The Midday Brief: Aug. 23, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry now leading in Iowa and national GOP poll; McCaul may join U.S. Senate race; scrutiny of Fed Up! intensifies Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Perry now leading in Iowa and national GOP poll; McCaul may join U.S. Senate race; scrutiny of Fed Up! intensifies Full Story
DAY 23 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: The state's prison education system, known as the Windham School District, eliminates or reduces classes for Texas inmates. Full Story
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, is quietly exploring a run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Kay Bailey Hutchison, Republican sources told The Texas Tribune on Tuesday. Full Story
The rise of Rick Perry has sent a wave of unease through the Republican establishment. Full Story
The relentless drought still gripping the state has dried up drinking water for cattle, pushing ranchers to sell off parts or all of their herds at auction. Matt Largey of KUT News reports. Full Story
Ray Sullivan is the communications director for Rick Perry's presidential campaign. His wife, Leslie, is a fundraiser for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. Awkward, huh? "Oh, the poor dears," Mary Matalin says — and she should know. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: why the GOP primary could end in a brokered convention; Perry and Romney battling for the South; Tea Party activists knock Dewhurst Full Story
The president of Prairie View A&M University on higher ed budget cuts, the role of historically black colleges in Texas and why he'll soon be back in the classroom teaching the largest class on campus. Full Story
DAY 22 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Lawmakers slash funding for residency programs in Texas, making it even more difficult for the state to meet its growing physician shortage. Full Story
Preparing for his second week on the campaign trail, Rick Perry was hit Sunday by an unlikely aggressor. Full Story
News analysts described Gov. Rick Perry as the Tea Party darling when he announced his bid for the presidency. But at a recent Tea Party gathering in Waco, that status seemed tenuous. Full Story
In this latest round of our unscientific survey of political and government insiders, we ask which senators might be choosing the next lieutenant governor and whether anyone outside the Capitol will have a say in that decision. Full Story
If you put Ron Paul and Rick Perry side by side in this presidential race, most people would say Paul is the underdog. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, what Paul's supporters lack in numbers they make up for in passion. Full Story
The restricted club that is the Texas Senate will be invaded by noisy conservative voters and activists next year if senators have to choose a new leader from their own ranks, reprising the 2011 contretemps over the choice for Speaker of the House. Full Story
DAY 21 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Nearly 56,000 students will remain on charter school waiting lists after lawmakers failed to lift a cap on the number of charters the SBOE can grant. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry often emphasizes that he favors diversification of energy sources — and the record mostly bears him out. Wind farms and gas drilling have proliferated under his tenure, and he has tried to make building coal plants easier. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry made a triumphant return to Austin on Saturday evening — his first homecoming as an official contender for the White House. Hundreds gathered in a room at Abel's on the Lake to catch a glimpse of the man they hope will unseat President Barack Obama. Full Story
DAY 20 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Financially stable charter schools will have an easier time seeking lower interest rate loans to expand or build their facilities. Full Story
Aaronson analyzes TWIA claims and lawyer fees, Aguilar talks border security and voter ID with Chuy Hinojosa, Grissom on the latest inmate exonerated via DNA evidence, Hamilton interviews John Sharp on higher ed and the SEC, Murphy interactively maps the changes wrought by redistricting, Philpott on who's running Texas while Rick Perry is out campaigning for president, Ramsey on Perry's history of off-the-cuff remarks, Ramshaw on Perry's childhood years in Paint Creek, Root on Perry's extraordinary first week on the trail and Tan on even more ways Texas will change on Sept. 1: The best of our best content from Aug. 15-19, 2011. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Texas unemployment rate now highest in two decades; Perry gets warm reception in South Carolina; Hispanics could be Perry's overlooked advantage Full Story