In the special election for the open House District 50 seat in Austin, Democrat Jade Chang Sheppard is on TV with an ad promoting her support for affordable health care, money for schools and less high-stakes testing of students. Full Story
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Dallas is considering new rules that industry backers say would effectively bar drilling within city limits, in a debate that shows cities' power to shape the footprint of the oil and gas industry. Full Story
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Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy is the first Texas charter to offer Hebrew and one of two new charters to open in a Jewish center. Full Story
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Political donors, endorsers and activists like to pick the winners, to be the early backers of the candidates who go on to become officeholders. All of the competition this political season is disquieting. Full Story
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Undaunted by his failed effort to defund Obamacare, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has already picked another fight with the White House. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Cruz won't rule out another shutdown fight; Obama renews push for immigration reform; Democrat joins attorney general's race Full Story
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After President Obama on Thursday said that Congress can now focus on tackling immigration reform after ending the federal shutdown, advocates called on Congress to fix the system before the end of the year. Full Story
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The state transportation department on Thursday morning released the names of the top 25 toll scofflaws in Texas. The violators owe thousands of dollars in unpaid tolls, with the largest bill totaling more than $230,000. Full Story
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Some state officials and farmers and ranchers in West Texas worry that efforts to provide federal protection for the yellow-billed cuckoo will hurt their industry. Full Story
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During the federal government shutdown, Texas agricultural producers were unable to access key pricing data, low-cost loans for their operations or disaster relief payments that many have been hoping for. Full Story
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Texas' high-risk insurance pool for some of the state’s sickest residents will close at year's end, pushing participants to find coverage in the federal health insurance marketplace. Advocates are getting the word out to ensure residents don't have a lapse in coverage. Full Story
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In a sign of the state's changing demographics, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is handling increased demand in hunting courses from Texans seeking instruction in Spanish. Full Story
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Texas' aging water infrastructure has raised safety concerns throughout the state, and a lack of mechanisms in place to prevent development downstream of dams has hastened the search for solutions. Full Story
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His push to defund Obamacare may have led to a stinging political defeat for Republicans, but will Ted Cruz try again? Full Story
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The race for agriculture commissioner got a shake-up on Wednesday night, as state Rep. Brandon Creighton announced he would instead run for state Senate and former state Rep. Sid Miller said he would enter the ag commissioner's race. Full Story
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In an email blast to friends, Pamela Willeford, a former chair of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, waded into the perceived ongoing fight between UT-Austin and Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Cruz backs down but won't admit defeat; Hutchison criticizes Republicans who "hijacked" budget debate; Cruz and Cornyn meet with Texas Democrats Full Story
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Reeve, Emily, Jim and Jay discuss the recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll gauging support for water funding, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's call for President Obama to be impeached, and Kinky Friedman's return to Texas politics. Full Story
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State homeland security rules have frustrated public safety officials in Texas seeking to learn more about potentially hazardous dams and the risk of flooding in their areas. Full Story
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Because Texas chose not to expand Medicaid, 1 million poor, uninsured adults won't have access to insurance options available under the Affordable Care Act, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report released Wednesday. Full Story
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