Senators passed Senate Bill 1611, also known as the “Michael Morton Act,” which would require prosecutors to turn over evidence to defense lawyers in criminal cases. The chamber erupted in applause following the vote.
April 2013
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Polling Center: Cruz Registers Tea Party Embrace of Gun Rights
Attitudes about gun control proposals among Texas Republicans provide a foundation for understanding Sen. Ted Cruz’s resistance to the apparent compromise taking shape in the U.S. Senate.
Posted inState Government
Updated Map: Not All Voting-Age Populations Are Equal Across State
In drawing their political districts, states make sure each district has the same population. But having each district match the others in population masks big differences. We’ve updated our voting-age population map to include Texas’ congressional and State Board of Education districts.
Posted in
Energy
Buzz Over Emerging Shale Formation Stirs Concern
Across the U.S., drillers are finding shale formations they hope could become the next big oil play for the American energy industry. But hype over emerging oil fields, like Texas’ Cline Shale, has highlighted worries about drilling companies’ intentions.
Posted in
State Government
Elon Musk: The TT Interview
The CEO of Tesla Motors on his efforts to sell cars directly to Texans, the state’s business-friendly reputation and SpaceX’s plans to build an orbital launch facility near Brownsville.
Posted in
Politics
The Brief: April 11, 2013
With gun and immigration bills gaining new momentum in Washington, the spotlight has again fallen on Ted Cruz.
Posted in
State Government
The Three-Party System
The House debate on the budget flushed out a new coalition in a Legislature split between traditional and populist Republicans, and Democrats. The losers? The populist Republicans, many of them freshmen.
Posted in
Health care
House Panel Debates “Fetal Pain” Bill
The House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday took testimony on the controversial so-called fetal pain bill, a measure backed by Gov. Rick Perry and abortion opponents.
Posted in
Higher Education
Agenda Texas: UT Regents vs. the Legislature
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: Ahead of tomorrow’s University of Texas System regents meeting, we take a look at the tensions brewing between regents, UT-Austin President Bill Powers and the Legislature.
Posted in
TribLive
TribLive: A Conversation About Transportation
With the way Texas pays for its roads under the spotlight this session, Sen. Robert Nichols and state Rep. Larry Phillips joined Tribune reporter Aman Batheja for a conversation about transportation. This event was recorded before a live audience in Austin on April 4, 2013. TribLives feature moderated discussion with our honored guests followed by questions from the audience. For more information on Tribune events, please visit http://www.texastribune.org/events/.