It's a common occurrence: A tree or branch falls on a power line, cutting off electricity to nearby residents. On Thursday, though, the state's Public Utility Commission will vote on rules aiming to make that a little less likely in the future. Full Story
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Business leaders and state senators agreed Tuesday that lawmakers should add some accountability mechanisms to the state's network of business incentive programs. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday opened the latest front in what's likely to become the biggest abortion battle in Texas next year. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry backs fetal pain bill; head of state's cancer-fighting agency resigns; Planned Parenthood files another lawsuit against state Full Story
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As the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas is set to face investigations into a grant that bypassed a mandated review, the executive director of the state agency has resigned his post. Full Story
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At the Trib's November 29 symposium on higher education at Texas A&M University, House Higher Education Committee Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas, argued that a failure to adequately educate the next generation of Texans puts the state's greatness at risk. Full Story
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Two Texas charter schools are each eligible to receive just less than $30 million in federal Race to the Top money. Idea Public Schools and Harmony Science Academy were among 16 winners chosen from 61 finalists from across the nation. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the power of the three leaders in the Capitol, and a ranking of who's strongest and weakest among the statewide elected officials in Texas. Full Story
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At the Trib's November 29 symposium on higher education at Texas A&M University, Reeve Hamilton talked about pathways to student success with Shirley Reed of South Texas College, House Higher Education Committee Chairman Dan Branch, Denise Trauth of Texas State University and Lawrence Schovanec of Texas Tech University. Full Story
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If the new graduation numbers released by the U.S. Department of Education are correct — that 86 percent of Texas students graduated high school in four years in the 2010-2011 school year — we all certainly have something to celebrate. But they're probably not correct. Full Story
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Guaranteeing safe, clean and available water supplies should be a top priority when lawmakers assemble for their regular legislative session next month. Full Story
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On November 8, the Tribune and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project asked four experts on state health, water, transportation and education policy to preview the fights over those issues in the 83rd session. Full Story
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Speaker Joe Straus won his leadership post with the support of Democrats — which gives some conservatives fits. If his just-announced challenger, David Simpson, builds a similar bipartisan coalition, can he hold on to conservative support? Full Story
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Tea Party activists are releasing their priorities for the upcoming legislative session on Tuesday, and a top leader says they will call for ethics reform, an end to double-dipping by elected officials and better disclosure on personal financial statements. Full Story
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As federal policies push medical providers to switch to electronic health systems, a new job market for highly trained health IT professionals is quickly emerging — and the University of Texas at Austin is taking advantage of it. Full Story
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State Rep. David Simpson shook up the speaker's race on Monday, but has he shifted it at all? Full Story
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Two legislative committees are set to hold hearings on state programs designed to encourage businesses to invest here, about a week after a New York Times series brought increased attention to Texas' approach to such incentives. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Simpson files for speaker, wins Hughes' support; majority back path to citizenship, poll says; secession petition still awaiting White House response Full Story
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A report published Monday forecasts that the Texas power grid will be a little shakier next summer than previously projected. Thanks to the anticipation of slower power demand, the grid will be a little less shaky in 2014 and beyond. Full Story
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On Nov. 8, the Tribune and the University of Texas at Austin's Texas Politics Project asked four political strategists to talk about what the 2012 election means for the 2013 session and beyond. Full Story
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