Hours after it became clear that Houston’s nondiscrimination ordinance, HERO, would be trounced at the polls last week, Houston Mayor Annise Parker predicted a “direct, economic backlash” for the city, akin to criticism and boycott threats in Arizona and Indiana following similar controversies. But so far, any visible backlash has yet to materialize, and Houston appears at no risk of losing two upcoming major sporting events.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump are in a dead heat for the Republican presidential nomination in Texas, and Hillary Clinton has a comfortable lead among Democrats, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.

Add Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to the growing list of those exhorting Sid Miller to halt his plans to hike fees for a wide range of licenses, registrations and services the Texas Department of Agriculture provides. The Republican joins industry groups such as the Texas Farm Bureau and at least 72 House lawmakers in opposing the fee increases, which would raise millions of dollars that Miller says are needed for the agency to continue to meet its diverse assortment of duties, including licensing, certifying and inspecting agricultural goods such as eggs.

The presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., is expanding its footprint in Texas, setting up a statewide office and adding to staff with just under four months until the Democratic primary. In the next few days, the campaign plans to open a Texas headquarters in Austin — among the first known outposts of a presidential campaign in the state besides that of Cruz. The office will be located on the city's east side.

For more than three years, Texas Central Partners has drawn attention with its plans to develop a Dallas-Houston high-speed rail line using Japanese trains. While that project is furthest along, French and Chinese rail interests are more quietly discussing the prospects for rail projects with state and local officials.

A rare debate flub by Cruz Tuesday night sparked a boomlet of social media jokes about Texas presidential candidates, but the White House hopeful's most notable moment came when discussing how he would handle a banking crisis as the country's chief executive. Asked toward the end of the fourth GOP presidential debate about the banking crisis of 2008, and the notion of the government treating some banks as "too big to fail," Cruz said he would let them.

Veterans sentenced to death in Texas murder cases — and nationwide — might have escaped the punishment if juries had been told about their military service and any ensuing mental health problems, according to a Death Penalty Information Center report released Tuesday.

The Obama administration said Tuesday that it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a controversial immigration program the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down on Monday. The program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DAPA, would shield more than 4 million undocumented immigrants in the country from deportation proceedings and allow them to apply for a three-year work permit.

Austin drivers who complain about Interstate Highway 35 have been validated. A new report from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute named the stretch of I-35 between U.S. 290 N and SH 71 as the most congested roadway in Texas.

The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggested that Texas leaders should play along with her agency’s sweeping Clean Power Plan, if only to avoid a more rigid carbon-cutting plan imposed by the federal government.

As political contrasts crop up in the Houston mayoral race, one campaign is not letting the other forget an apparent endorsement from the highest-profile Republican in Texas: Cruz. A week before voters in Cruz's hometown sent state Rep. Sylvester Turner and former Kemah Mayor Bill King to the Dec. 12 runoff, King revealed in a since-deleted tweet that Cruz had voted for him — and said it was an "honor" to have the conservative firebrand on his side.

While minorities occupy about half of the state’s housing units, they are less likely than white Texans to own their homes, and the state’s largest metro areas have some of the most substantial racial disparities among homeowners, according to recently released U.S. Census data.

To avoid confusion and uncertainty, the state’s 2016 elections for Congress and the Texas House will proceed under the current political maps, a three-judge federal panel in San Antonio said late Friday.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Farm Bureau are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.

Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Margaret Martin and Rolando Pablos and reappointed Gary Aber to the Texas Racing Commission for terms to expire on Feb. 1, 2021. Pablos is a familiar face at the commission, having served on the commission from 2007-11, serving much of that time as chair. Aber, the holdover appointment, was one of three commissioners who voted earlier this summer to defy lawmakers and keep historical racing.

Abbott also appointed David Saunders of Waxahachie for a term to expire Jan. 31, 2019, and Ryan Hutchison of Austin for a term to expire Jan. 31, 2021, to the governing board for the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD).

Abbott announced on Monday that he's reappointing Brint Ryan to the University of North Texas System Board of Regents. Abbott also named Dallas businessman A.K. Mago and former Southwest Airlines executive Laura Wright to the board.

Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday afternoon announced several new appointments to his senior staff. They are: Angela Colmenero, chief of the General Litigation Division; Amanda Crawford, associate deputy for general and legal counsel; Lesli Ginn, chief of the Financial Litigation and Charitable Trusts Division; Pricilla Hubenack, chief of the Environmental Protection Division; Austin R. Nimocks, associate deputy attorney general for Special Litigation; Al Ochoa, deputy director for policy, legal and program operations; Robert O’Keefe, division chief of the Tax Division; and Patrick K. Sweeten, senior counsel for civil litigation.

Texas State University Chancellor Brian McCall announced Tuesday that John Hayek, the current associate vice chancellor and chief of staff for academic affairs at the system, will serve as the vice chancellor in the same department.

Retired Col. Michael Bob Starr on Wednesday made his candidacy official for Texas' 19th congressional district, promising to use his military background to keep the state and country safe. Starr, a former commander at Dyess Air Force Base outside Abilene, had signaled his intent to run in September. He joins an already crowded field of Republicans vying to succeed Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock, who is not seeking re-election next year.

Donald Trump on Monday named Texas tea party activist Katrina Pierson as the national spokeswoman for his presidential campaign. Pierson rose to prominence when she unsuccessfully challenged U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions of Dallas last year in the GOP primary.

Ted Cruz's presidential campaign has hired a former Iowa adviser to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker. David Polyansky, who is based in Houston, has joined Cruz's team as a senior adviser focused on communications and politics.

The Cruz campaign also announced it was rounding out its team in Alabama, naming Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks its chairman there. Alabama is one of the states (along with Texas) holding its primary on March 1.

Former Gov. Mark White on Thursday endorsed state Rep. Sylvester Turner in the Houston mayoral runoff. White, a Democrat, served as governor from 1983 to 1987. Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia, who came in third in the Nov. 3 mayoral election, endorsed Turner late last week. Turner on Wednesday received the endorsement of another former opponent in the Houston mayoral race, City Councilman Steve Costello.

SD-24 candidate Dawn Buckingham announced Tuesday that Austin Pregnancy Resource Center President Lori Devillez has given a personal endorsement of her candidacy.

More than a dozen past and current Harris County elected officials are backing Kevin Roberts in his run for the open seat in HD-126. The list includes Sheriff Ron Hickman, County Commissioner Jack Cagle, District Clerk Chris Daniel and Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman. Among the former officials backing Roberts are former state Rep. Peggy Hamric and former state Sen. Jon Lindsay.

Annie’s List announced Tuesday that Genevieve Van Cleve has been brought in as the group’s political director and Laurie Felker Jones will join its political department and oversee incumbent protection efforts. Van Cleve served as deputy political director from 2009 to 2013 for the group dedicated to electing Democratic women to the Legislature.

Carl S. Richie Jr., chairman of the Housing Authority of the City of Austin, is set to serve as the vice president for the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment. Richie's term is two years.

Disclosure: The Texas State University System, the University of North Texas and Southwest Airlines are corporate sponsors of The Texas Tribune. Brian McCall and Carl Richie are donors to The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.