The Brief: March 4, 2013
The latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll contains some good news for both Rick Perry and Greg Abbott. Full Story
The latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll contains some good news for both Rick Perry and Greg Abbott. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry would beat Attorney General Greg Abbott in a Republican race for governor held today, but a win in that race — if it actually comes to pass — isn't clearly in the hands of either candidate. Full Story
In the two months since Joaquin Castro was sworn into Congress, he has been getting even more attention than his identical twin, Julián Castro, the San Antonio mayor who gave the keynote at the Democratic National Convention. Full Story
Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia is headed for the Texas Senate after beating state Rep. Carol Alvarado in a Saturday special election runoff to succeed the late Mario Gallegos, D-Houston. Full Story
In this week's Newsreel: The Supreme Court heard arguments in a voting rights case that could have a big impact on Texas, Republican legislators side with Gov. Rick Perry on Medicaid expansion, and voters will decide on Saturday who will represent Senate District 6. Full Story
Much to the internet's delight, a picture of Gov. Rick Perry playing Guitar Hero with a teenager surfaced this week. We commemorate it on our latest playlist with Bread's "Guitar Man." Full Story
Aaronson with the latest on CPRIT, Aguilar on relitigating the Voting Rights Act, Batheja on what we can learn from Virginia on transportation funding, Galbraith on the Keystone XL's pipeline's progress, Grissom's six-parter on the intersection between mental health and criminal justice, Murphy interactively details the sequester's projected effect on Texas, Ramshaw sits down with Ted Cruz, my interview with the Lege's public education chairmen, and Hamilton on rumblings about micromanagement by UT regents: The best of our best content from Feb. 25 to March 1, 2013. Full Story
Your evening reading: Arkansas Medicaid deal draws attention in Texas; Jackson Lee proposes bill to halt sequester; sole finalist for Texas Tech presidency named Full Story
It's not so much what Texans think about gaming in Texas — they're generally for it — but about how strongly they feel. And the people who don't want expanded gaming feel more strongly than proponents. Full Story
News that the federal government has negotiated with Arkansas to allow that state to use billions of dollars in Medicaid funds to buy private health insurance for the state's poorest residents has some Texas Republicans intrigued. Full Story
At the Trib's February 25 symposium on public education at Rice University, Morgan Smith talked about the prospect of greater choice and more charters with Caprice Young of the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, Rosemary Perlmeter of Teaching Trust, Duncan Klussmann of Spring Branch Independent School District and David Anthony of Raise Your Hand Texas. Full Story
Republican legislators have proposed adding $100 million to a state-run primary care program specifically for women’s health services, which could avert a political fight over subsidizing specialty family planning clinics. Full Story
As the price of natural gas has declined, much of Texas' drilling activity has moved south, to the Eagle Ford Shale, leaving the battle-tested Barnett Shale in North Texas with an uncertain future. Full Story
For the elected judges on the state's highest civil court, the trick is to survive politically without thinking about politics — even on big political issues like school finance. Full Story
Lawmakers are preparing to examine whether or not the University of Texas System regents are micromanaging their flagship university, while trying to prevent the session from being overwhelmed by controversies reminiscent of 2011. Full Story
With the sequester triggered, now comes the waiting. Full Story