The Brief: Nov. 10, 2015
Ted Cruz had his breakthrough moment at the last GOP presidential debate. As the candidates convene again tonight for the next debate in Milwaukee, the question is what's next for the Texas senator. Full Story
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![Carly Fiorina and Ted Cruz took part in the third debate among Republican presidential candidates in Boulder, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2015.]()
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Fifth Circuit Strikes Down Immigration Program
A three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has once again ruled against the Obama administration’s controversial immigration program. Full Story
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![Scott Keller, the Texas Solicitor General, speaks to reporters after delivering oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
EPA Head: Texas Should Want Its Own Clean Power Plan
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggested that Texas leaders should play along with her agency’s sweeping Clean Power Plan, if only to avoid a more rigid carbon-cutting plan imposed by the federal government. Full Story
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![EPA head Gina McCarthy speaking recently in Atlanta, Georgia.]()
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Bush Unveils Texas Leadership Committee
Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush on Monday released a list of more than 100 prominent supporters in Texas. Full Story
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![Presidential candidate Jeb Bush at the Women in Business & Leadership Luncheon at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce National Convention on Sept. 21, 2015.]()
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Former A&M President Out as Chancellor at Missouri
Amid turmoil, former Texas A&M University President R. Bowen Loftin will leave his job as chancellor of the University of Missouri at the end of this year. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
In Houston Mayoral Runoff, Cruz's Support Becomes an Issue
In the Houston mayoral runoff, the campaign of state Rep. Sylvester Turner is drawing attention to Ted Cruz's apparent support for opponent Bill King, calling both of them "too extreme for Houston." Full Story
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Credit: Shelby Knowles and Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Straus Forms Select Committee on Mental Health
The committee will review and make recommendations on substance abuse, care for veterans, identifying illnesses early and improving delivery of mental health care. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Hellerstedt to Lead Texas Public Health Agency
John Hellerstedt will be the next commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, officials said Monday. Full Story
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![Dr. John Hellerstedt will be the next leader of the Texas Department of State Health Services.]()
Credit: Seton Healthcare Family -
Analysis: A Peculiar Way to Disenfranchise Voters
Texas lawmakers have designed a congressional district too slippery for either political party to control, making it impossible for anyone to stay in office long enough to build up the clout needed to get things done for the folks at home. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: Nov. 9, 2015
An investigator looking into the attack Friday night on Travis County District Judge Julie Kocurek said on Sunday that her attacker was trying to murder her. Full Story
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![Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas.]()
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Texas Gets a D- Grade in 2015 State Integrity Investigation
Texas ranked 38th out of 50 in the latest State Integrity Investigation, an assessment of government accountability and transparency. That suggests that the state may be heading in the wrong direction when it comes to ethics. Full Story
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![Governor Perry delivers a final speech to a joint session of the Texas legislature on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
A Lot of People Just Don’t Like Ted Cruz. How Come That's OK With Him?
Ted Cruz has been branded a “wacko bird” by a Senate colleague and a “jackass” by the former speaker of the House. Cruz does not appear to be bothered. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz at the third GOP debate, held in Boulder, Colorado, on Oct. 28, 2015.]()
Credit: REUTERS/Mike Stone -
In Texas, Minorities Less Likely to Own Homes
A shortage of affordable housing, credit problems and lack of savings for down payments are among the main barriers blamed for creating a demographic divide in home ownership between minorities and whites. Full Story
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Credit: Andreas Praefcke -
At GOP Convention, the Focus is Squarely on the White House
LUBBOCK — Activists at the Texas Federation of Republican Women convention ate up talk of the Lone Star State's Texas-sized influence in 2016. The GOP faithful hope the state's earlier-than-usual primary will make it matter more. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, meets with members of the Texas Federation of Republican Women after addressing the group Saturday in Lubbock. Cruz was the only presidential candidate to speak at the biennial convention of the organization.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek -
New on TribTalk: How HERO was Defeated
The opposition's messaging and strong turnout by African-Americans and Republicans to support their respective mayoral candidates formed an unusual coalition that led to the demise of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance, writes Rice University professor Robert Stein. Full Story
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![Prop 1 signs posted along the Adaptive Sports and Recreation facility on West Grey in Houston, TX for the November 2015 election.
Photo by: Shelby Knowles]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles -
Court: Texas Elections Should Proceed with Current Maps
The state’s 2016 elections for Congress and the Texas House can proceed under the current political maps, a three-judge federal panel in San Antonio said late Friday. Full Story
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Texas Legislature Backs Abbott's Position On "Sanctuary Cities"
A majority of lawmakers in both the Texas House and Senate back Gov. Greg Abbott's recent moves to rein in "sanctuary cities" that don't comply fully with federal immigration policies, a Tribune tally shows. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott is shown in November 2015 proposing reforms against "sanctuary cities" that he wants Texas lawmakers to consider in the 2017 legislative session.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Garcia Endorses Turner in Houston Mayoral Runoff
Former Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia on Friday endorsed state Rep. Sylvester Turner in the Houston mayoral runoff. Full Story
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![Rep. Sylvester Turner speaks to crowd on election night. Turner narrowly defeated opponent Bill King in a runoff to be elected mayor of Houston on Dec. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Judge Dismisses Austin's Lawsuit Targeting State's Property Tax System
A Travis County district judge dismissed a lawsuit Friday by the city of Austin that challenged the state's property tax system. Full Story
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Credit: Dave Wilson -
Supreme Court to Decide Birth Control Mandate for Religious Nonprofits
The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether religious nonprofits should be required to provide birth control benefits to female employees even if the employers object to certain contraceptives on religious grounds. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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