Protesters met in front of the Mexican consulate in Austin on Thursday to draw attention to violence and human rights violations in Mexico. The gathering marked the beginning of a new group keeping an eye on Mexico's new political regime. Full Story
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The fiscal cliff still looms large, but the Obama administration appears to have quietly begun moving on the next great debate about to hit Washington: immigration. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry sets special election date for state Senate seat; Fox News host cuts off Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson in heated interview; Hispanic groups warn Congress to fix immigration Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman talked about the economic impact of the state's various shale plays, as well as concerns about the negative effects on roads, water and air quality. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry announced Thursday that a special election on Jan. 26 will decide who will follow the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos in representing Harris County. Two long-time Democrats are vying for the position. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, Railroad Commission Chairman Barry Smitherman explained his opposition to Sunset Advisory Commission recommendations intended to address perceived conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Weeks after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto's inauguration, a group of activists in Texas is organizing a new effort they say will serve as a watchdog to monitor Mexico's treatment of its citizens. Full Story
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State Rep. Richard Peña Raymond has filed a bill to abolish the Court of Criminal Appeals and bring all of its related cases under the Texas Supreme Court. He's triggering a debate that goes all the way back to Reconstruction. Full Story
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Weeks away from leaving office, a candid Kay Bailey Hutchison on Wednesday opened up about some of the lingering regrets of her political career. Full Story
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Mark Norwood's capital murder trial has been set for March in San Angelo. His lawyers sought the delay so they could find experts to review DNA evidence the state says links him to Christine Morton's 1986 murder. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Straus says he's confident of re-election as speaker; business leaders favor changes to testing system; state posts more strong sales tax growth Full Story
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Mirroring a national trend, death sentences in Texas have declined over the last decade. Death sentences have fallen 75 percent since 2002, according to a new report. And the Texas death row population is the lowest in more than 20 years. Full Story
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The rates of elective surgery for Medicare patients vary dramatically depending on which part of the state Texans live in, according to new research from the Dartmouth Atlas Project, which analyzes medical referrals, procedures and health care costs across the nation. Full Story
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Despite organized efforts to unseat him, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday he is confident his colleagues will re-elect him to the post so he can focus the 2013 legislative session on “serious issues” for a fast-growing state. Full Story
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Evan, Reeve, Kate and Becca discuss a range of topics including David Simpson's challenge to Joe Straus, CPRIT, fetal pain legislation, the state's water plan, and a proposed new University of Texas System institution in South Texas. Full Story
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The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Wednesday that it has now found suspects in 10,000 open crime investigations using a federal DNA database. Full Story
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Outgoing U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, praised some of her fellow senators Wednesday in an emotional speech on the Senate floor. See video of the senior Texas senator's remarks. Full Story
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Business leaders said Wednesday that they would support modifications to the new student assessment system implemented this spring — and put forth a plan that provides multiple pathways to high school graduation. Full Story
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On Nov. 8, the Tribune and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project asked four veteran members of the Capitol press corps to forecast the coming controversies in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Plans for a coal mine in Eagle Pass took a step forward last month and could get final approval in January. But opponents of the proposal, who say the project raises serious health concerns, say they haven't given up the fight. Full Story
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