The Brief: Dec. 21, 2012
A controversial blog post has injected some energy into a relatively subdued speaker's race. Full Story
A controversial blog post has injected some energy into a relatively subdued speaker's race. Full Story
Lawmakers on Thursday condemned grant policies at the state's cancer institute that left room for potential conflicts of interest, and criticized a lack of transparency at the CPRIT Foundation. Full Story
Your evening reading: Gingrich says he and Perry would have fared better than Romney; lawmakers address future of CPRIT funding; Castro, Gallego, Veasey score plum committee assignment Full Story
Texas Tech University professor James Wetherbe has filed a federal suit against the university, claiming that administrators there have stifled his career advancement because he publicly opposes tenure. Full Story
The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday will hear the testimony of officials from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and address whether the state should fund the embattled cancer institute in the future. Full Story
Ahead of the 2013 legislative session, lawmakers have filed nearly 200 fewer bills than they had filed at the same point two years ago. Use our bill tracker to follow the process, learn more about the proposals or see what your representative has filed so far. Full Story
Texas officials' response to the Newtown school shooting has incurred the wrath of a Connecticut politician. Full Story
Your evening reading: state leaders call for moratorium on cancer agency grants; Dewhurst, Patrick reveal details of school choice legislation; Hutchison delivers farewell address Full Story
A bill filed by state Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, would free public schools from concerns that displays of Christmas cheer could land them in a county court. Full Story
State leaders on Wednesday called for a moratorium on grants issued by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. They also want the institute's oversight board to immediately address concerns about its grant-making process. Full Story
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Dan Patrick gave the first details of what they promised would be a wide-ranging set of proposals for public education policy during the upcoming legislative session. Full Story
A report released Wednesday, the result of a year-long effort from a commission of top education thinkers, offers a sweeping set of recommendations aimed at improving the teaching profession in the state. Full Story
Congressional candidates recently had to file their post-general election campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission. This interactive includes the contribution, expenditure, cash-on-hand and debt totals gleaned from those reports. Full Story
With more car makers adding electric and natural gas vehicles to their offerings, the need for alternative fueling stations is increasing — and the state is grappling with how to respond. Full Story
As the El Paso school district continues to reel from a testing scandal, one district program is focusing on the students who dropped out as a result of pressure from school officials. Full Story
Drawing a stark contrast with the intensifying national debate over tighter gun laws, Texas has moved a step closer to allowing weapons on its public school campuses. Full Story
Your evening reading: Dallas Republican will file bill to allow teachers to carry weapons; Dewhurst, Patrick to unveil school reform legislation; Castros talk gun control Full Story
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, on Wednesday will unveil education reform legislation that some expect to reignite a fiery debate over the potential use of school vouchers in Texas. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about the influence of outside activists — in general, and then specifically on the race for speaker and proposals to change the Senate's procedural rules. Full Story
In response to last week's Connecticut school shooting, state Rep.-elect Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, says he will file legislation to allow public school teachers to carry concealed weapons while on campus. Full Story