The Brief: February 17, 2010
Budget crunching, the EPA offends Texans, early voting is underway, and gay couples still can't get ... a divorce. Full Story
![Article thumbnail](https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/3m6JxKehITXWXV2Sha4DJoo9oRg=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/020810-budgetfail.jpg)
Budget crunching, the EPA offends Texans, early voting is underway, and gay couples still can't get ... a divorce. Full Story
More than 373,000 Texans went uncounted by the 2000 census, resulting in a loss of $1 billion in federal funds. With eight of the nation's 50 hardest-to-count counties right here in our state, the coming 2010 census is a cause for concern — and an apparent lack of attention by elected officials is making matters worse. Full Story
The Texas Workforce Commission spent nearly $50 million during the last two years on day care centers and in-home childcare providers with troubled track records — including sexual and physical abuse, kidnapping, and leaving infants to suffocate and die in their cribs. A Texas Tribune review found that at least 135 subsidized facilities had their licenses revoked or denied by the Department of Family and Protective Services in 2008 and 2009 and had their funding immediately suspended. Full Story
Nearly a third of Texans believe humans and dinosaurs roamed the earth at the same time, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
"[S]he would bring a fresh perspective, a commitment to work with both sides of the aisle and an emphasis on the state's public schools and higher education..." Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry announced the state is suing the Environmental Protection Agency over its recent finding that greenhouse gases endanger human health. Full Story
Catch Kay, Debra and Rick on Dallas television this weekend. Full Story
The Bryan-College Station paper's editorial board makes its picks. Full Story
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
State agencies are expected to submit their budget cuts today. Full Story
Former Gov. Bill Clements endorsed Gov. Rick Perry for reelection. Full Story
Early voting begins, state agencies scramble to cut spending and a Clinton antagonist moves back to Texas. Full Story
Two lawyers, two doctors and an ex-CIA officer are hoping that discontent with the federal government and anxiety about the economy will propel them to victory against incumbent U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio. But first, they have to win a crowded Republican primary. Full Story
State Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Southlake, has won and won easily since wresting the district from a GOP incumbent in a 1998 runoff. But this year is different. She'll face three opponents and voters who might be in an anti-incumbent mood. Full Story
About the only thing Jay Kleberg and Dee Margo have in common is the R next their names on the primary ballot — that and their desire to take on freshman Democratic state Rep. Joe Moody in November. Full Story
Forget about Don McLeroy vs. Thomas Ratliff. The most interesting fight for a State Board of Education seat may be in San Antonio, where well-funded lawyer-lobbyist Tim Tuggey is challenging incumbent Ken Mercer — and the big question being asked is, 'How conservative is conservative enough?' Full Story
In honor of today's kickoff of early voting — a two-week period in which political junkies, committed activists and other go-to-the-head-of-the-class types will line up to cast ballots for their favorite candidates, unable to contain their enthusiasm or anger until March 2 — we present five different installments in our Primary Color series. Brandi Grissom reports on the GOP face-off to take on state Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, in House District 78. Elise Hu tackles the four-way scrum between Republicans in HD-20 hoping to succeed retiring state Rep. Dan Gattis, R-Georgetown. Ross Ramsey asks why a perenially safe incumbent, state Rep. Vicki Truitt, R-Keller, has a fight on her hands this year in HD-98. Abby Rapoport looks at the battle for conservative cred in the race for the District 5 seat on the State Board of Education. And Morgan Smith picks apart the five-way race for the GOP nomination in Congressional District 23 — and the chance to topple U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
The Amarillo paper's editorial board gets behind the state's senior U.S. senator and the former Houston mayor. Full Story
The Corpus Christi newspaper's editorial board echoes the sentiments of other papers around the state. Full Story
"[O]ffers a vision for how the department can best serve all Texans, as well as the lands and animals entrusted to them." Full Story