The Brief: April 23, 2014
Gov. Rick Perry continued to work to get Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg to resign even after following through on the threat to veto money for the Public Integrity Unit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/963ad2488a7cda95eb4e4f8facdfdffd/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Votes%200019%20TT%202013)
-
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
As Rice Farmers in Texas Turn to Groundwater, Can They Stay Afloat?
Facing the third straight year of cutoffs for irrigation water from the Lower Colorado River Authority, some Gulf Coast-area rice farmers are spending millions of dollars drilling wells to pump groundwater instead. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RICE_LCRA1726.jpg)
![A rice field near Bay City, Texas.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Sources: Perry Offered to Restore Vetoed Funding if DA Resigned
Sources say that after Gov. Rick Perry vetoed funding for the agency that prosecutes public corruption cases, his emissaries worked to swap Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg's resignation for restoration of the money. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/22/RoesmaryPerry-Investigate.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
Report: Prison Heat Violates Basic Human Rights
A new report by the University of Texas School of Law Human Rights Clinic claims that extreme conditions in Texas prisons violate the basic human rights of inmates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Jail-Prison-Bars-1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Rob Crow -
AG Seeks Details on Federal Plans for Land by Red River
Texas officials are seeking more information on the federal government's plans to potentially take control of 90,000 acres of land long managed by North Texans. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Redriverbonham.jpg)
![A view of the Red River looking east, north of Bonham, Texas. Texas is to the right, and Oklahoma is on the left. The border between the two states runs along the south (right) bank of the river.]()
Credit: Henley Quadling -
Hundreds of Thousands of Texans Without Workplace Insurance
At least half a million Texas workers have no workplace insurance coverage, either through the workers' compensation system or the private market, state insurance officials told lawmakers Tuesday. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Rep. Perry Received Money From Hall-Affiliated PAC
A member of the House committee considering impeachment proceedings against a UT regent received a campaign contribution from a PAC that got hefty financial support from that same regent. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/11/Charles-Perry.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Lawmakers to Examine Rehab of Mentally Ill, Addicted Inmates
Lawmakers on Tuesday will examine ways to reduce recidivism among prisoners with mental illness and substance addiction. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/02/PrisonBars.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Sean Hobson -
Prisoner Advocates: More Resources for Inmate Art
Behind bars, art can be an important form of expression for women who have suffered from trauma, drug addiction or mental illness. Advocates plan to ask lawmakers for more money to provide inmates with art supplies and art therapy. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/21/IncarciratedArt.jpg)
!["Illuminating Spirits," an art and poetry exhibition by incarcerated women in the Texas prison system, are displayed at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center, presented by The Texas Criminal Justice Coalition and the City of Austin.]()
Credit: Anneke Paterson -
Carter Fights to Keep Seat in HD-102 Runoff
Stefani Carter might have had an easy time seeking re-election to the House. But after she reversed a decision to run for railroad commissioner, she re-entered a crowded field. She's in a tight spot heading into a runoff with Linda Koop. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/21/CarterKoop.jpg)
![Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, left, faces former Dallas City Council member Linda Koop, right, in the HD-102 Republican primary runoff.]()
-
The Brief: April 22, 2014
GOP attorney general candidate Ken Paxton was a no-show at a Northeast Tarrant Tea Party event on Monday night. The reason given was Paxton's decision to review past financial disclosures in response to a Tribune story. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/02/kenpaxton12.jpg)
![Senator Ken Paxton speaks to supporters in Plano on Thursday, August 1, 2013, to announcement his campaign for Attorney General.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman -
Pollution in Texas Worsens as Budget Shrinks for Regulators
Budget cuts at the federal Environmental Protection Agency have led to fewer inspections of polluting industries. States could pick up the slack, but many of them, including Texas, are grappling with cuts of their own. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/smokestacks002.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Paxton Cancels Tea Party Event Appearance
Sen. Ken Paxton, the leading Republican candidate for attorney general, canceled his appearance at a Tea Party event Monday evening so he could focus on a review of his financial disclosure filings, a moderator said. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/02/12/BranchPaxton.jpg)
![State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, and state Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, are in a runoff for attorney general.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato / Callie Richmond -
Study: Most Texans Drive and Talk; Many Text
A new study from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute found that three out of four Texans at least occasionally speak on a cellphone while driving and nearly half sometimes read or text while driving. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TeenCell.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Paxton Campaign Reviewing Lapses in Business Disclosure
The campaign of attorney general candidate Ken Paxton is "reviewing and researching" its disclosure obligations in the wake of a Tribune investigation into his work as an investment adviser representative and other business relationships. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/17/Paxton-Investigates.jpg)
![Ken Paxton has come to the defense of a Christmas-themed Peanuts poster. But this isn't the first time a Texas official has fought over Christmas.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond / Todd Wiseman -
Analysis: For Budget Writers, Tax Cuts Are Spending Decisions
Lawmakers have a hard job when money is tight and they're writing state budgets. It's even harder when they have all the money they need. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/07/BudgetSurplus-Capitol.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Stuart Seeger -
Changes in Curriculum Bring Opportunity for Technical Colleges
At the state’s technical colleges, controversial changes to the state's high school curriculum in House Bill 5 have been met with a sense of excitement — and anticipation that the shift could lead to significant expansion. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/24/TSTC_Cooper_6409.jpg)
![Keith Plantier lectures in a "Wind Safety" course at Texas State Technical College in Sweetwater, Texas, on July, 22, 2013. The college is placing more of an emphasis on courses that will help their students find employment in the growing number of oilfields and wind farms in West Texas.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
The Brief: April 21, 2014
GOP attorney general candidate Ken Paxton is reviewing past filings with state regulators after the Tribune obtained letters "showing the McKinney lawmaker was being paid to solicit clients for a North Texas financial services firm at a time when he was not registered with the State Securities Board." Full Story
![Senator Ken Paxton speaks to supporters in Plano on Thursday, August 1, 2013, to announcement his campaign for Attorney General.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman -
Pressure to Pick Career Path Vexes Some Students
Before the end of the school year, nearly 400,000 eighth-graders will have chosen a career track as part of Texas' new high school graduation requirements. The changes already have some students — and their counselors — on edge. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2016/06/11/STAAR_Classroom.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Sameer Vasta -
Inside Texas Politics: Rattling the Bones
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, I talked with host Jason Whitely and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy about Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's re-election prospects, Wendy Davis' poll numbers and more. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/04/20/Screen_Shot_2014-04-20_at_12.56.50_PM.JPG)
![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on April 20, 2014.]()
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6b9c1abec19fd4f11a0e144c28988e81/BD%20INC%20House%20379%202013)