House Budget Spends More Than Senate's on Schools, Less on Medicaid
Both the House and Senate are proposing spending about $194 billion over the next two years. But there are key differences between the two plans. Full Story
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After Drug Lab Scandal, Court Continues to Reverse Convictions
The Court of Criminal Appeals continued to reverse more convictions of drug offenders on Wednesday after a former employee with a DPS crime laboratory in Houston may have fabricated the results of thousands of drug tests. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Caleb Bryant Miller / Chuck Grimmett / Valerie Everett -
Number of Deferred Action Applications on the Decline
After peaking in September, applications for deferred action have dropped off dramatically. Immigration attorneys think most eligible undocumented immigrants are in a wait-and-see mode amid the federal immigration reform debate. Full Story
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![Deferred action recipients can get a two-year reprieve from deportation proceedings and a work permit. Undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for at least five straight years, are in school or have graduated from high school or have obtained a GED, or are honorably discharged from the military, may apply.]()
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Waterless Fracking Makes Headway in Texas, Slowly
Most fracking operations use several million gallons of water. But with water increasingly scarce and costly around Texas, a few companies have begun using alternative liquids, such as propane. Experts say the technology still has far to go. Full Story
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The Brief: March 27, 2013
The bizarre tale of a prison gang's plot to murder a Texas state senator has quickly come to an end. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House Approves New Approach to High School Graduation
UPDATED: Debate over the balance between rigor and flexibility in high school graduation requirements dominated Tuesday’s discussion over education legislation that eventually legislators in the Texas House tentatively approved. Full Story
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![Rep. Donna Howard D-Austin, questions Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock R-Killeen during HB5 debate on March 26th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Evening Brief: March 26, 2013
Your evening reading: graduation requirements dominate education debate in House; state leaders reaffirm opposition to gay marriage; state representative booked into jail on barratry charges Full Story
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![Rep. Ken King R-Canadian, speaks with Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock R-Killeen, as Rep. Gene Wu D-Houston speaks on one of the 165 amendments for HB5 on March 26th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Updated: Majority of Senators Sign Letter to UT System
A majority of Texas senators have signed the letter calling the University of Texas System's planned review of the University of Texas Law School Foundation "unnecessary." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Education Panel Considers "Parent Trigger" Bill
A bill that would make it easier for Texas parents to ask school boards to take action against failing schools sparked contentious debate in a Senate committee on Tuesday. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Chris Cole / Paul Sounders -
Updated: Senate Committee Approves Michael Morton Act
A panel of Senate lawmakers on Tuesday approved a bill that aims to prevent wrongful convictions by requiring prosecutors to share evidence with defense attorneys in criminal trials. Full Story
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Norwood's Lawyers Rest Their Case in Murder Trial
After calling just three witnesses on Mark Norwood's behalf, lawyers for the man accused of killing Christine Morton in 1986 rested their case Tuesday afternoon. Full Story
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![Defendant Mark Norwood enters the Tom Green County Courthouse for opening hearings, Mar 19, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Reynolds Booked Into Montgomery County Jail
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, walked into the Montgomery County Jail on Tuesday morning to be booked on two counts of barratry. In a statement released Monday night, he maintained his innocence. Full Story
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![Booking photo for State Rep. Ron Reynolds on two counts of barratry into the Montgomery County Jail March 26, 2013.]()
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Senate Passes Prosecutor Accountability Bill
The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that attempts to bring more accountability to prosecutors who are accused of withholding evidence in cases that result in a wrongful conviction. Full Story
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Legislators Take Up Windstorm Insurance Reform Bills
Legislators, coastal residents and insurance leaders agree it will take a dynamic approach to reform the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee discussed four TWIA bills Tuesday. Full Story
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Feds Approve New Vaccine Facility in Bryan-College Station
The federal government has approved a $91 million influenza-vaccine manufacturing facility based in the Bryan-College Station area to be run by the Texas A&M University System and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Full Story
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Bickering Erupts at Railroad Commission Meeting
A day before a major legislative hearing about the future of the Railroad Commission, interpersonal tensions between the three commissioners boiled over at an open meeting. The commissioners also voted to approve new rules to make recycling oilfield wastewater easier. Full Story
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![The Texas Railroad Commission, comprised of Chairman Barry T. Smitherman (center), and commissioners David Porter (left) and Christi Craddick (right) hold an open meeting in Austin, Texas on Jan. 15, 2013.]()
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Inside Intelligence: About Those Term Limits...
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about term limits for statewide officials, for legislators and members of Congress, and whether officeholders should receive lifetime pensions for 10-12 years of service. Full Story
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Guest Column: Texas Leads in Testing, but Not in Education
Texas outspends every state in the nation on testing and leads in the number of tests it requires students to pass to graduate from high school. But that has not translated to a lead in students' education performance. Full Story
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Guest Column: Education in Wonderland
Getting rid of standardized tests in public education would make it impossible to find out whether students have mastered the basics or acquired the skills necessary for success. Tests are the best way to measure results for students. Full Story
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Moody to Present One-Way Discovery Measure
State Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, on Tuesday plans to present a revised version of his criminal discovery bill that would require only prosecutors to disclose information in criminal trials. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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