Come January, the Environmental Protection Agency will begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions around the country for the first time — but not if Texas can help it. Attorney General Greg Abbott last week lodged legal challenges in a federal court against EPA actions on multiple fronts, including a reiteration of the state's long-standing argument against the agency's scientific foundation for determining the dangers of greenhouse gas pollution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/heatinup-epa.png)
Relief for young adults without health benefits may be on its way today, as several key provisions of federal health care reform take effect. The law mandates that insurers allow parents to enroll dependents up to age 26 regardless of their student status. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/YouthAndHealthcare.jpg)
The suddenly Sarah Palin-approved Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, on why the former Alaska governor bestowed her blessing, the proportionate diversity of the Tea Party, the rise of "tyranny" in the federal government and why he shouldn't be counted out just yet. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Broden_Bust_Shot.jpg)
In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Elise and Ben discuss Linda Chavez-Thompson and the other lesser-known statewide candidates, the impact of Libertarians at the polls and the choice between paper and plastic when Harris County voters cast their ballots. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TT-TribCast-002.png)
The Texas Farm Bureau is staying out of the general election for governor, endorsing none of the major or minor candidates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/KBHfarmbureau.jpg)
Linda Chavez-Thompson, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, told a TribLive audience this morning that she's not afraid of being associated with President Barack Obama; quite the opposite. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/lindachavez_caleb.bryant.miller.jpg)
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Education-Funding.jpg)
For John Cornyn, the timing couldn't be more awkward. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3760752ff1e6aafa2f6b560489ed6746/BD%20INC%20Cornyn%202010)
Six weeks and counting: November 3, 2010, is the day when we reset the Trib membership clock to zero, when anyone who's been with us for a year or more needs to stand with us again to remain an active member. There are a bunch of good reasons to re-up. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2011andbeyond.png)
Talking point No. 1 for an elected official facing an ethics investigation in Texas: Blame the politicization of the Public Integrity Unit, which is funded by the Legislature but operates out of the district attorney's office in heavily Democratic Travis County. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/delay_earle.jpg)
Is a hospital bed an integral part of medical care? As a federal judge considers the constitutionality of Texas’ 2003 medical malpractice reform — and Gov. Rick Perry campaigns for more lawsuit restrictions — the state Supreme Court has ruled that hospital injuries seemingly unrelated to doctor error can fall under Texas’ stringent medical malpractice caps. Some legal observers say the decision is a perversion of legislative intent, but tort reform advocates contend the high court simply closed a huge loophole in liability reforms. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Hospital-Beds-Malpractice.jpg)
The author of Drug Lord on rumors of Mexican political corruption, how the drug war is like Prohibition, why drug traffickers aren't like Muslim extremists, whether the U.S. media really understands Mexico and why Hezbollah has set up shop across the border. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DrugLord.jpg)
The defense bill blocked by Republicans in the U.S. Senate could impact Texas. One of the measures that failed to move forward was an amendment that would have given some undocumented immigrants a path to legal status through education. Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Dream_Act.jpg)
Senate Republicans voted unanimously against opening debate for the defense authorization bill this afternoon, a move that blocked the so-called DREAM Act, a controversial immigration measure. Full Story
A group of people who typically prefer to stay out of the limelight gathered this morning to urge lawmakers to support the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. Full Story
An array of Houstonians star in the latest television ad endorsing their former mayor, Democrat Bill White, as the next governor of Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Screen_shot_2010-09-21_at_1.48.47_PM.png)
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/housemap.jpg)
A representative for the Texas Legislative Council, which helps lawmakers research and draft bills, won't speculate on why proposed and passed legislation has risen sharply in the last two decades. But it's one reason the agency has expanded its legal division over the years, she says. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Texas_capitol_.jpg)
There’s a new student paper coming to university campuses in Texas — courtesy of the Republican Party of Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/103109-txrepubs001-jv.png)
If the Larry Taylor-Steve Mostyn battle over windstorm insurance payouts wasn't a proxy war for the tort reformists and the trial lawyers before, it certainly is now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/GavelLawbook001.jpg)