For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the lieutenant governor's call to Allen police, state and federal efforts to stop a merger, federal efforts to stop a state law and a Texas politician's dual citizenship. Full Story
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The federal government is spending millions of dollars to promote health care coverage via new marketplace exchanges, but with only a few weeks left until their debut, some Texans say they've been left with more questions than answers. Full Story
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At the Trib's August 19 symposium on mental health at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Brandi Grissom talked about the intersection of mental health and immigration with a distinguished panel. Full Story
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The three GOP candidates for agriculture commissioner stress that rural areas must not be left behind as the state moves forward on water policy. Full Story
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We've added Texas' congressional delegation to our Ethics Explorer, an interactive tool to help educate citizens on the degree to which elected officials’ personal interests conflict with the public interest when passing bills and setting policy. Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is entering his third week on the road in Texas promoting his plan to defund federal health reform. But while the message resonates with his grassroots supporters, it's getting little traction in Congress. Full Story
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Throughout August, The Texas Tribune featured 31 ways Texans' lives would change come September, the month most bills passed by the 83rd Legislature take effect. Take a look back at our stories, videos, animations and data interactives. Full Story
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Labor Day marked the unofficial kickoff of one of Texas' busiest election seasons in years. Full Story
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In the Lower Rio Grande Valley, eradication efforts aimed at the boll weevil — an insect that can destroy the yields of cotton plants — are benefiting in part from the current drought. Full Story
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In honor of Labor Day, we've updated more than 40 different entities in our employee payroll database, including the Texas A&M University System, the University of Houston System and Austin ISD. The updates also include two new school districts. Full Story
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If Wendy Davis runs for Texas governor, her biography will face greater scrutiny. Voters are likely to find an exceptionally ambitious woman who has experienced both poverty and wealth and isn’t nearly as partisan as some think. Full Story
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State Sen. Wendy Davis announced that she's postponing her decision about a gubernatorial run while she helps care for her sick father, so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with the Jonas Brothers' "A Little Bit Longer." Full Story
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In this week's Newsreel: Gov. Rick Perry dons fashionable new glasses, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz says he will renounce his Canadian citizenship, state Sen. Wendy Davis keeps her supporters waiting and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst tries to spring a relative from jail. Full Story
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Public schools in which 80 percent or more of the students are eligible for a free or reduced-price meal must offer a free breakfast to all students starting this school year. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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Aguilar finds a marriage divided by a river, Batheja on plans for new gravel roads, Grissom on the latest disputes in the Hank Skinner case, Hamilton follows UT’s top regent into the fray, MacLaggan peers into the digital divide, Murphy maps the levels in Texas’ shrunken lakes, Philpott finds Democrats waiting for Wendy, Root reports that the wait will be a little bit longer, Rocha on John Cornyn and federal health care, Satija finds greener grass that could save water and M. Smith on the growth of cyber schools in Texas: The best of our best for the week of Aug. 26 to 30, 2013. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Cornyn slams White House over Syria; new fundraising numbers trickling out; in speech, Smitherman said unborn "would have voted Republican" Full Story
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In a recent speech to an anti-abortion group, Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman, a Republican candidate for attorney general, said he believed many unborn babies "would have voted Republican." Full Story
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Political contributions to statewide candidates and officeholders during the second special legislative session this summer are now in our finance analyzer, which shows donations by size, location, donor and even by daily totals from June 26 to July 30. Full Story
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Parties in a disciplinary case against the prosecutor who pursued Michael Morton’s since-overturned murder conviction will have to wait another week for a decision on whether they will go to trial. Full Story
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UPDATED: A Texas appeals court on Friday ordered a new trial for Dennis Davis, who is serving 36 years in prison for the 1985 murder of Natalie Antonetti of Austin. Full Story
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