The Evening Brief: Oct. 4, 2012
Your evening reading: Dewhurst shuffles Senate committee chairs; Zaffirini "not disheartened" at loss of higher education role; Medicaid fraud force nabs 38 in Texas Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribuneFest: A Conversation with Rusty Hardin
At the 2012 Texas Tribune Festival, I interviewed famed defense attorney Rusty Hardin about his appointment as the special prosecutor in the Michael Morton case and his work on behalf of one of his most famous and most controversial clients: Roger Clemens. Full Story
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In November Election, No Exit Polls for Texas
With the price of exit surveys on the rise, election pollsters are curbing costs by canceling exit polls in 19 states — and non-swing-state Texas didn't make the cut. Full Story
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Ousted From Chair, Zaffirini to Still Keep an Eye on Higher Education
After losing her role as chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said she is "not disheartened" and will continue to make higher education a priority. Full Story
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![Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, speaks to reporters on Oct. 4, 2012. She was replaced as the Senate Higher Education Committee chair.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Indicts 28 in Texas
In what one federal official described as "one of the largest Medicare fraud takedowns in Department of Justice history," the Medicare Fraud Strike Force indicted 91 people in seven cities on Thursday, including 28 in Dallas and Houston. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
TribLive: Abbott on Voter Fraud
At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, Attorney General Greg Abbott discussed the prevalence of voter impersonation in Texas and defended the legal basis for the contentious voter ID legislation now making its way through the courts. Full Story
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Dewhurst Shuffles Senate Committee Chairs
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday appointed state Sen. Dan Patrick as chairman of the education committee. He also replaced state Sen. Judith Zaffirini with state Sen. Kel Seliger as chair of the higher education committee. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Interactive: Texas Super PAC Contributors
New campaign finance reports filed in September show that Texans are still giving generously to Super PACs. The top givers included Houston homebuilder Bob Perry, who gave $2 million to the pro-GOP American Crossroads, and former Texas Trial Laywers Association President Steve Mostyn and his wife, Amber, who gave $1.5 million to Democrat-supporting groups. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 4, 2012
The drama paled in comparison to another political showdown in Texas this week, but Wednesday night's face-off between Mitt Romney and President Obama appears to have shaken up the presidential race. Full Story
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Marking Year of Freedom, Morton Says He's Blessed
A year after he was released from prison, Michael Morton says he is still enjoying the small blessings of free life. On Thursday, he's launching a website to aid his efforts to reform Texas laws and make prosecutors more accountable. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond -
Study: Virtual Schools Show Poor Performance, Provide Little Savings
The Texas Virtual Schools Network may not lead to improved student performance or cost savings for the state, according to a study released today by Raise Your Hand Texas. Full Story
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Gun-Printing Project Catches Eye of Law Enforcement
A group of civil libertarians led by a University of Texas law student wants to teach people how to use 3-D printing technologies to make their own guns at home. But the buzzed-about project has drawn the attention of federal law enforcement. Full Story
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Richards Sets a Politically Fateful Course on Guns
In this excerpt from Jan Reid's Let the People In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards, the author looks at events that sharpened Texans' desire for more liberal gun laws and put them at odds with their governor. Full Story
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Gonzalez Toureilles Seeks to Oust Lozano in HD-43
Democrat Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, who served three terms in the Texas House, is looking to make a return. She's challenging state Rep. J.M. Lozano, R-Kingsville, who switched from the Democratic Party this year. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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