Past Contributions

• Supreme Court is Elected, but Bears Perry's Stamp

  By Beth Brown Aug. 12, 2011

  Judges are elected in Texas, but Gov. Rick Perry has picked the winners on the state's highest civil court almost without fail since he took office in 2000. Full Story 

• Austin Protesters Rally Against Perry

  By Beth Brown Aug. 6, 2011

  While Gov. Rick Perry and his supporters prayed in Houston, several hundred protesters rallied against him at the state Capitol on Saturday afternoon. U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett and others said the governor was cynically using his "Prayerpalooza" to launch his presidential campaign. Full Story 

• Updated: Senate Candidates Take a Stand on Debt Deal

  By Beth Brown Aug. 2, 2011

  Congress is set to vote on a deal that would raise the federal debt ceiling to avoid an unprecedented default. They may not be in Washington now, but we asked several U.S. Senate candidates to weigh in on how they'd vote on the plan if they were. Full Story 

• Daughters, Long Custodians of the Alamo, See Their Duties Change

  By Beth Brown July 26, 2011

  The Daughters of the Republic of Texas are gradually being relieved of sole responsibility for one of the Lone Star state's most important icons after years of controversy over their management of the Alamo. Full Story 

• Highland Lakes' Levels Falling, LCRA Warns

  By Beth Brown July 21, 2011

  At a press conference today, the Lower Colorado River Authority warned Austin and the rest of Central Texas to brace for continued drought. Lake Travis and Lake Buchanan, the region's major reservoirs, are currently 52 percent full, and dropping steadily. Full Story 

• This Will Be on the Test

  By Beth Brown July 14, 2011

  This week, Secretary of State Hope Andrade conducted a lottery that determined the order of the 10 new proposals on the November ballot. Each amendment already won approval from two-thirds of the House and Senate and now needs a nod from a majority of the voters. Here's the rundown... Full Story 

• Texas Voters Will Consider 10 Constitutional Amendments

  By Beth Brown July 13, 2011

  Texas citizens will have 10 new constitutional amendments to consider on the November ballot, after a drawing Wednesday conducted by the Texas Secretary of State Hope Andrade. Full Story 

• Texplainer: Who's Next in Line to Be Governor?

  By Beth Brown July 12, 2011

  Hey, Texplainer: Who becomes governor if both Rick Perry and David Dewhurst are elected to other offices? Citizens, meet state Sen. Mike Jackson. Full Story 

• Interactive Map: Wildfires, Burn Bans Across Texas

  By Ryan Murphy and Beth Brown June 30, 2011

  Highway signs along many Texas roads flash the same dire warning: extreme wildfire danger. Use the interactive map to see what parts of the state have been hardest hit. Full Story 

• Wildfires, Burn Bans Rage Across Texas

  By Beth Brown and Ryan Murphy June 30, 2011

  So far this year, the Texas Forest Service has responded to roughly 1,500 wildfires across Texas, the damage of which spreads across 2.5 million acres, according to our interactive map. And burn bans are spreading just as fast. Full Story