Retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison this morning delivered her final speech as an elected official before the state Republican convention. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the audience didn't take kindly to her praise for Mitt Romney. Full Story
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At the state GOP convention, House Speaker Joe Straus said Friday he was confident he would keep his job for the next session. And he indicated that Republicans could hurt themselves if they focus only on demanding ideological purity. Full Story
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After some at the GOP state convention booed Thursday at Gov. Rick Perry's mention of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, he got a mostly positive reception Friday during his own speech. That wasn't the case for Mitt Romney, whose name drew jeers from the audience during a speech from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Full Story
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Like the two major parties, the Libertarians and the Greens will also hold conventions this weekend. Neither party has primaries, so the conventions will decide which candidates will be their nominees for state and federal offices. Full Story
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Despite calls for accord, divisions appeared to define the first day of the state Republican convention. Full Story
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Texas cities have traditionally enjoyed lower water rates than most metro areas in the nation. Use this interactive to see how Texas cities compare in regard to water rates, single-family usage and weather. Full Story
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The drought has pushed Texas cities to raise rates to pay for new water supplies and to encourage conservation. But raising rates often triggers public resistance in a state that is wary of too much government. Full Story
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Conventions might not be absolutely necessary to conduct the state's political business, but they're important to the partisans who, just like other kinds of enthusiasts, find strength in numbers. Full Story
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A Juneteenth monument was built for the Capitol, but it won't be installed after all. Concerns were raised about the design of one of the statues as well as historical inaccuracies. A new monument is coming to the Capitol instead. Full Story
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Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie said that despite his disappointment in being unable to propel a candidate to victory in a statewide race, the party should reflect on its significant accomplishments. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus, booed at the Republican state convention two years ago, is bracing for another chilly reception from the GOP faithful on Friday. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry convention speech fuels 2014 speculation; mention of Dewhurst draws boos; judge lets Wentworth lawsuit proceed Full Story
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State Sen. Jeff Wentworth’s defamation lawsuit against his former primary challenger Elizabeth Ames Jones — who came in third on May 29 — may proceed, a Bexar County judge ruled Thursday. Full Story
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In the Weekend Insider: Could a recent announcement by the Texas Department of Transportation limit its chances of receiving additional funding? And why do we need state political conventions? Full Story
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Courtesy of our friends at YNN Austin, full video of Gov. Rick Perry's speech Thursday morning at the state Republican Party convention in Fort Worth. Full Story
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Use these interactive maps to compare the level of food insecurity across Texas to the number of Texans who receive federal food stamps and the estimated economic impact of the food assistance funding. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry, speaking at the state’s Republican convention on Thursday, fueled speculation that he’ll run for re-election, saying he was “not riding into the sunset” but “mounting up for the next operation.” Full Story
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Yep, we're doing it again — and this time, criminal justice and transportation are on the agenda alongside education, energy, health care and immigration. Full Story
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The former U.S. Border Patrol agent who retired as an assistant special agent in charge at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on his new book, Beneath the Same Sky, and his experiences patrolling the border and as an undercover federal agent. Full Story
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Republicans and Democrats kick off their state conventions today, but the atmosphere surrounding each couldn't be more different. Full Story