The Brief: Jan. 31, 2013
Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday threw cold water on speculation about a potential 2014 showdown with one of his political allies. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday threw cold water on speculation about a potential 2014 showdown with one of his political allies. Full Story
On the heels of Gov. Rick Perry's endorsement of a plan to let South Texas get access to the Permanent University Fund, educators and legislators from the region were energized about the prospects for a plan for a new university there. Full Story
Your evening reading: if Perry seeks re-election, Abbott won't run against him, governor says; poll shows Texans supportive of assault weapons ban, divided on Cornyn; Dell foundation to donate $50 million for UT medical school Full Story
At an Austin gun shop, U.S. Rep. Roger Williams voiced his support for the Second Amendment and criticized what he called the Obama administration's superficial response to recent mass shootings. Full Story
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Emily analyze Gov. Rick Perry's seventh State of the State address, ponder the role of a party caucus chair, and reveal which legislator is most like Elvis Presley. Full Story
The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday opened its discussion on how to finance the state's health budget by considering the impact of cost containment initiatives and how to proactively curb Medicaid fraud. Full Story
The members of the Texas Senate have been placed in their committees, but where in the state do the committee members come from? Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Senate. Full Story
Texas prisons are running low on hygiene products that are not considered necessities for inmates, including toothpaste and deodorant. Family members and inmates are frustrated as state officials try to find a contractor. Full Story
In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry touted the $10,000 bachelor's degrees at Texas universities he called for two years ago. Now that they exist, how can cash-strapped Texas students access them? Full Story
In his State of the State address on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry said he supported using part of the Rainy Day Fund to finance water and transportation infrastructure projects. Lawmakers this year will decide which projects get the money first. Full Story
Largely devoid of any conservative red meat, Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State address may have offered some clues to his political future. Full Story
President Obama on Tuesday offered his own plan for immigration reform, and his proposal earned both praise and criticism in Texas. Full Story
Your evening reading: Perry's State of the State avoids hot topics; Cornyn, Cruz vote against Kerry's confirmation; poll shows Perry vulnerable in 2014 Full Story
At a briefing Tuesday, lawmakers and relatives of people killed while texting and driving renewed a push to make the practice illegal. A proposal passed during the last session but was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
After complaints from lawmakers about its earlier list of Texas Women’s Health Program providers, the state health agency has replaced its list online. The new list has 965 fewer doctors and clinics. Full Story
Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams on Tuesday called on educators to hold the line on the state's accountability system amid a "ranging conversation" at the Legislature about how to address concerns about the role of high-stakes testing. Full Story
A proposed federal immigration reform poses a test for Texas Republicans: Their leaders, compared to politicians from other states, tend to be more moderate. But those leaders stand at the front of a GOP that is hostile to some of the proposal's key points. Full Story
This Storify presentation reveals the instant reactions on social media by legislators, staffers, guests and journalists to Gov. Rick Perry's State of the State address. Full Story
Full video of Gov. Rick Perry's seventh State of the State address. Full Story
In his seventh State of the State address, Gov. Rick Perry ignored controversial issues and urged state lawmakers to do the nitty gritty work of government: fund water projects, build more roads and improve education. Full Story