At Thursday's TribLive conversation, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza talked about the rationale for comprehensive immigration reform and the prospects for passage.

Texas voters remain concerned about the economy and immigration, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. And three out of five Texas voters said the U.S. is on the wrong track.

Your evening reading: two Texas Republicans vote for Violence Against Women Act; state Senate panel approves $1.5 billion for public education; legislators protest security policy at Governor's Mansion

Ted Cruz has only been Texas’ junior U.S. senator for two months, but he has wasted no time propelling himself into national headlines. On Tuesday, the Tribune sat down with Cruz in Washington to talk about the early days of his new gig.  

The political action committee of Dallas billionaire waste magnate Harold Simmons is asking 18 lawmakers to return about $65,000 in contributions after admitting that an oversight led to illegal campaign contributions.