In Iowa today, while discussing Texas' practice of allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition, Gov. Rick Perry hedged on a key aspect of the policy — giving the same students access to state aid. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Democrats grasping for U.S. Senate candidate; Gingrich planning new wave of Iowa ads; parsing Paul's Iowa chances Full Story
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Just two days after fellow Democrat Ric Sanchez dropped out of the race, former state Rep. Paul Sadler of Henderson has filed to run for U.S. Senate. Full Story
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Murder charges against former grocery store manager Michael Morton were formally dismissed on Monday. But for Morton, the day was not only about hugs and happiness. It was also about trying to hold accountable the man who prosecuted him. Full Story
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A fresh controversy threatened to knock Rick Perry's Iowa bus tour off course over the weekend. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of governmental and political insiders, we asked about the mess with the Texas primaries — whether split primaries are a good idea and who might benefit. Full Story
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The election experts in the room were a beehive of nonverbal communication. Their reaction was on their faces: “Is this a drill? They’re kidding, right?” Full Story
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When Michael Morton is officially cleared of wrongful murder charges on Monday, his lawyers will try to do something unprecedented: They will ask for a special inquiry into former prosecutor Ken Anderson's role in his conviction. Full Story
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In January, Texas will adopt a statewide building code that should cut the energy consumption of new single-family homes by more than 15 percent — and big cities like Houston are jumping even further ahead. Full Story
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After a smooth day of church visits and campaign stops, Gov. Rick Perry hit some unexpected bumps as audience members challenged him on hydraulic fracturing and allowing gays to serve openly in the military. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry took his political message to the pews on Sunday morning, stopping at two Iowa churches. Full Story
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The Dallas Cowboys have attracted a devoted fan base in Mexico, a country where American football ranks second to Mexican fútbol. Travelers risk overnight bus tours on roads traversed by violent drug cartels for the chance to see a game at Cowboys Stadium. Full Story
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On the final campaign stop of his bus tour today, Gov. Rick Perry was asked about the long-ago plan for a 4,000-mile network of highways, rail and utility lines that sparked a public outcry and was ultimately abandoned. Full Story
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At a campaign stop this morning, Rick Perry was asked if he would consider former candidate Herman Cain for the position of defense secretary. His answer was noncommital — and he also told a questioner he would have "no problem" with having a female vice president. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry has sparked a wave of criticism, and some unanswered questions, after filing paperwork this week revealing that he is collecting both a salary and a pension from the state of Texas. Critics say there are rules designed to prevent such arrangements. Perry and his aides say its perfectly legal. Full Story
Root's scoop on Rick Perry's working retirement, Aaronson maps poverty in Texas, Aguilar on a voting rights warning shot from the U.S. Attorney General, Galbraith on the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking operations, Grissom on the drop in executions, Hamilton and M. Smith on UT-Austin President Bill Powers' rough year, Murphy and Tan and Dehn on the shortage of psychiatrists and Ramshaw on the federal refusal to exclude operators like Planned Parenthood from family planning programs: The best of our best content from December 12 to 16, 2011. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: parties agree to April 3 primary date; Perry "retires" early to collect pension pay; state unemployment rate drops Full Story
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The engine is primed to rev up the national economy, but businesses aren’t putting the pedal to the metal, Richard W. Fisher, the president and CEO of the Dallas Federal Reserve, said today. Full Story
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Rick Perry has finally retired, but it's not what you think: The governor has officially retired as a state employee, but gets to keep working as Texas governor. The maneuver, perfectly legal according to his campaign, has dramatically boosted his take-home pay. Full Story
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Like many at the end of this year, University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa and Gene Powell, the chairman of the board of regents, are in a reflective mood. Full Story
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