the money, allowing inspection fraud to go unnoticed. (Jun 11)

A new order of business for lawmakers has kicked the special session into a slightly higher gear.  (Jun 11)

Gov. Rick Perry on Monday added transportation funding to the agenda of the special session. He said Texas' transportation network is facing added pressure because of the state's growing economy and population. (Jun 10)

Nearly half of the members of the Texas House are asking Gov. Rick Perry to add tuition revenue bonds for campus construction to the agenda of the current special session.   (Jun 10)

Despite a jump in the number of children participating in summer meal programs, Texas still lags when it comes to feeding children at risk of food insecurity when they're not in school, according to a report released Monday. (Jun 10)

Saying that Mexico is violating the terms of a 1944 water treaty, federal lawmakers from Texas filed legislation Monday that they hope will compel the United States' southern neighbor to meet its obligations. (Jun 10)

Your evening reading: Perry signs major education bill, defends state budget; STAAR scores hold steady; Perry taking job-poaching campaign to New York (Jun 10)

After the second year of a new statewide assessment program, Texas students' scores on standardized tests remain roughly the same, according to new data released by the Texas Education Agency. (Jun 10)