Republican Dan Neil discusses his election contest against state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin.
February 2011
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmakers Propose Raiding Auto Theft Fund
House and Senate budget writers have proposed closing a little-known state agency that helps prevent and solve automobile theft and burglary. The catch? While they’re planning to kill the agency, they’re not planning to stop collecting the fee you pay to keep it going.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers Mull Reductions to Pension Plans
As Texas lawmakers look to slash billions in state spending, pension plans have become fair game. Mose Buchele of KUT News reports on a legislative proposal to decrease state contributions to two retirement plans that collectively serve hundreds of thousands of Texans.
Posted in
Politics
Disputed Howard-Neil Contest Goes to the House
Travis County Republican Dan Neil lost his first race for elective office in November by just 12 votes. Now he’s asking the Texas House of Representatives to declare some of the voters in that election ineligible and to put him in first place and state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, in second.
Posted in
State Government
Sam Houston, Texas Secession — and Robert E. Lee
No secession ball will mark the day. But 150 years ago today, on Feb. 1, 1861, a state convention voted overwhelmingly to secede from the Union, against the fervent wishes of Gov. Sam Houston. Caught in the mess was one Robert E. Lee, a federal officer in what had become a rebel state.
Posted in
T-Squared
T-Squared: Guess Who Got a Makeover?
No, your eyes don’t deceive you: The Trib looks different this morning — hopefully better. We couldn’t be happier.
Posted in
Health care
Medicaid Cuts Worry Texas Nursing Homes
Texas agencies facing the budget ax say the only thing left to cut are the services they fund. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on fears that many of the state’s nursing homes could be forced to dramatically cut back or even close as a result.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: When Did Texas Actually Secede?
Most media organizations put the date of Texas secession as Feb. 1, 1861 — 150 years ago today. But the reality was a little more complicated.
Posted in
Politics
Donna Howard on Dan Neil’s Election Contest
Donna Howard discusses Dan Neil’s election contest.
Posted in
T-Squared
T-Squared: Competitive QRANK Starts … Now
The time to acclimate yourself to our daily news trivia quiz has come to an end. Starting today, everyone who plays QRANK: The Texas Tribune Edition competes for fabulous prizes. And I do mean fabulous.