After a long debate, Senate Republicans successfully passed an omnibus abortion restriction bill. Democrats insist they will keep fighting the measure. So, we begin this week's playlist with Levon Helm singing "Battle is Over But the War Goes On." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/12/IMG_5958.jpg)
In this edition of the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Gov. Rick Perry announced he won't seek re-election, Rick Santorum stopped by the Capitol to talk about the omnibus abortion bill and Attorney General Greg Abbott added to his campaign coffers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/071213_ART.jpg)
Aaronson, Luthra and M. Smith with the latest on the state’s abortion legislation, Aguilar on the slow comeback of El Paso’s Mexican sister city, Dehn on what’s next now that Gov. Rick Perry isn’t running again, KUT’s Philpott on the scramble triggered by Perry’s announcement, Root on the expectations for Texas Democrats, M. Smith on a challenge to the lieutenant governor from inside the Senate, Grissom tracks the status of sentencing for teenaged murderers, Hamilton on the resignation of Texas A&M’s president, and our do-it-yourself scorecard to rank lawmakers based on your own views: The best of our best for the week of July 8 to 12, 2013. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/12/tribweek.jpg)
UPDATED: With a vote of 19-11, the Senate on Friday night sent controversial abortion legislation to Gov. Rick Perry. While the crowd outside of the chamber chanted, there were none of the eruptions inside that helped kill the abortion bill in the first special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/12/IMG_6291.jpg)
Your evening reading: Abortion bill hits Senate floor; confiscation of items from gallery spectators creates a stir; A&M president stepping down. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/12/D54H5369.jpg)
In separate instances on Thursday, Texas Department of Public Safety officers came under gunfire from the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and launched tear gas south into the country. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA9035.jpg)
Texas A&M University President R. Bowen Loftin will step down from his position in January, he notified university leaders on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/3b8c9ade4e4b8963cdf4b2e2914df412/BD%20INC%20Loftin%2001%20CMS%202011)
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is leaving the Obama administration and will be nominated to head the University of California, she announced on Friday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/JanetNapolitano-001MC.jpg)
A look at electoral returns and public opinion data helps explain why Democratic exuberance in the days after the Wendy Davis filibuster has been replaced with more measured analyses. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/26/IMG_2815_1.jpg)
Three years after a municipal election was held under the specter of fear and death in this border city, voters on Sunday ushered in a new leader in Ciudad Juárez. But a new administration and a new peace can only go so far. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/11/IMG_9798.jpg)
The Democratic Party is having a hard time drawing candidates for statewide office in the 2014 elections. If no serious contender jumps in next year, the party will have given a pass to Republicans at a time of upheaval up and down the ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/75d5aecb68e76ec37cbae1d44d628095/BD%20INC%20Wendy%20Davis%20924%202013%20)
Gov. Rick Perry's decision not to seek re-election opens some doors in Texas politics and government, including one that has been shut for a long time: What happens next to a lame duck governor? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b01de3e8205ed97e502a36293fb4d0f0/BD%20INC%20Perry%20283%202013)
The abortion fight that has engulfed the Texas Capitol this summer appears headed toward a dramatic conclusion today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/01/TXTrib-WomenMarch-CCR002.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday set Nov. 5 as the date for the special election to determine who will serve out the remainder of state Rep. Mark Strama's current term. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ee018af5b7851de604e68439f2c180fa/BD%20INC%20Strama%2001%202013)
Your evening reading: Dewhurst says abortion bill could be passed this week; Abbott says "major announcement" coming Sunday; juvenile justice measure headed to governor's desk Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f281ea824bee8800c78a110e502ec049/BD%20INC%20Senate%20Dewhurst%20307%202013)
UPDATED: Seventeen-year-olds convicted of capital murder could soon be subject to a mandatory sentence of life with parole eligiblity after 40 years under a bill lawmakers approved on Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/02/NicholsHuffman.jpg)
Legislators are continuing efforts to pass a bill that would help colleges and universities across Texas move forward with construction and improvement projects, even though the issue is not on the call for the special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/25/18.jpg)
Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum joined Texas GOP legislators on Thursday to tout proposed abortion regulations and criticize media coverage of the debate. Watch his full comments here. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/0711_Senate0356Santorum.jpg)
The omnibus abortion bill could get full approval by the end of this week, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said Thursday at a news conference that was attended by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and other proponents of the legislation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/29ffcad0eeda8864c22cd3e44e4afcae/BD%20INC%20Santorum%20Abortion%20Presser%202013)
Political parties, interest groups, trade associations and others regularly compile scorecards for legislative votes, comparing and ranking lawmakers based on their decisions on issues. Now it's your turn. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/07/10/Scorecard-App-2.jpg)