Video: A Conversation With Joaquin Castro
Full video of my 2/19 conversation with U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TTEvents_JoaquinCastro053_copy.jpg)
-
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: Taking Lobbyists' Money, Ignoring Their Calls
A new senator doesn't think taxpayer-supported governments should hire lobbyists to talk to other government officials and won't let those lobbyists come to her office. But she took their contributions during her 2014 campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/13/GW1A7872Burton.jpg)
![New Texas Sen. Konni Burton, c, stands with other incoming Senators during the swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Capitol Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
High School Seniors Who Fail Exams Could Still Have Path to Graduation
The roughly 28,000 public high school seniors who still need to pass a state exam to get their diplomas this May could get a lifeline from Texas legislators. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/21/Patrick_and_Seliger_CMS.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick meets privately with Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, on the dais during a break in Senate proceedings Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Edu: Vaccine Exemptions Under Scrutiny
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Vaccine exemptions in Texas come under scrutiny, applicants for Teach for America drop drastically and an interview with Jean Madsen and Mario Torres, professors of educational administration at Texas A&M University. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/17/TribPlus-EDU.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Lawmakers Asked to Boost Parks Funding
State parks are crumbling under the weight of decades of deferred maintenance. Lawmakers and state officials say they desperately need a funding boost from the 84th Legislature — and not just for the next two years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BocaChicaSP.jpg)
![Boca Chica State Park in Brownsville, Texas.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal -
The Brief: Feb. 19, 2015
Senate budget writers on Wednesday lit into Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek, a former senator himself, in a hearing that concluded with another call for him to resign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/15/Janek_and_Whitmire.jpg)
![Health and Human Services Commission head Kyle Janek (l.) and state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who called for his resignation on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott's Tune Has Changed on Gun Laws
On the campaign trail, Republican Greg Abbott argued for expanded gun rights — with certain limits. But now that he's been elected governor, the nuance he initially proposed appears to be gone. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/17/BDS_4051CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott annouces several emergency legislative items in his first State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Leaders Say State Will Win Immigration Case
At a celebratory press conference Wednesday, Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick hailed a federal judge's ruling to block President Obama's immigration plans, and confidently predicted that Texas will keep winning on appeal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/18/_BDB5851CMSfoursome.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praise a judge's ruling against Obama's immigration program at a Capitol press conference on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Judge Tosses Ethics Case Against Conservative Activist
A Denton County judge on Wednesday afternoon dismissed a ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission that Empower Texans President Michael Quinn Sullivan had failed to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Scrambling to Find Housing for Sex Offenders
The state agency responsible for supervising, monitoring and providing treatment to sexually violent predators is out of space to house sex offenders, agency officials told state lawmakers on Wednesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/18/Unsafe_Prisons__JW031_copy.jpg)
![The William G. McConnell Prison Unit in Beeville, Texas.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
Paxton Moves to Squelch Gay Marriage Ruling
Saying it will unleash "legal chaos," Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to block a Travis County probate judge's ruling that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/11/GayMarriage-Court.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Video: State Leaders Address Immigration Ruling
Here's a video of Wednesday's news conference with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who discussed a judge's decision to halt President Obama's immigration order. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/newsconference.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: The "GOP" Strikes Back
State Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, is on his way to the Texas Senate, thanks in part to the "gringos y otros pendejos" derided last summer by his opponent and House colleague, Trey Martinez Fischer. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/11/20/Menendez_TMF_copy.jpg)
![State Reps. José Menéndez (left) and Trey Martinez Fischer, both Democrats from San Antonio, are seeking the Texas Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Kindred Spirits: Wal-Mart, Kroger Align in Booze Bid
Wal-Mart is ginning up a full-bore liquor war and bringing it to the Capitol. Last week it sued the state for the right to sell spirits, and Wednesday it joined Kroger in forming a new nonprofit to promote freedom in the booze marketplace. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/06/Liquors-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Thomas Hawk -
Chief Justice Presses Lawmakers on Legal Aid for Veterans, Poor
UPDATED: Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht on Wednesday called on state lawmakers to continue their support for legal aid to the poor and military veterans and to complete unfinished work on student truancy reform. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/18/BDS_4508.jpg)
![Texas Chief Justice Nathan Hecht delivered a State of the Judiciary speech to the Texas Legislature on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribCast: State of the State and University Admissions
On Reeve's final TribCast, he talks with Evan, Emily and Ross about the most recent election results, Gov. Greg Abbott's first State of the State address, and a report on political influence on admissions at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/27/Tribcasters-ReeveEvanRossEmily.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Straus Opposes Long-Term Deployment of Guard at Border
House Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday that he will work to extend the Texas National Guard's stay at the border but that he remained opposed to a "long-term deployment." Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
T-Squared: Patrick Svitek is Latest Trib Hire
Our newest political reporter will chase and break quick-turn stories from the Legislature and the 2016 campaign trail. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/17/NewHire.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Dealers Reach Out, but Tesla Slams the Door
Tesla Motors is ramping up its lobbying efforts to change a Texas law requiring that new cars be sold through franchised dealerships. But some dealers say they'd like a shot at moving a few of the luxury, all-electric cars. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/15/UP9A0775.jpg)
![Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk spoke to crowd outside the Texas Capitol on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Feb. 18, 2015
State Rep. José Menéndez handily won election to the state Senate after a high-dollar, contentious race against House colleague Trey Martinez Fischer. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f941b4d0b1d8b5c3cd2f725b96877fd7/BD%20INC%20Cruz%20Sullivan%20744%202012)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/948ab3fb4ac86c8ea1817cea9a338e45/BD%20INC%20Sine%20Die%20601%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/8154446431cfff64292894ff8fbb3dd7/BD%20INC%20Mendez%2001%202013)