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News For August, 2010

  • Brian McCall: The TT Interview

    By Reeve Hamilton

    The longtime House member from Plano and newly installed chancellor of the Texas State University System (sorry, Sen. Wentworth) talked to the Tribune on Thursday about why he took the job, the importance of Hispanic outreach, the case against cutting the state's higher ed budget, the trouble with the Legislature and what a good governor shouldn't do. Full Story 

    Chancellor Brian McCall of the Texas State University System speaks with Tribune reporter Reeve Hamilton on Aug. 5, 2010.
    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller

  • Hold On, Mr. Resident

    By Ross Ramsey

    For legal purposes, where you sleep is only part of the answer to where you live. There's also where you vote, where you intend to reside, whether you consider your nesting place temporary and where you pay taxes. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • TribBlog: Driver Debt Debate

    By Elizabeth Titus

    On Tuesday, a House committee heard arguments over the future of the controversial Driver Responsibility Program — which pits outrage over heavy traffic fines on the poor against the state's need to finance trauma care in hospitals, which benefit from the fines. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • TribBlog: Border Residents Feel Safe, Poll Finds

    By Julián Aguilar

    A large majority of the residents of Texas cities on the U.S.-Mexico border feel relatively safe despite harsh rhetoric from lawmakers and a consistent media portrayal of their communities as war zones, according to a poll released today. Full Story 

    Downtown El Paso
    Credit: http://jdlong.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/nighttime-downtown-el-paso.jpg

  • The Brief: Aug. 10, 2010

    By David Muto

    President Barack Obama's whirlwind sweep through Texas on Monday left in its wake some roused spirits and empty wallets but … not a whole lot else. Full Story 

    President Obama at the University of Texas on Monday, August 9, 2010.
    Credit: Spencer Selvidge

  • The Fox and the Hen House

    By Brandi Grissom

    Five of the nine members of the state's Commission on Jail Standards, which oversees the 245 county lockups, are elected officials from or employees of the counties whose facilities they regulate. Advocates say that's a conflict of interest, and they're calling for a change in the commission's makeup. Full Story 

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  • The Pelican Grief

    By Elizabeth Titus

    At Goose Island, near Rockport, some of the nearly 200 pelicans rescued from the Gulf oil spill and sent to Texas seem to be thriving. But officials are holding their breath to see whether the rescued birds stick around or fly back to habitats that may still be contaminated. "Wildlife do crazy things," says the manager of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. "That's why they're called 'wild.'" But the ones that stay could face survival struggles, too, from coastal litter and competition with other species for food. Full Story 

    Twenty brown pelicans now call Texas home after getting "oiled" in the BP spill off Louisiana's coast
    Credit: Spencer Selvidge

  • Obamarama

    By Elise Hu

    In his first trip to the Texas capital as president, Barack Obama served up little news but plenty of red meat for supporters. Check out our pool report from his fundraiser and our audio, video and slideshow of his UT-Austin speech. Full Story 

    President Obama at the University of Texas on Monday, August 9, 2010.
    Credit: Spencer Selvidge

  • 2010: Chet Edwards Gets NRA Nod

    By Evan Smith

    The Waco Democrat, in the fight of his career as he runs for re-election in the most Republican House district held by a Democrat anywhere in the country, got a big boost Monday when the National Rifle Association's Victory Fund announced it would support him over his GOP opponent, Bill Flores. Full Story 

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  • The Polling Center: White's No Mad Man

    By Jim Henson

    Bill White deciding to travel to points far from Austin and Dallas while President Barack Obama visits the state today to raise money and speak at the University of Texas presents us with yet another mountain-out-of-a-molehill political story in the long, hot summer of gassy coverage of the governor’s race. A look at Obama’s standing in Texas makes it clear that White would be nuts to share a stage with Obama unless he feels like doing a favor for Gov. Rick Perry’s ad team. Full Story 

    Democratic candidate for Texas governor Bill White campaigns in Henderson at the East Texans for Texas rally
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich