The Brief: Oct. 17, 2012
Though the presidential debate dominated Tuesday's headlines, the focus in Texas turned briefly to 2014. Full Story
Though the presidential debate dominated Tuesday's headlines, the focus in Texas turned briefly to 2014. Full Story
State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, who served in the Legislature for more than 20 years, has died at the age of 62. Full Story
Democrat Pete Gallego, locked in one of the hottest congressional races in the country, says his opponent Quico Canseco went too far by using the face of Jesus in a political ad. Canseco stands by the mailer. Full Story
A research team is studying how changes in land development and vegetation are affecting the ability of Texas coast wetlands to absorb carbon dioxide. An increase in mangrove population is raising new questions for the team. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked about the nascent race for Speaker of the House, about the reorganization of the Senate, the influence of outside groups on lawmakers and about which chamber will be the friendliest to "hot-button" issues next year. Full Story
Ken Armbrister, Gov. Rick Perry’s legislative director, said Tuesday that the governor told him he would run for re-election in 2014. But a spokeswoman for Perry quickly rebuffed her colleague's statement, saying no decision had been made. Full Story
Nationally, the stage is set for tonight's town hall-style debate between President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. At home in Texas, another debate rages over the Keystone XL Pipeline; eight more protesters were arrested Monday. Full Story
When lawmakers decided to charge inmates $100 a year for medical treatments, they expected it to help plug holes in the prison budget. But critics of the new policy say the result is less health care for sick inmates. Full Story
Two ideas are gaining momentum as Texas lawmakers consider ways to raise more money for road projects: raising the vehicle registration fee by $50 and dedicating the sales tax on car purchases to transportation. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry has compared Texas Medicaid to the Titanic, but economists and business advocates from both sides of the political aisle say Texas shouldn’t let the program sink just yet. Full Story
Updated: As new details on Medicaid dental and orthodontic fraud investigations emerged at a House Public Health hearing on Monday, lawmakers warned that state agencies should not shirk responsibility. Full Story
Your evening reading: Shelton goes after Davis in a new ad; Texas lawmakers take on a West Nile outbreak; the University of Texas System joins edX; Gov. Rick Perry visits editorial boards Full Story
In a new campaign ad, state Rep. Mark Shelton, R-Fort Worth, accuses his SD-10 opponent, incumbent Democrat Wendy Davis, of violating ethics rules and hiding details about her public sector legal clients. Full Story
For Texas' debate enthusiasts, chomping at the bit to see two politicians go head to head for the second time, there's no need to wait for Tuesday night's showdown between President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Full Story
The biggest challenge for state Rep. Sarah Davis, R-Houston, and her Democratic opponent, Ann Johnson, may be distancing themselves from each other. Full Story
Updated: The University of Texas System Board of Regents approved a new systemwide partnership on Monday with edX, a high profile provider of free online courses. Full Story
Lots of people get elected by voters who didn't look at their names — voting instead by choosing all candidates from one party or another. Much of the electorate only uses that one piece of information to determine who gets votes. Full Story
Kountze has become the latest setting in a string of lawsuits over where students' rights to religious expression end and the constraints on Texas public schools as governmental entities begin, showing the fine line administrators must walk. Full Story
This week in the Newsreel: Upcoming debates, voter registration, medicaid expansion and campaign finance reports. Full Story
Aaronson on Medicaid dental fraud, Aguilar on a new railroad line spanning Texas and Mexico, Galbraith on smart-meter angst, Grissom on wannabe Speaker Bryan Hughes, Hamilton on the coming battle over in-state tuition, Murphy maps presidential campaign contributors by Texas ZIP code, Ramsey on Tom DeLay's victories, Ramshaw on the first Davis-Shelton debate, Root on Chuy Hinojosa's mileage miscue and my conversation with three likely incoming Texas House members: The best of our best content from October 8-12, 2012. Full Story