Triblive: Evan Smith interviews Texas Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams.
February 2011
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Where Did the Sunset Commission Get Its Name?
Nothing scares the good men and women of state agencies more than one word: Sunset. But where did the Sunset Commission get its name?
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for Feb. 18, 2011
Your afternoon reading: attorney general goes after voter fraud; lawmakers find a little common ground; and for Wisconsin lawmakers, a Senate Democrat offers up some sex advice (you read that right)
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Top Texas News for Feb. 18, 2011
Large Hispanic population growth was expected, but new census figures could signal more than just a sea change in Texas.
Posted inState Government
Interactive Map: 2010 Census Totals by County
The U.S. Census Bureau collected 2010 population totals for Texas counties, breaking down the figures by race and Hispanic origin. The data will be used for redistricting of political districts during the 2011 session of the Texas Legislature. This interactive map displays those totals in shades, with darker colors representing higher rates of total population growth.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Small Brewers Pushing to Tap Into the Action
Brewpubs want to be able to sell their distinctive beers in stores, restaurants and other bars and are fighting for the right to expand. The major beer distributors like things the way they are.
Posted in
Health care
Texas Seeks Medicaid Waiver, but Prognosis Is Poor
Only months ago, Texas lawmakers threatened to drop out of Medicaid. Now, Texas and other financially strapped states are asking Washington for permission to operate the program as they see fit.
Posted in
Energy
Energy or Railroad: Are the Politics Different?
What’s in a name? The Texas Railroad Commission — and the elected officials who run it — may soon find out.
Posted in
Demographics
Minorities Drove Strong Texas Growth, Census Figures Show
Texas’ explosive growth during the past decade was fueled by a boom in its minority population, which accounted for 89 percent of the total increase in population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Posted in
Energy
Are TX Senators Influenced By Power PAC Money?
This week, lawmakers from two senate committees called the power players in the electricity industry to Austin to grill them about the rolling blackouts on Feb. 2. As it turns out, many of those executives and their companies’ PACs have contributed thousands to the senators who were questioning them.
