The Midday Brief: Nov. 28, 2011
Your afternoon reading: state asks Supreme Court to stop redistricting maps; Perry, in Texas, announces new cancer research center; Romney faces criticism over 2006 immigration comments Full Story
Your afternoon reading: state asks Supreme Court to stop redistricting maps; Perry, in Texas, announces new cancer research center; Romney faces criticism over 2006 immigration comments Full Story
The state's lawyers have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop elections under court-ordered redistricting maps, arguing today that the federal judges who drew the maps improperly disregarded the wishes of the Legislature. Full Story
Hoping to get more effective cancer drugs into the hands of patients, state leaders this morning announced the creation of a new cancer research institute in Houston. Full Story
A burst of holiday-weekend activity has settled the state's game of political musical chairs. For now. Full Story
What the proposed Formula One project means for Comptroller Susan Combs, the future of taxpayer-financed events — and Texas. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked about redistricting — who's to blame for the maps now in place — and about tax incentives for events like the Super Bowl and Formula One racing. Full Story
The ever-expanding suburbs of San Antonio have created light, noise and endangered species challenges for Camp Bullis, where all military medics train. Other bases around Texas are also facing an array of encroachment issues. Full Story
Monday's the day candidates can begin filing for office, and after a flurry of legal activity over the holidays, they now know what districts they're seeking to represent. Probably. Full Story
For-profit, alternative certification teaching programs are booming in Texas. Every year since 2007, the two largest programs have produced far more teachers than any other traditional or alternative program. Full Story
Root and Tan on the restoration of the Governor's Mansion and on the Perrys' expensive replacement digs, E. Smith's TribLive interview with three freshman legislators in El Paso, M. Smith on tough financial standards for local school districts, Ramshaw and Murphy on Texas docs paid by drug companies, yours truly on new congressional and legislative redistricting maps, Hamilton on the biggest competitive endeavor in Brownsville's schools and Aguilar on how border mayors feel about military equipment in their cities: The best of our best content from November 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story
State Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, who planned to run for one of Texas' four new congressional seats, will instead run to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez, D-San Antonio. Full Story
State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, says he can't win re-election under new court-drawn redistricting maps and won't seek another term in the Texas House. It would have been his first election as a Republican. Full Story
In the array of governors who turned to national politics — a collection that includes four of the last six presidents — Rick Perry looks a lot more like Sarah Palin than like George W. Bush. And not just in his politics. Full Story
Thousands of Texas doctors, researchers and medical experts — including more than 100 who are employed by the state and are paid with taxpayer dollars — routinely supplement their salaries with income from pharmaceutical companies. Full Story
Budget cuts may have taken more than $30 million out of the Brownsville Independent School District’s budget for the next two years, but administrators say they are working to preserve financing for one key pot of money: the chess budget. Full Story
In this episode of Weekend Insider, Executive Editor Ross Ramsey describes where Texas' legislative redistricting stands, and reporter Morgan Smith explains how Texas became the industry leader in for-profit alternative teacher certification. Full Story
Here's something to be thankful for: Our festival website is updated with an audio slideshow for each of the panel discussions. Peruse the panels listed in the program or watch video albums from all of the subject tracks on our Vimeo site. Full Story
Rep. Joe Driver and Travis County prosecutors come to terms on his legislative expense accounts. Full Story
In which we asked in the insiders about redistricting and, separately, about Formula One racing in Texas. Full Story
A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas Wednesday. The map is a proposal; the court is seeking comments from the parties by noon Friday. Full Story