Hoping to build momentum after a strong performance in his latest nationally televised debate, Gov. Rick Perry hit a Sunday morning TV show, spoke to two church congregations and staged a boisterous rally at a coffee shop in central Iowa. Full Story
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Levels of lung-damaging ozone spiked this year across Texas, especially in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Scientists are still trying to understand why, though the hot weather is likely part of the cause. Questions are also rising about the ozone impacts of oil and gas drilling. Full Story
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While it might not have been enough to alter his position, days before heading out on his bus tour of Iowa, Rick Perry turned in one of the strongest debate performances of his campaign. Full Story
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Root on Rick Perry's controversial new ad, Tan on the fallout, Aaronson's map of where the food stamps go, my interview with Stephen Colbert's campaign finance lawyer, Aguilar on the drop in the number of illegal immigrants crossing into Texas, Hamilton on the growth of unregulated colleges, Galbraith's interview with S. David Freeman on the environmental failures of public power, Grissom on the newest state agency and and Hamilton and M. Smith on a sudden change at the top of UT's law school: The best of our best content from December 5 to 9, 2011. Full Story
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In a late Friday afternoon order, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the use of court-drawn maps for legislative and congressional districts in Texas, telling the lawyers involved to be ready for oral arguments next month. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry did it again. In an interview with the Des Moines Register, the presidential candidate flubbed the name of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and forgot how many judges sit on the high court. Full Story
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State Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, won't seek re-election. The seven-term legislator told her hometown paper, the Victoria Advocate, that the court-drawn redistricting maps made another run difficult. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Perry's spoiler potential in Iowa; Trump may scrap GOP debate; amid fiery campaign rhetoric, illegal border crossings on the decline Full Story
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Some are waiting to see what the courts will do. Others want to see if any opponents surface. Regardless, with six days to go until the filing deadline, how many incumbents haven't filed yet? A whole bunch. Full Story
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Texas Democrats say the state Department of Insurance's request for a delay in implementing federal health reform rules could cost Texans $260 million in premium credits and rebates over the next three years. Full Story
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So far, 27 26 members of the Texas House, four members of the Texas Senate, three State Board of Education members and two U.S. congressmen have said they won't seek re-election. Full Story
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A new billboard that will tower over Dallas' North Central Expressway on Monday offers a startling message on college graduation rates, an effort by a state business group to turn the spotlight on the the state's lagging higher ed outcomes. Full Story
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Once again, intense backlash has caught the Rick Perry campaign flat-footed. Full Story
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They lost in 2010, but some candidates are hoping by now that voters have changed their minds. The 2012 ballot will be stippled with officeholders who were cast out by voters last election but want to try again. Full Story
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New federal regulations have prompted state officials to revisit a 2007 Texas Supreme Court decision that some call a "key victory for Christian education" and others say could open the door to diploma mills. Full Story
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A sour economy, increased border law enforcement and skyrocketing smuggling fees are keeping more would-be crossers at home. But you wouldn't know it from the presidential campaigns. Full Story
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With a month to go before people in other states starting voting on presidential candidates, we asked the insiders for their current take on those races. First things first: They don't see much of a window for Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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Political news from around the state, starting with a rematch of a lively 2010 primary race in Northeast Texas. Full Story
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Redistricting is right where we left it last week — in the U.S. Supreme Court. Full Story
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So far, 26 members of the Texas House have said they won't seek reelection — 27 if you count Rep. Fred Brown, R-Bryan, who resigned after the legislative session. The list could grow by next Thursday, the deadline for filing for the 2012 elections. And four more incumbents will lose their elections next year — to four incumbents. Full Story