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News For January, 2010

  • Guest Column: The 2010 Agenda: Public Health

    By Eduardo Sanchez

    Three strategies can move Texas in the right direction, health-wise: a statewide indoor smoking ban, statewide universal K-12 coordinated school health programs, and the serious consideration of all available options to reduce the number of uninsured Texans. Full Story 

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  • Is Ralph Hall Too Old?

    By Julián Aguilar

    The Rockwall Republican, first elected to Congress almost thirty years ago, turns 87 in May. His seven challengers — five fellow Republicans, a Democrat, and a Libertarian — aren't shy about making his age an issue. Full Story 

    Congressman Ralph Hall waves to the crowd at Frisco 2008 community parade.
    Credit: friscoparade.com

  • No Dollar Left Behind

    By Morgan Smith

    Let's say you're a donor to a candidate or an elected official who quits a race mid-campaign or chooses to not run for reelection. What if you made a contribution to one of the nine Texas legislators who decided not to seek reelection this year, or to a former diplomat who toyed with a bid for governor but ultimately thought better of it, or to a tech executive who considered a challenge to a member of Congress but decided against running at the last minute? What happens to your money? Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Attack of the Ads

    By Elise Hu

    Rick Perry's and Kay Bailey Hutchison's ads seem pretty tame so far, but in an everything's-contested campaign cycle, even what constitutes an "attack ad" is grounds for debate. Full Story 

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    Credit: Todd Wiseman

  • Who'll Control the Crayons Next Year?

    By Ross Ramsey

    As more candidate filings become available from the state's bigger counties, it's apparent that Republicans are going to have a noisy beginning to the year. They've got an unusual number of primary election challengers to their legislative incumbents. Democrats, meanwhile, are making a weak play for political control in the next decade. That's not an assessment of whether their candidates can compete — it's about whether they're in position to make real gains even if they do win some elections. Redistricting comes around in 2011, and the minority party needs either a House majority or a majority of seats on an arcane legislative board to control the map-making. They don't appear to be in position to do that. Full Story 

  • TribBlog: So Long

    By Ross Ramsey

    Family and friends of Austin political consultant Kelly Fero, who died unexpectedly at age 57 this week, said goodbye at a memorial event this morning. Full Story 

    Kelly Fero
    Credit: Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Ramshaw's four-parter on the rural health care condundrum and depressing take-out on sexual abuse in youth lock-ups. Ramsey on filing day follies and the untimely death of a Democratic mainstay. Aguilar on the U.S. government's detention center mea culpa. Grissom on alien deportations in the name of making our streets safer. Rapoport on the organization and association endorsement dance. Hamilton on whether coattails exist. Hu and Philpott's multimedia profile of Linda Chavez-Thompson. And Philpott on big gubernatorial campaign bucks and even bigger candidate angst over the ways journalists are using social and new media to cover them. The best of our best from January 4 to January 8, 2010. Full Story 

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  • Fighting for Security

    By Brandi Grissom

    Immigration advocates say the feds are deporting thousands of illegal aliens who are minor offenders and some who've committed no crimes at all. But federal officials and local law enforcement argue that they're simply making Texas streets safer. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmerich