TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

Local governments are anticipating a new program aimed at reducing wait times at the nation's ports. Under the plan, they will request extra staffing at border crossings and reimburse the federal government for the services.

Now that it's through the Legislature, lawmakers and advocates have to sell a constitutional amendment that boosts funding for Texas highways without sapping interest for completing that funding a few months later. 

In a letter obtained by the Tribune late Thursday, a lawyer for embattled University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall clarifies some of the motivations behind Hall's ongoing investigation into the system's flagship university.

The 2014 election season is already in full swing. Here's a completely unofficial — and very preliminary — look at the people who have either thrown their names in the ring or been mentioned as possible contenders. 

About 1,000 Texans work as volunteers for the state-funded Military Veteran Peer Network, helping fellow veterans readjust to civilian life. The 83rd Legislature recognized their work and is helping the organization grow its ranks. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz will press the flesh with Texans over the next couple of weeks with town hall meetings and visits with business leaders across the state.

Despite some Texas politicians' drumbeat against environmental regulations, the Legislature ordered the state to regulate greenhouse gases this year, with backing from big energy companies. 

A group of plaintiffs in the Llano Independent School District has obtained a court order banning the use of CSCOPE lessons until those lessons get State Board of Education approval.

We've updated our Texas Campaign Finance Database with the most recent figures from the Texas Ethics Commission. Use it to find out how much money candidates are raising and spending heading into the 2014 campaign season.