The Brief: Feb. 14, 2013
The drawn-out sparring match between the governors of Texas and California has come to an end — for now. Full Story
The drawn-out sparring match between the governors of Texas and California has come to an end — for now. Full Story
State Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, filed legislation this week that would create a commission to work with neighboring states like Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma on securing water for Texas. Full Story
Your evening reading: House Democrats file measure to test GOP support for immigration reform; Paul to make talk radio debut; Norquist says Texas could change national immigration debate Full Story
Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist said Wednesday that Republicans are not the anti-immigrant party, and that a few loud “bullfrogs” have created “a completely bizarre view of where the modern conservative movement is” on immigration reform. Full Story
Updated: UT-Southwestern officials said they will reclassify nearly $15,000 that former President Kern Wildenthal originally gave to the university on checks marked as gifts. The total he now owes the institution is less than $6,200. Full Story
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Brandi cover a lot of territory in a discussion that includes Ted Nugent's presence at the State of the Union, Rick Perry's visit to California and Ken Anderson's court of inquiry. Full Story
Democratic Texas House members on Wednesday filed an immigration resolution that could serve as a litmus test for Republican support for reforms being suggested at the national level. Full Story
The relationship between the University of Texas School of Law and an affiliated foundation is among the topics on the minds of University of Texas System regents as they convene a two-day meeting that starts Wednesday. Full Story
Texas' public pension systems — including the one state lawmakers pay into — have an airtight exemption from the landmark 1973 sunshine law that was designed to let taxpayers known how public money is being spent. But some lawmakers want to change that. Full Story
As they do every two years, state lawmakers are preparing to pay billions in lingering bills. What is usually an easy process could become challenging as House Democrats plan to push to restore public education cuts made in 2011. Full Story
In recent years, state lawmakers have focused on increasing the rigor of high school courses, hoping to prepare students for college. But some business leaders say that has come at the expense of career and technical education, and they're hoping for legislative change. Full Story
President Obama on Tuesday night peppered his State of the Union address with proposals for America's energy future, including natural gas development. But what do those proposals mean for Texas? Full Story
The State of the Union may have inspired some real debate in Texas, but a certain musician still managed to steal much of the post-speech spotlight. Full Story
Jeffrey Hildebrand, an energy executive from Houston, is likely to be appointed by Gov. Rick Perry to one of three open slots on the University of Texas System Board of Regents, multiple higher education sources have told the Tribune. Full Story
Your evening reading: Nugent, Stockman say they'll remain civil during State of the Union; Florida senator rebukes Cruz at Hagel hearing; Dallas County urges state to expand Medicaid Full Story
Former House Public Education Chairman Rob Eissler, now a lobbyist, has taken on publishing and testing giant Pearson as a client, according to recent Ethics Commission reports. The company holds a $468 million contract with the state. Full Story
Heading into President Obama’s fifth State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, we thought it would be worth rehashing his approval numbers here in Texas. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the recent school finance ruling, and whether it will be upheld, whether it will result in tax increases, and who — if anyone — will get the blame for the consequences. Full Story
Hey, Texplainer: All anyone is talking about right now is sequestration and the harm it might do to our government. How would Texas fare? Full Story
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday approved a bill to reform the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the “scope-of-practice” bill that would increase the prescriptive power of advanced practice nurses. Full Story