Endorsements stack up, so we've prepared a big spreadsheet to show you who is getting the political support of some prominent interest groups, trade groups and political action committees. 

In Travis County, which some consider the liberal hub of Texas, a controversial immigration-enforcement program has become the key issue in the Democratic primary race for sheriff. 

In this week's special edition of the TribCast, taped live before an audience at the historic Cactus Cafe, Reeve, Emily, Julian and Ben talk about Texas primaries, the Supreme Court taking up the Arizona immigration law and The Colbert Report.

UPDATED: Early reports suggest that Supreme Court justices appeared skeptical of the argument that the state of Arizona should not be allowed to question the immigration status of people detained by law enforcement.

Wednesday’s court ruling that the city of Farmers Branch does not have the authority to enact immigration legislation is being hailed as a victory for immigrants. But it doesn't mean all local ordinances are dead on arrival. 

The contributing editor for the Houston Chronicle on her book, which chronicles several practices that first-generation immigrants bring to the U.S.

The Dallas-based breast cancer prevention group Susan G. Komen for the Cure has halted its financial support of Planned Parenthood, yet another blow to the family planning organization that provides abortions in some of its clinics. 

Members of the Tea Party Caucus of Texas said at a press conference today that they are "fed up" with Gov. Rick Perry for not taking action to ban sanctuary cities, a measure he declared an emergency item during the legislative session this year.

Tea Party activists staged a news conference Monday urging Gov. Rick Perry to take more stringent action against illegal immigration. They want the governor to enact a ban on so-called “sanctuary cities.”

A group of Tea Party activists pushing for stricter immigration laws Monday asked Gov. Rick Perry to leave the presidential campaign trail and call the Legislature back into session to tackle a ban on so-called sanctuary cities.

President Obama today blamed Republicans for his administration’s failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform, saying several conservative lawmakers who once supported the measure have buckled under political pressure.

Ramshaw on the lioness of the Texas House, Dehn and Tan review 20 years of Rick Perry's political ads, Murphy's latest database includes the governor's political accounts over the last decade, Aaronson's visualizations of what was said in the biggest legislative debates, M. Smith on the woman in the middle chair at the State Board of Education, Galbraith on how the drought is forcing ranchers to sell their herds, Grissom has the story on a cattle rustler who's asking the courts to give him an old-fashioned sentence, Hamilton covers Rick O'Donnell's latest salvo at higher education,  Aguilar on whether and how the sanctuary cities issue will translate at the ballot box next year, yours truly on Ron Paul's candidacy and the candidate in his own words: The best of our best from July 18 to 22, 2011.

An amendment attached to SB 1 during the special session will require applicants for driver's licenses and other state-issued identification cards to produce government-issued documents affirming their legal status.

Want a quick recap of some of the happenings this week in the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly video rundown of the action under the dome.

Gov. Rick Perry position on "sanctuary cities" doesn't play well with Latino voters but his record of job creation and his business-friendly approach may cause some to look beyond that if he decides to seek the White House.

Call it the biggest consolation prize in recent history of the state legislature. Democrats, outnumbered in both chambers, actually won the battle over immigration after losing out to the Republican supermajority on abortion and Voter ID legislation and deep cuts to public services, mainly health care and education.

Attribute it to a Teflon coating, to his decisive win in a divided primary last year, or to luck, but Gov. Rick Perry is coming out of the 82nd legislative session without many bruises.

Gov. Rick Perry and House Speaker Joe Straus have released statements blaming the death of sanctuary cities on Sen. Robert Duncan and the full Senate, respectively. Now, the Senate's Republicans are returning the favor.