The Evening Brief: July 23, 2013
Your evening reading: Branch announces bid for attorney general; Huckabee endorses Patrick for lieutenant governor; Democrats score influx of cash after filibuster. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Despite Challenges, Texas' Electric Grid Ranks High
A new report ranks Texas first out of 41 states for improvements in its electric grid. But that doesn't mean electricity prices are lower for most Texans — or that the grid doesn't face serious challenges. Full Story
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![Grid technicians monitor screens at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas' state-of-the-art backup control center in Bastrop.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Branch Launches Campaign for Attorney General
In an announcement Tuesday at Southern Methodist University, state Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, officially launched his bid to be the state's next attorney general, saying he plans to put an end to “runaway federal government.” Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 23, 2013
The latest churn of the presidential rumor mill has pundits wondering: How far could Ted Cruz go in 2016? Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Some Democrats' Political Accounts See Boost in Donations After Filibuster
State Sen. Wendy Davis' filibuster against abortion legislation gave Democrats across the country a rare red-state rallying point, and some of them responded by opening their checkbooks. Full Story
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Visibility Climbs for Groups on Both Sides of Abortion Debate
Since state Sen. Wendy Davis' June 25 filibuster, organizations on both sides of the abortion debate say they have seen a surge in donations as well as increased engagement on social media. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Abbott: Family Ties Provide Common Ground With Hispanic Voters
Highlighting his ties to the Hispanic community during his gubernatorial campaign launch, Attorney General Greg Abbott is wooing Hispanic voters who have tended to identify with the Democratic Party. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New Technology Aids in Search for Untapped Oil Fields
In Texas, scientists have found that small amounts of oil and gas seepage lead to subtle changes in soil and rock formations — a discovery that could prove fruitful for oil and gas companies looking for undiscovered oil fields. Full Story
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![Local pumper Bobby Thomason works on cleaning up an old well that was recently worked over to start producing again on a lease in Caldwell County near Luling, January 22, 2012.]()
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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
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![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
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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
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![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
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![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
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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
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![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
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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
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![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
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