TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

Policymakers must decide whether to spend more money on small hospitals serving a limited number of patients that, in most cases, cannot keep their doors open without government assistance. But without them people, inevitably, will die.

Residents of a small unincorporated community outside Houston hope legislation by state Rep. Armando Walle will help them get safe, reliable water service, and shine a light on parts of Texas with similar problems. 

Both Rick Perry and Ted Cruz are showing New Hampshire voters that they are willing to brave icy weather to travel across the state and get their messages to voters. But the two likely Republican presidential candidates are taking different paths.

Texas A&M University is finalizing its application to host a 2016 presidential or vice presidential debate. 

A bill lifting some of the state's restrictions on handguns passed easily on a 20-11 vote after repeated Democratic efforts to amend it were defeated. Following a preliminary Senate vote, Texas is now a step closer to requiring public colleges and universities to allow concealed handguns on campus — a policy opposed by many higher education leaders.

Sid Miller voted for deep budget cuts as a member of the Texas House. But now he’s Texas agriculture commissioner, and he wants the Legislature to dramatically increase funding to his cash-strapped agency.

Lawmakers riled up by higher education costs want to regain their control of setting tuition at state colleges and universities. But at most schools, tuition has gone up more slowly since the schools took over the job, a Tribune analysis shows. 

Georgetown’s municipal utility has unveiled plans to tap wind and solar energy to meet all of its customers’ power needs, making it the first Texas city-owned utility to abandon fossil fuels.

A measure that would yank the state's public corruption-fighting unit out of the Travis County district attorney's office and stick it in the Texas attorney general's office is headed for the full Senate. 

Three lawmakers have filed bills aimed at encouraging the use of self-driving technology in Texas while allowing for some government oversight.

Texas House members overwhelmingly approved a sweeping border-security measure that would increase the number of state troopers on the border and establish a catchall intelligence center in Hidalgo County. 

In the Roundup: With lawmakers now more than two months into the legislative session, they are not wasting any time passing bills. The Senate has passed an open carry bill, while the House endorsed a border security measure.