The Brief: Feb. 12, 2014
Former Cameron County District Attorney Armando Villalobos was sentenced Tuesday to 13 years in prison for his role in a corruption scheme that in recent days has become a hot topic in the governor's race. Full Story
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![Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott talked about border security, criminal justice and other issues during his "Securing Texans" address in Dallas on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2014.]()
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Use of Acid in Drilling Stirs Concerns
Injecting acid to help drill for oil isn't a new practice, but Texas' oil and gas regulator doesn't track where or how much acid is used by drillers in the state, and that has some people concerned. Full Story
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Credit: Dave Fehling NPR StateImpact / KUHF Houston Public Radio -
Davis Corrects Omissions in Ethics Disclosures
State Sen. Wendy Davis has filed a corrected 2013 personal financial statement, and her campaign said the new filing corrected minor technical errors. The campaign of her likely gubernatorial opponent, Attorney General Greg Abbott, said the timing of the correction raises questions. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott, then a candidate for governor and now the governor-elect, spoke at a NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church in Bedford on Nov. 12, 2013. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who was also running for governor, spoke to veterans at Luby's in Forest Hill the day before.]()
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The Polling Center: Playing the Right Anglos
In the short run, the GOP appears to be embarking on a winning strategy to mobilize a reliable and larger electorate using the rhetoric that motivates its voters. Full Story
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![Texas attorney general and candidate for governor of Texas Greg Abbott during a campaign stop in San Marcos, Texas on October 12th, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: A Conversation With Amarillo Lawmakers
Full video of my 2/7 TribLive conversation with three Amarillo lawmakers: state Sen. Kel Seliger and state Reps. "Four" Price and John Smithee. Full Story
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Most Eighth-Graders Fail to Get a College Degree Within 11 Years
Among young Texans who started eighth grade in 2001, less than one-fifth earned a higher education credential within six years of their high school graduation, according to data in the Tribune's new Higher Ed Outcomes Explorer. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Dan Hill -
News App: Higher Ed Outcomes Explorer
Each year, some 300,000 students begin eighth grade in a Texas public school. Use this app to track the educational milestones of every student who started eighth grade in a Texas public school between 1996 and 2001, broken down by region and county. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Dan Hill -
Seven Candidates Fight for Chance to Reshape Texas Criminal Court
At least three members of Texas' highest criminal court will be replaced in the next year, and observers say the unusually high turnover could have a significant effect on the court's decisions. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 11, 2014
On paper and in person, GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott pushed back on Monday against critics of his use of the term "third world" to describe corruption in Texas. Full Story
![Texas attorney general and candidate for governor of Texas Greg Abbott during a campaign stop in San Marcos, Texas on October 12th, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Stockman's Claims About Record Draw Questions
In his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman has made statements about his own record that appear to conflict with public records and his own past statements. Full Story
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![Mug shot from the Oct. 5, 1977, arrest of Stephen Ernest Stockman by the Madison Heights, Mich., police department. Stockman was initially charged with felony possession of diazepam, also known as Valium, records show.]()
Credit: Madison Heights, Mich., police department -
Abbott Defends "Third World" Corruption Remarks, Border Security Plan
Campaiging in El Paso, GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott on Monday said "third world" corruption is a problem across Texas, not just on the border, and he defended his border security plan. Full Story
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Analysis: College Resignations Raise a Political Question: Legacy or Change?
Job openings atop the state's big universities give regents and Rick Perry, the lame-duck governor who appointed them, a chance to extend his legacy or to set the stage for his successor. Full Story
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Davis Says Abbott Should Settle School Finance Suit
Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis is calling on her likely Republican opponent in the governor's race, Attorney General Greg Abbott, to quit defending the state's school finance system and reach a settlement instead. Abbott said Davis was focused on the past. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Laura Buckman / Bob Daemmrich -
UT Chancellor: Political Upheaval Did Not Prompt Resignation
Saying that recent political turmoil did not persuade him to step down, Francisco Cigarroa, the chancellor of the University of Texas System, officially announced his resignation on Monday. Full Story
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Video: Davis on School Finance Trial
Here's video of state Sen. Wendy Davis speaking Monday on what she called the state's "broken school funding formula." Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Texans Answer Call to Conserve Water, Only to Face Paying Higher Rates
Drought-stricken Texas cities have succeeded in encouraging residents to slash water consumption — but they've lost money in the process by selling less water. That means everyone must pay higher rates. Full Story
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![Docks on the edge of Lake Kickapoo, which is less than one-third full, no longer reach the water in Holiday, Feb 3, 2014.]()
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Candidates Sparring Over "Third World” Remark
Greg Abbott's comparison of South Texas corruption to "third-world country practices" has made the GOP gubernatorial candidate a target for Democrats and drawn criticism from border leaders. Full Story
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Analysis: Candidates Enter Season of Campaign Spending
Campaigns, always trying to raise money, shift into another gear when the primaries are looming: It's time to spend some of that cash. Full Story
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The Brief: Feb. 10, 2014
News broke Sunday night of a big move at the UT System: Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa will be stepping down after a successor is named. Full Story
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Refugees, Too, Must Navigate Health Care Law
Under the Affordable Care Act, most Texans must have health insurance by March 31. That includes refugees, who often lack the English skills needed to understand the complexities of the American health care system. Full Story
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![Eddie Almodovar, far right, a volunteer, helped refugee Aruna Rai, seated, sign up for a health insurance plan at an Austin apartment on Jan 30, 2014. Fellow refugees Khamba Magar, top left, and John Monger served as interpreters.]()
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