With a story this weekend on a lawsuit involving a Houston dry cleaner, plus our coverage of Rick Perry and Ted Cruz appearing in Iowa, we're leading off this week's playlist of the week’s news with Joni Mitchell’s “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines.” Full Story
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Reliable access to clean drinking water is not a reality for tens of thousands of Texans living along the Mexican border, despite a multibillion-dollar effort that has spanned decades. Those left behind face third-world conditions and grave health risks. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says the timing of the pending indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., "seems awfully coincidental." Full Story
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Former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made their presidential cases to the heavyweights of Iowa agriculture Saturday, and each made no apologies for opposing one of the state's favorite programs. Full Story
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State Republican leaders selected Texas Republican Party treasurer Tom Mechler as the party’s new chairman Saturday, replacing Steve Munisteri, who is leaving to join U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's likely 2016 presidential campaign. Full Story
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The best of our best content from March 2 to 6, 2015. Full Story
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A dry cleaner tucked in one of Houston's most expensive neighborhoods has become the epicenter of a contentious debate over the enforcement of Texas' environmental laws. Full Story
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When they attend the Iowa Ag Summit on Saturday, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and former Gov. Rick Perry will almost certainly be asked about their criticism of the Renewable Fuel Standard, an issue that packs a political punch in the Hawkeye State. Full Story
With various Texas cities imposing different rules on vehicle-for-hire apps Uber and Lyft, state Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, is pushing a bill to let the state take over regulation of the services. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott's full-throated embrace of ethics reform, a rarity under the Capitol dome, is breathing new life into the issue of years of failed efforts. But changing the status quo remains very much a work in progress. Full Story
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In an email sent to legislative staffers, a DPS captain warns of "glitter bombs" being sent to lawmakers and attaches a document titled "Glitter Bombing: Weapon of Choice for Gay Rights, Pro Choice Advocates." Full Story
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The fate of a young girl taken off the streets of Matamoros by a Texas couple is now uncertain. U.S. authorities seized Keyla from Larry and Nancy Cox when they attempted to bring her across the border. Full Story
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Senators talk tax relief this week, four Lege vacancies are filled and can a Twitter follow list make a judge less impartial? — all that and more in the latest issue of our subscriber-only newsletter for political insiders ($). Full Story
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GOP lawmakers, in their effort to put Planned Parenthood out of business, could change how they fund a cancer screening program for poor women. But private clinics unaffiliated with Planned Parenthood say they'd take a hit, too. Full Story
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In the Roundup: The Texas Senate passed its first legislation this week, state Republican leaders again addressed Medicaid expansion and reforms, and new bills aim to preserve the federal health subsidies in question in a U.S. Supreme Court case. Full Story
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For all the legislative debate about border security and immigration, it's been nine years since anyone comprehensively studied the economic impact of undocumented Texans. A border lawmaker wants to fill that information vacuum. Full Story
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To close the week, we highlight a couple of trend stories detailing the continued population boom in the Lone Star State. Full Story
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No clear front-runner has emerged days before the State Republican Executive Committee meets to vote to replace Texas GOP chairman Steve Munisteri. Full Story
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Attorneys for the state of Texas say the Obama administration started granting work permits to undocumented immigrants before it said it would, and misled a federal judge about it. They're demanding more details. Full Story
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Congressional Republicans have never been able to retain a black lawmaker in a true swing district for more than a couple of terms. Could Texas' Will Hurd change that? Full Story
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