The Brief: July 18, 2013
The national spotlight may fall on Texas once more as Gov. Rick Perry signs some of the strictest abortion measures in the country into law. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry addresses the National Right to Life convention on June 27, 2013.]()
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The Evening Brief: July 17, 2013
Your evening reading: DPS director responds to letter on confiscations; groups weighing court action against abortion bill; changes to curriculum system stir confusion at SBOE meeting Full Story
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TribCast: Session Status, Abbott Announcement and Money
Brandi, Reeve, Ben and Ross discuss the agenda items that have and haven't been ticked off the to-do list in the special session, Attorney General Greg Abbott's future plans and the recently released campaign finance totals. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
CSCOPE Changes Focus of Confusion at SBOE Meeting
UPDATED: The State Board of Education will take up the issue of whether school districts can continue to use lessons from a controversial state curriculum system at its September meeting. And the Texas Attorney General's office, along with Education Chairman Dan Patrick, has requested an official state audit of the program. Full Story
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![State Board of Education member-elect Thomas Ratliffe speaks to a special hearing on history in the Capitol Extension.]()
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Dewhurst Discusses What He Saw at DPS Screening Spot
UPDATED: A week after saying that he saw bottles of urine and bags of feces at a DPS screening station ahead of a Senate debate on an abortion bill, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday that he wasn’t close enough to see what was in the containers but was told what was in them, the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday. Full Story
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Slideshow: Abbott Tours State After Launching Bid
After announcing his candidacy for governor in San Antonio on Sunday, Attorney General Greg Abbott began a tour that is scheduled to have him cover 10 cities over five days. This slideshow looks at some of the stops he has made so far. Full Story
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Reproductive Rights Groups Weigh Legal Challenge to Abortion Bill
With Gov. Rick Perry expected to sign House Bill 2 into law, abortion rights groups are considering a lawsuit against the state as one option to attempt to block implementation of the legislation. Full Story
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![Abortion rights activists march through downtown Austin on July 1, 2013.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Veterans Fight to Get College Credit for Service
Lawmakers this year failed to pass a bill to make permanent a program that gives veterans college credit for service. Education and workforce officials in Texas say it just makes sense to give veterans credit for their time in the field. Full Story
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Abbott's Adversity a Key Part of His Message on the Campaign Trail
Attorney General Greg Abbott's story of adversity has the potential to resonate deeply with voters. But in the past, it has exposed him to criticism from those who say he has battered the legal protections he benefited from for political gain. Full Story
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Pipeline Cases Cast Light on Evolving Eminent Domain Laws
A flurry of lawsuits against pipeline companies may compel the state Supreme Court to weigh in again on eminent domain laws in Texas. But until then, local courts will continue to shape the state's rules on whether such companies can claim private land. Full Story
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The Brief: July 17, 2013
Attorney General Greg Abbott's debut week on the gubernatorial campaign trail has revealed how he may seek to distinguish himself from Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott at a campaign event at the Ben Franklin Apothecary in Duncanville on July 16, 2013.]()
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The Evening Brief: July 16, 2013
Your evening reading: Abbott disputes claims he made deal not to run against Perry; Dewhurst ad touts abortion bill; Perry signs South Texas university bill Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
After Passage of Abortion Bill, Focus Turns to Implementation
With sweeping new abortion restrictions passed and awaiting Gov. Rick Perry's signature, a long process — part of which involves public input — will soon begin to determine how the new standards for abortion clinics will be implemented. Full Story
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![Planned Parenthood clinic on 7th St. in Austin, Texas.]()
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UT System Pushes Back Against Criticism of Regent Hall
As a House committee considers whether to bring articles of impeachment against University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall, system leaders have responded strongly to recent criticism of Hall. Full Story
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Video: Dewhurst Ad Touts Abortion Bill's Passage
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released a re-election campaign video Tuesday emphasizing his faith and his work on the recently passed legislation increasing abortion restrictions. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst in the state Senate during the abortion debate on July 13, 2013.]()
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In Rio Grande Valley, Perry Signs South Texas University Bill
In two emotional events Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry ceremonially signed a bill that will create a new university in the Rio Grande Valley. He also addressed demands to add bonds for campus construction to the special session agenda. Full Story
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Interactive: Campaign Finance Analyzer
Using campaign finance reports, we've put together a quick way to find the biggest donors to statewide candidates, the distribution of large and small donations, and how much money came in for each date in a reporting period. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: About Those "Exciting Future Plans"...
For this week's non-scientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about the governor's intentions — and chances — in a 2016 presidential race and about the prospects for John Cornyn and Greg Abbott in 2014. Full Story
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State Auditor Finds Lacking Oversight of Testing Contract
After a report from the State Auditor's Office pointed out flaws in the Texas Education Agency's oversight of a $462 million testing contract, the agency said Tuesday it will "immediately" implement new monitoring guidelines. Full Story
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Carefully, Abbott Puts a Little Distance Between Himself and Perry
Attorney General Greg Abbott is disputing claims that he had a deal not to run against Gov. Rick Perry and has begun, in carefully chosen language, to put a little distance between himself and the man he means to replace. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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