Commissioners OK Betting on Historical Horse Races
UPDATED: The Texas Racing Commission is moving forward with a plan to install machines that simulate historical horseraces at racetracks despite opposition from a Fort Worth lawmaker. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: National Guard Troops on Border Struggling Financially
Some of the Texas National Guard troops deployed by Gov. Rick Perry to help secure the border haven't been paid and are unable to pay for their own food or gas, according to a report from KGBT Action 4 News in the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Citing Format Issues, Abbott Changes Gears on Debate
UPDATED: On Friday morning, Republican candidate Greg Abbott pulled out of a Sept. 30 gubernatorial debate to be broadcast statewide on television, citing format issues. In the afternoon, his campaign announced he has agreed to another debate for the same date. Full Story
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Credit: Majorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
Texas' Top 100 Congested Corridors
Harris and Dallas counties have the dubious honor of claiming the most spots in the state's latest list of the 100 most congested roadways in Texas. Here's a look at the list, compiled by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute. Full Story
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Analysis: The Hunt for a Different Spot to House Political Watchdog
Lots of people want to take prosecutions of state officials away from the Travis County district attorney's office. But agreeing on a place to put it is not going to be easy. Full Story
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![Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas.]()
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Swelling School Districts Find a Costly Way to Grow Within State Debt Limits
Leander and other fast-growing school districts have relied heavily on a controversial financing tool called capital appreciation bonds to borrow money to expand even as they bump up against state limits on school district debt. Full Story
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![Leander ISD's Whitestone Elementary School, shown on Aug. 21, 2014, has six portable classrooms to help with increased student enrollment. District officials say If the district couldn't use capital appreciation bonds to borrow money, it would have to put more students in portables.]()
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Texas Hospitals Say They've Lost Insured Patients to Urgent Care
The increasing number of urgent care centers in Texas is proving problematic for hospitals, which say they are competing with the clinics for the same pool of insured Texans at a time when they are also getting less money to cover the cost of treating uninsured patients. Full Story
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![Eighth-grader Montanique DeShay waits as Ashlyn Brooks, medical assistant at MedSpring Urgent Care in Austin, comes to check on her on Wednesday.]()
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New in Texas Weekly: Labor Day is Coming
The latest issue of our subscriber-only premier newsletter for political insiders is out. Don't get left behind. Subscribe today! Full Story
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The Brief: Aug. 29, 2014
It's a good thing that Judge John Dietz dropped his school finance ruling before a three-day weekend, because interested parties could use that extra day to go over his 400-plus page decision. Full Story
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New in TribTalk: Ratliff on Education; Miller on Oil and Gas
State Rep. Bennett Ratliff, R-Coppell, says Texans should beware of a possible new entitlement program in disguise, and Mark Miller, the 2014 Libertarian nominee for railroad commissioner, lays out how he would fix the state's oil and gas regulator. Full Story
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Secretive Group Launches Pro-Perry Site
A secretive nonprofit, which until recently has been known solely for its efforts to unseat New York Democrats, has launched an online campaign in support of Gov. Rick Perry in light of his recent legal troubles. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry leaves the Blackwell-Thurman Justice Center in Austin after his booking on Aug. 19, 2014.]()
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Attorneys: Judge in Perry Case is Thoughtful, Fair
If Bert Richardson remains on the bench for the criminal case against Gov. Rick Perry, those who know the former prosecutor say trial watchers will be treated to an engaged judge. Full Story
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![Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Judge Bert Richardson, right.]()
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Critics Say Bond Elections Lack True Transparency
Texas voters approve billions of dollars in new local debt each year. A growing group of critics argues that voters wouldn't be so agreeable if they were more clearly informed of the debt that's already owed in their name. Full Story
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![Keller ISD Superintendent Randy Reid spoke during an Aug. 11, 2014, town hall meeting, where attendees debated whether to put a $175 million bond up to Keller ISD voters in the general election.]()
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The Brief: Aug. 28, 2014
They are this summer's odd couple: Gov. Rick Perry and his lawyer, Tony Buzbee. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry's legal team, led by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, c, speaks to the press on August 18, 2014.]()
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In Trial Lawyer, Perry Finds Tenacious Advocate
Tony Buzbee, who is leading Gov. Rick Perry's defense, has made a fortune being the kind of lawyer the governor has spent much of his time in office villainizing. But Buzbee rejects the suggestion that he was an unconventional pick. Full Story
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![Gov. Perry and his lead attorney, Tony Buzbee, walk to Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center for his booking on Aug. 19, 2014.]()
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Davis Draws Praise, Criticism for Education Reform Plans
While receiving praise from education leaders in Austin and fending off fresh criticism about her tax return, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis promoted the latest additions to her education reform proposals. Full Story
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TribCast: Indictment Fallout, Policy Proposals and Debt
Reeve, Emily, Evan and Ross discuss the latest developments regarding the indictment of Gov. Rick Perry, the latest policy proposals from the 2014 gubernatorial candidates, and the Trib's latest explorer on local debt. Full Story
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Local Debt Climbs as Cities Deal With Growth
Texas cities, counties and school districts are relying more on debt to maintain services in a fast-growing state. While critics argue communities need to work harder to live within their means, local officials say the issue is not that simple. Full Story
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![Between cities, school districts and counties, more than half of all Texans live in areas where the bill for taxpayer-supported debt, including expected interest, totals more than $1 billion, according to state data analyzed by The Texas Tribune.]()
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Analysis: Despite the Calendar, Campaigns Are Taking a Back Seat
This is the time of a political year when voters start — slowly — to pay attention to the candidates, issues and arguments ahead of a general election. But this year, there is something else to watch instead. Full Story
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New in Trib+Water: Piping In Water to San Antonio
In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: lots of talk about proposed water pipeline deal in San Antonio, extra monitoring of Comal Springs and an interview with Amy Hardberger, a water law professor at St. Mary's School of Law. Full Story
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