At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, talked about "turning things upside down" in the public education system.

At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, discussed his extremely public feud with state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas.

Big endorsements, little endorsements, new attack websites and other political news of the week. 

Aaron Barraza isn't letting his youth stop him from trying to unseat state Rep. Marisa Marquez of El Paso in the Democratic primary for HD-77. Marquez says her record should earn her another term.

When state employees have headaches, or when children on school trips to the Capitol fall down, they visit Tim Flynn, who has served as the Capitol's nurse since 1992, through the administrations of Ann Richards, George W. Bush and Rick Perry.

The pay for Texas lawmakers is low, but the pension benefits are sweet. Some say, though, that lawmakers who break the law should have to forfeit their pensions.

The filings are in, the candidates are raising money and looking for support. It is finally primary season in Texas.

Local and statewide lawmakers turned to social media to warn North Texas residents about Tuesday's tornadoes — and the widespread damage they caused.

Lawmakers and health care advocates gathered today to kick off the state's first annual Minority Cancer Awareness Month, designated in the last legislative session to bring awareness to racial disparities in cancer survival. 

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst appears to be in the middle of the Republican pack in the Texas Senate, where he presides, according to an analysis of senators' votes by Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones.

The process of desalination needs to be explored as an option for the future, experts testified Thursday in Austin before the House Natural Resources Committee.

Will the Planned Parenthood brouhaha affect elections? Should state officeholders be able to collect retirement while they're still on the job? And should Texas lawmakers have term limits?

State Rep. Lon Burnam has been told he can start drawing a government pension without leaving his job. But he wants to stop the hidden perk reserved for lawmakers.

Brian Birdwell is the most conservative Texas state senator and Rodney Ellis is the most liberal, according to an analysis of senators' votes by Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones.

Animal protection organizations are pushing for legislation in Texas that further regulates ownership of exotic animals as pets, but one East Texas resident says she'll fight to keep her 22-year-old African lion.

Rick Perry is still the Republican governor of a strongly Republican state. He controls the executive branch, maintains strong ties with business, has relatively weak opponents, and has run circles around the media.

Lame duck or not, Rick Perry is still the Republican governor of a strongly Republican state. In Texas, he controls the levers of government, muzzles the news media and has no meaningful political opposition.

The underlying fundamentals that buttressed Gov. Rick Perry's political power in the state are not much changed, and they suggest that the governor will reassert his powerful presence in Texas politics now that he is back.