The Brief: Feb. 20, 2015
An Austin lesbian couple obtained a marriage license Thursday morning, but the status of what would be the state's first gay marriage was in flux by the afternoon after the Texas Supreme Court issued a stay. Full Story
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![Sarah Goodfriend, second from left, and Suzanne Bryant, center, with their daughters (far left and far right) and Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, second from right. DeBeauvoir issued Goodfriend and Bryant a marriage license on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Joe Deshotel -
The Playlist: Hamilton
This week's playlist is dedicated to Reeve Hamilton, one of the Tribune's original reporters who leaves us today after a memorable five-plus years. Full Story
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![Reeve Hamilton.]()
Credit: Martin Do Nascimento -
Legislation Would Let Tesla Sell in Texas
A group of state lawmakers have filed legislation that would allow Tesla to sell its luxury electric cars at as many as 12 stores in Texas, renewing the California-based company’s challenge to a state law protecting franchised auto dealers. Full Story
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![Tesla vehicle on display outside the Texas Capitol on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Coleman Aims to Modify "Stand Your Ground" Law
Current state law allows Texans to use lethal force out of fear or prejudice with deadly consequences, state Rep. Garnet Coleman said Thursday. The Houston Democrat will try again to tighten the rules. Full Story
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![State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston speaks at a press conference on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
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State Exams Once Again Target of Texas Lawmakers
Texas lawmakers took aim at the state’s standardized testing system Thursday as they considered a proposal to allow high school seniors to graduate even if they fail state exams. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kel Seliger speaks about the 83rd legislative session with state Reps. John Smithee and Walter "Four" Price at West Texas A&M University in Canyon.]()
Credit: David Bowser -
Austin Gay Couple Becomes First to Wed in Texas, Despite Ban
Two Austin women made history Thursday when they became the first gay couple to legally wed in the state. But after the Texas Supreme Court intervened, attorneys for the state and for the couple disagreed on whether the marriage is valid. Full Story
![Sarah Goodfriend, second from left, and Suzanne Bryant, center, with their daughters (far left and far right) and Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir, second from right. DeBeauvoir issued Goodfriend and Bryant a marriage license on Feb. 19, 2015.]()
Credit: Joe Deshotel -
Poor Payouts Endangering Medicaid, Doctors Say
Physicians’ groups told Texas budget writers on Thursday that the state’s health insurance program for the poor pays doctors so little that it is endangering the health of the program. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Video: A Conversation With Joaquin Castro
Full video of my 2/19 conversation with U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio. Full Story
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Analysis: Taking Lobbyists' Money, Ignoring Their Calls
A new senator doesn't think taxpayer-supported governments should hire lobbyists to talk to other government officials and won't let those lobbyists come to her office. But she took their contributions during her 2014 campaign. Full Story
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![New Texas Sen. Konni Burton, c, stands with other incoming Senators during the swearing-in ceremony at the Texas Capitol Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
High School Seniors Who Fail Exams Could Still Have Path to Graduation
The roughly 28,000 public high school seniors who still need to pass a state exam to get their diplomas this May could get a lifeline from Texas legislators. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick meets privately with Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, on the dais during a break in Senate proceedings Jan. 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for the Texas Tribune -
New in Trib+Edu: Vaccine Exemptions Under Scrutiny
In this week's edition of the Trib+Edu newsletter: Vaccine exemptions in Texas come under scrutiny, applicants for Teach for America drop drastically and an interview with Jean Madsen and Mario Torres, professors of educational administration at Texas A&M University. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Jacob Villanueva -
Lawmakers Asked to Boost Parks Funding
State parks are crumbling under the weight of decades of deferred maintenance. Lawmakers and state officials say they desperately need a funding boost from the 84th Legislature — and not just for the next two years. Full Story
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![Boca Chica State Park in Brownsville, Texas.]()
Credit: Reynaldo Leal -
The Brief: Feb. 19, 2015
Senate budget writers on Wednesday lit into Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek, a former senator himself, in a hearing that concluded with another call for him to resign. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Commission head Kyle Janek (l.) and state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who called for his resignation on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott's Tune Has Changed on Gun Laws
On the campaign trail, Republican Greg Abbott argued for expanded gun rights — with certain limits. But now that he's been elected governor, the nuance he initially proposed appears to be gone. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott annouces several emergency legislative items in his first State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Leaders Say State Will Win Immigration Case
At a celebratory press conference Wednesday, Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz, Ken Paxton and Dan Patrick hailed a federal judge's ruling to block President Obama's immigration plans, and confidently predicted that Texas will keep winning on appeal. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick praise a judge's ruling against Obama's immigration program at a Capitol press conference on Feb. 18, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Judge Tosses Ethics Case Against Conservative Activist
A Denton County judge on Wednesday afternoon dismissed a ruling by the Texas Ethics Commission that Empower Texans President Michael Quinn Sullivan had failed to register as a lobbyist in 2010 and 2011. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
State Scrambling to Find Housing for Sex Offenders
The state agency responsible for supervising, monitoring and providing treatment to sexually violent predators is out of space to house sex offenders, agency officials told state lawmakers on Wednesday. Full Story
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![The William G. McConnell Prison Unit in Beeville, Texas.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney -
Paxton Moves to Squelch Gay Marriage Ruling
Saying it will unleash "legal chaos," Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday asked the Texas Supreme Court to block a Travis County probate judge's ruling that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Full Story
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Video: State Leaders Address Immigration Ruling
Here's a video of Wednesday's news conference with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who discussed a judge's decision to halt President Obama's immigration order. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Analysis: The "GOP" Strikes Back
State Rep. José Menéndez, D-San Antonio, is on his way to the Texas Senate, thanks in part to the "gringos y otros pendejos" derided last summer by his opponent and House colleague, Trey Martinez Fischer. Full Story
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![State Reps. José Menéndez (left) and Trey Martinez Fischer, both Democrats from San Antonio, are seeking the Texas Senate seat vacated by Leticia Van de Putte, who is running for mayor of San Antonio.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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