U.S. Rep. Castro Moves Up the Democratic Ranks
San Antonio sophomore U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro has landed a spot as a chief deputy whip, making him one of House Democratic leadership's top vote counters on the House floor. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro talks about the national 2016 political landscape during a TTEvents conversation with Evan Smith on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Town Goes All In on Renewable Energy
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. Full Story
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Post-Scandal, Lawmakers Changing Gears on Health Agency
As the state’s largest health agency reels from a scandal over how it awarded contracts to private vendors, lawmakers on Wednesday said they are slowing down on their ambitious — and controversial — plan to restructure it. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, wraps up the Sunset Advisory Commission hearing on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
House Gives Tentative OK to Border Security Bill
Texas House members overwhelmingly gave tentative approval to a sweeping border-security measure on Wednesday that would increase the number of state troopers on the border and establish a catchall intelligence center in Hidalgo County. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, confers with State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, during a point of order called on House Bill 11 on March 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Costco Joins Wal-Mart, Kroger in Liquor Push
Wholesale giant Costco has joined Wal-Mart, Kroger and other retailers in the fight to loosen restrictions on the state liquor market and let public corporations sell hard alcohol in Texas. Full Story
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Texas Sues Feds Over Benefits for Same-Sex Couples
The state of Texas is suing the Obama administration for giving medical leave benefits to certain same-sex couples, according to an announcement Wednesday from Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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Prosecutor Accused of Misconduct in Disputed Texas Execution Case
In a major turn in one of the country’s most-noted death penalty cases, the State Bar of Texas has filed a formal accusation of misconduct against the county prosecutor who convicted Cameron Todd Willingham. Full Story
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![September 17, 2010 - Activist Jamie Bush attends the Texas Forensic Science Commission board meeting on September 17, 2010 in Dallas, Texas.]()
Credit: Tom Pennington -
Audio: Fiscal Hawk Sid Miller on His Need for Cash
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. Full Story
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![Sid Miller speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
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New in TribTalk: Updegrove on LBJ and Gay Marriage
Johnson’s keen sense of social justice is a sign that if he were alive today, he’d view the gay marriage fight in much the same way he saw civil rights in the 1960s, LBJ Presidential Library Director Mark K. Updegrove writes in TribTalk. Full Story
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![Mark K. Updegrove, director of the LBJ Library, with, President Jimmy Carter. Updegrove is hosting an April summit featuring four presidents.]()
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Judge Reaffirms Dismissal of Ethics Ruling Against Conservative Activist
A new judge Wednesday reaffirmed the dismissal of a ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission against conservative power broker Michael Quinn Sullivan. Full Story
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![Republican activist Michael Quinn Sullivan visits at the State Republican Convention trade show on June 6, 2014.]()
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Cruz's Digital Guru Tapped for Likely 2016 Campaign
Josh Perry, Ted Cruz's top digital strategist, is joining the Texas senator's political operation in Houston. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns in a Barrington, N.H. manufacturing plant.]()
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TribCast: Gun Bills and Texans Shooting for the White House
In this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about the presidential ambitions of Jeb Bush and Rand Paul, the gun bills moving in the Legislature and the fiscal needs of former lawmakers now at the helm of state agencies. Full Story
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Leading Candidate Drops Out of UT President Search
The leading candidate to be the next president of the University of Texas at Austin, University of Oxford Vice Chancellor Andrew Hamilton, has been named the next president of New York University. Full Story
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![University of Texas President Bill Powers speaks to Provost Gregory Fenves during a board of regents meeting on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Campus Carry Gets Initial OK in Texas Senate
Following a preliminary Senate vote on Wednesday, 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. Full Story
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![Sen. Kirk Watson speaks with the author of Senate Bill 11, Sen. Brian Birdwell, as Sen. Joan Huffman listens on. The Senate's campus carry debate began on Mar. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Committee Approves Bill Restricting Regents' Authority
A bill that reins in the power of university regents was approved by a Texas Senate committee Wednesday morning. A similar piece of legislation was vetoed last session. Full Story
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Former State Rep. Lewis to Head Transportation Commission
Gov. Greg Abbott has tapped former state Rep. Tryon Lewis, R-Odessa, to be the chairman of the Texas Transportation Commission. The five-member panel oversees the Texas Department of Transportation. Full Story
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Bill Would Bar Doctors From Asking About Guns
State Rep. Stuart Spitzer is afraid the federal government can use medical records to identify gun owners. Over the objections of the medical community, he has filed a bill that would prohibit doctors from asking patients whether they own a firearm. Full Story
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Map: Breast and Cervical Cancer Program Providers
The Senate's proposed changes to the state's breast and cervical cancer screening program — intended to cut funding for Planned Parenthood clinics — could hit low-income women in rural and West Texas hardest. Use our map to see how. Full Story
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The Tribune's Higher Ed Explorer Gets an Update
We've updated our Higher Ed Explorer, your go-to source for key statistics on how well Texas' 148 public and private colleges and universities perform. This easy-to-navigate interactive database lets you explore key academic, enrollment and cost records on all of Texas' institutions of higher learning. Full Story
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The Brief: March 18, 2015
A bill allowing the carrying of handguns on college and university campuses wasn't heard on the Senate floor on Tuesday because of a paperwork error. But it is expected to be heard today and will likely pass. Full Story
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![Sen. Joan Huffman R-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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