While abortion legislation is drawing all the attention in this second special session, lawmakers are also trying for the third time this year to find some extra money for the Texas Department of Transportation. Full Story
Rick Perry has been governor for so long and has consolidated so much power that it's easy to forget a basic tenet of Texas government: It's designed to keep its governors weak. Full Story
As a Senate committee on Monday gets back to work on abortion legislation that has captured national attention, protesters from both sides of the debate — including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee — will descend on the Capitol to rally their supporters. Full Story
On Sunday's Face the Nation, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, strongly opposed the border security provisions in the Senate's just-passed immigration reform bill. Full Story
When state Sen. Dan Patrick endorsed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid last year, it helped turn the two men from sometime-rivals into allies. But now, Patrick has become Dewhurst’s fiercest critic among the field of candidates hoping to unseat him. Full Story
Natalie Maines kicked off the week at the Capitol singing "Not Ready to Make Nice," which captured the spirit of Monday's rallies for and against abortion restrictions. That same song leads our weekly news-inspired playlist. Full Story
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Texas legislators are back for a second special session and another round of the debate on the state's abortion laws. Meanwhile, Gov. Rick Perry will announce "exciting future plans" in San Antonio. Full Story
Root orients us on the governor and on the man who’d like to replace him, Rocha and Dehn on the crowds that started the current special session, Aaronson on the first round of the debate over abortion restrictions, Murphy on which Texas counties are getting older fastest, Hamilton on unnoticed tweaks to a college-aid program, Grissom reports on young murderers waiting for lawmakers to determine their fates, Aguilar peeks at a behind-the-scenes fight over the federal immigration bill and Ramshaw unveils our free e-book on “Bidness as Usual” in the Texas Legislature: The best of our best content from July 1-5, 2013. Full Story
In their new book, The Great Texas Wind Rush, reporters Kate Galbraith and Asher Price tell the story of how Texas became an unlikely leader in wind energy. Full Story
I'm a few days late reporting this — blame Wendy Davis — but the first six months of 2013 were extremely strong on all fronts for the Tribune. Full Story
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst currently enjoys the unenviable status of being the least popular of the major statewide Republican elected officials in Texas, according to an analysis of his approval numbers and standing in election matchups. Full Story
Rather than displaying the swagger of Gov. Rick Perry, Attorney General Greg Abbott comes off as cautious and measured. Those who know him say he is very methodical, a trait that could be to his advantage in a potential race for governor. Full Story
Scottie Forcey is one of 23 convicted Texas murderers who could get the chance to be parole eligible after serving 40 years in prison as legislators work to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Full Story
The former Texas Republican Party chairman is betting his fellow conservatives want a change of direction after a dozen years of Gov. Rick Perry and what he says would be "more of the same" from Attorney General Greg Abbott. Full Story
As Greg Abbott — widely believed to be running for governor — waits for Monday's announcement on Gov. Rick Perry's political future, we've compiled a photographic retrospective of the Texas attorney general's life. Full Story
Over the course of the 83rd legislative session, we produced more than 60 articles on ethics and transparency among the state's elected officials. We've turned the "Bidness as Usual" project into a free e-book. Full Story
For many Texans, the Fourth of July means firing up the grill, often with either wood or charcoal. But new research shows that the cumulative effects of such outdoor cooking can inflict significant damage on communities' air quality. Full Story
Your evening reading: Texas poll shows Cruz leading 2016 GOP field, Clinton competitive in state; Williams not running for comptroller; Carter expected to announce bid for Railroad Commission. Full Story