U.S. Rep. Joe Barton apologizes to BP chief executive Tony Hayward, saying that the $20 billion escrow account for spill victims set up by the White House and BP on Wednesday amounts to a "shakedown." Later Thursday, he retracted his apology to BP, and apologized himself. Full Story
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Is the boiling battle between Texas and the Environmental Protection Agency slowing to a simmer? Full Story
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Within Texas, the Ogallala Aquifer accounts for about 40 percent of all water use, but its levels are declining sharply. In a dry growing season, the High Plains Water District recorded an average drop of 1.5 feet. Meanwhile, the 2007 state water plan projects that the Ogallala's volume will fall a staggering 52 percent between 2010 and 2060. Full Story
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In 2000, higher education in Texas languished compared to other states, and a plan was adopted to “close the gaps” by 2015. A decade later, the commissioner of higher education tells the Tribune that bold steps still need to be taken. But can we afford to take them? Full Story
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More than 250,000 Texas homes, mostly in rural areas, don’t have access to high-speed internet, according to a new broadband services map commissioned by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Full Story
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The Senate Committee on Education got a painful preview today of the problems in special education that they’ll have to tackle during the 2011 legislative session. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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See how Texas' fastest-growing areas compare with the 3,000 other counties across the country. Full Story
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This morning we learned that the Tribune won two national Edward R. Murrow Awards: for best use of video by a local news operation — for Elise Hu's Stump Interrupted series — and for best website. Yes, we're psyched. Full Story
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As the dust settled Tuesday, details of the college football kerfuffle-that-wasn't became a little clearer. Full Story
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Texas now has about 24.8 million residents, an increase of 3.9 million, or almost 20 percent, since 2000, and trails only California in the proportion of its residents who identify themselves as Hispanic. We're also the third-youngest state, with a median age of 33; only Utah and Alabama have younger populations. These and other fun facts can be discovered in a new database application that helps explain and visualize how the makeup of Texas counties has changed since the last U.S. Census. Full Story
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The federal government could begin cracking down on employers who hire undocumented workers, according to a copy of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s new strategic plan obtained by The Texas Tribune. Full Story
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The state GOP’s new chair talked to the Tribune on Tuesday about the party’s fiscal condition, redistricting, fundraising across partisan aisles, how to unify with the Tea Party and the status of his relationship with his dethroned predecessor, Cathie Adams. Full Story
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The ongoing battle between the EPA and Texas got a little hotter today, and it could get even more intense as the TCEQ works on a plan to comply with stricter ozone regulations. Full Story
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The Texas Border Coalition to U.S. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa: "We merely suggest you become familiar with the facts next time, before shooting off your mouth.” Full Story
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In a hearing before House budget-writers today, officials of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance conceded they'll move toward Medicaid managed care in the Rio Grande Valley, so long as it's done with lots of local input. Full Story
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Now that the central question of tomorrow’s House Higher Ed Committee meeting on athletic conference realignments has been answered, Chairman Dan Branch says there's no need for the show to go on. Full Story
In our latest HuTube vlog post, we venture to a Team Perry press conference at Bill White's Austin headquarters. White's volunteers must have had some advance notice. They came armed with signs, chants — and a guy in a chicken suit — to shout over the governor's spokesman. Full Story
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When Texas expanded its Medicaid managed care program in 2003 to cover more than urban centers, the Rio Grande Valley narrowly avoided being included. But as state leaders stare down a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall, they say it’s unlikely the Valley will make it through another session without being roped in. Full Story
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Texas officials have halted the placement of foster care children at Daystar and have assigned the Houston-area residential treatment center a state monitor following revelations of a staff-instigated “fight club” incident two years ago and a new incident that has come to light this past week: a possible sexual assault of a girl living at the facility. Full Story
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