The Evening Brief: July 22, 2013
Your evening reading: Pauken still pushing for debates with Abbott; Cruz's father says son was "destined" by God; Peña says he was mistreated during recent traffic stop. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/03/Tom_Pauken_1747.jpg)
-
![Tom Pauken, who is running for governor, speaking to a young Republicans group in Houston on June 27, 2013.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Former Legislator Criticizes Treatment During Traffic Stop
Former state Rep. Aaron Peña says he was "treated like a drug dealer" during a recent traffic stop in the South Texas city of Robstown. A Robstown police spokesman said that officers followed the law during the traffic stop. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
T-Squared: Why We Unpublished Our Prisoner Database
You may have noticed that one of our more popular databases, the Texas Prison Inmates database, was disabled last week. We want to explain why we did it and when we expect to relaunch the database. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Jail-Prison-Bars-1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Rob Crow -
Garden-Fresh Produce for Needy, Thanks to Inmates
On a four-acre garden in Smith County, inmates from the local jail tend crops that provide thousands of pounds of fresh food for the poor in 26 counties. It's one of several programs that put inmates to work for the community. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/17/CooperNeill_Garden_1509.jpg)
![A sheriff's deputy keeps watch while inmates from the Smith County Jail tend a garden in Tyler on July 12, 2013.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
Without Major Candidate Opposition, Abbott Won't Have to Explain Much
Greg Abbott has everything he needs to run for governor: organization, loads of cash and opponents who don't yet have traction. So what will make him explain his positions on the full range of issues facing the state? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 22, 2013
A conspicuous visit to Iowa has sparked a new round of speculation about U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's political ambitions. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/08/Cruz-Crop.jpg)
![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in Houston on May 3, 2013.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato -
Video: Cruz Dismisses Talk of Run for President
On Sunday's edition of This Week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz — fresh from his maiden trip to Iowa — dismissed talk of a possible run for president in 2016. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/21/ABC_TW_jon_karl_ted_cruz_jt_130721_16x9_608.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
New El Paso Mayor Takes On List of Challenges
New El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser faces the task of leading the city amid some daunting challenges. He is focused on partnering with business leaders and former campaign adversaries to help the city move forward. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/17/19b_OscarLeeser_ElPaso_copy.jpg)
![Newly elected El Paso Mayor Oscar Leeser in the El Paso City Hall, Jul. 16, 2013.]()
Credit: Bruce Berman for The Texas Tribune -
The Playlist: Start Me Up
On Sunday, Attorney General Greg Abbott officially began his campaign for governor and spent the rest of the week touring the state. In light of this launch, we start this week's news-inspired playlist with "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Batheja on transportation funding negotiations, Hamilton examines a debate over how to save a Central Texas river, Ramsey on a political race that could be a good fit for Davis, Luthra on education efforts regarding the federal health insurance exchange, Serrano on college credit for veterans, M. Smith on Abbott's story of adversity, Murphy creates a campaign finance analyzer, Root on Abbott disputing claims he had a deal with Perry, Dehn's video of the HB 2 signing and Aaronson on an expected climb in Medicaid enrollment. The best of our best for the week of July 15 to 22, 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/19/tribweek-7-20-13.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Tables Turn as Sandefer Requests Zaffirini's Records
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, has filed large information requests with the University of Texas System, in part to find out about regents' ties to Austin businessman Jeff Sandefer. In June, Sandefer turned the tables on her. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/05/D54H0994.jpg)
![Sen. Judith Zaffirini D-Laredo, holds up chart during testimony by state auditors regarding CPRIT at Senate finance committee hearing on February 5th, 2013]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Evening Brief: July 19, 2013
Your evening reading: In Iowa for evangelical conference, Cruz stirs 2016 speculation; House and Senate to negotiate transportation funding deal; Dewhurst says he saw "bags of feces" confiscated at Capitol. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Leave HB 5 to School Districts, Aycock Tells SBOE
Lawmakers wanted flexibility for local school districts to “have it their way” in implementing new high school curriculum requirements, House Public Education Chairman Jimmie Don Aycock told the State Board of Education on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/30/Jimmie-Don-Aycock.jpg)
![Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen listens to HB5 debate in House on March 26th, 2013. There are currently 165 amendments to the bill and debate is expected to go well into the night]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
House and Senate to Negotiate TxDOT Funding Compromise
The Senate met briefly Friday to pave the way for negotiations to begin with the House over the details of a plan that would increase transportation funding by nearly $1 billion a year. The goal is for both chambers to pass the same measure next week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/13/TXTAbortionVote-Richmond009.jpg)
![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the state Senate during the abortion debate on July 13, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Groups Work to Promote New Insurance Exchange
Private organizations are working to educate Texans about coverage options through the federal health insurance exchange, a component of the federal Affordable Care Act that opens on Oct. 1. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/17/TX_Organizing_04.jpg)
![Zoila Chaver, second from right, a member of the Texas Organizing Project, giving health care information to Dallas resident Graciela Garcia at Garcia's home on July 10, 2013.]()
Credit: Mark Graham -
Analysis: For Davis, the Top Political Race Might Not Be for the Top Office
The price of political celebrity is often the attention it draws from the opposition. State Sen. Wendy Davis raised her profile with a filibuster, and now must decide whether to fight the GOP at home or on a bigger stage. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Debate Builds Over How to Save San Saba River
About 140 miles long, the San Saba River in Central Texas is not considered one of the state’s major waterways, but it illustrates — in a state still dealing with a serious drought — the sensitivities surrounding the use of a limited resource. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/13/saba-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Spencer Selvidge -
The Brief: July 19, 2013
Sweeping new abortion restrictions have been signed into law, but the fight inside the Texas Capitol hasn't ended. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/18/7C2A7716.jpg)
![Gov. Rick Perry, surrounded by Republican lawmakers, signs House Bill 2 into law on July 18, 2013.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Study: Businesses Bear Brunt of Texas Taxes
A new study has found that Texas businesses pay 61.5 of the total tax revenue collected by the state — 20 percent more than the national average. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Calculator_Tax.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Ron Paul Launching Media Channel in August
UPDATED: Former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul’s subscription-based online news channel will launch the week of Aug. 12, he announced Wednesday in a news release. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-RonPaul-003.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Gage Skidmore
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b50cb51e4e395d775e01cee5e050965d/BD%20INC%20Pena%20Looks%20Left%202010)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6e1dc85efbc1e43224eaa7a12d7d409d/BD%20INC%20Abbott%20747%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/89a1ab1624df82b24d1aff1247b30ed4/BD%20INC%20Abbott%20836%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7179a67d6d3c9289f3d697b8c4af36cb/BD%20INC%20Cruz%20LaRue%20Tactical%2002%202013)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75d5aecb68e76ec37cbae1d44d628095/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20924%202013%20)