More than 100 elected officials, religious officials and lawyers have sent a letter to the Harris County district attorney's office urging a new hearing in the case of Duane Buck, who they say was unfairly sentenced to death because of an expert witness's testimony. Full Story
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In a tense meeting Wednesday, University of Texas System regents voted to seek an external review of the University of Texas at Austin's relationship with the University of Texas Law School Foundation. Full Story
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The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report on Wednesday detailing how Texas could use a block grant from the federal government to cut costs and fundamentally reform Medicaid. Full Story
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Christine Morton's brother John Kirkpatrick testified Wednesday in the trial of Mark Norwood, who is accused of beating Morton to death in 1986. Kirkpatrick told jurors how he found the bandana that links Norwood to the crime. Full Story
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Having each House or Senate district match the others in size masks big differences in voting age populations that greatly affect politics and elections. Use our maps to explore the numbers and see how House and Senate districts compare to statewide averages. Full Story
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The $195.5 billion budget that senators will vote on Wednesday includes $1.4 billion extra for education and pay raises for most state employees. A House committee is expected to vote Thursday on its version of the budget. Full Story
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A former Austin construction company owner who employed alleged murderer Mark Alan Norwood will tell jurors in a videotaped deposition this week that Norwood sold him a pistol that was stolen when Christine Morton was killed. Full Story
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At SXSWedu, reporter Morgan Smith discusses ways to keep schools safe with Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas; Texas Association of School Boards attorney Joy Baskin; Texas School Safety Center Director Victoria Calder and Barbara Beto, the Texas PTA's legislative action chairwoman. Full Story
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A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a controversial Republican-backed bill that would raise licensing standards for abortion clinics. Democrats say the legislation would effectively ban abortion in Texas. Full Story
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A Senate committee has advanced a controversial bill that critics say amounts to a backdoor abortion ban in Texas. Full Story
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The first full day of Mark Alan Norwood's murder trial was marked by the emotional testimony and gory photos of the murder scene. It was also notable for the absence of any reference to Michael Morton's wrongful conviction for the crime. Full Story
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Legislation that could lead to term limits on statewide officeholders made its way through the Senate on Tuesday. Lawmakers also heard testimony on several high-profile bills in committee hearings. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry says he'll decide this year on another presidential bid; Senate passes statewide term limits; House gives early OK to new South Texas university Full Story
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A panel of state senators on Tuesday considered two bills that would take drastically different approaches to modifying laws regarding end-of-life care in Texas. Full Story
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As a House committee on Tuesday took up a bill that would allow Texas liquor stores to open their doors on Sundays, one member raised concerns about whether the legislation could make it easier for minors to access liquor. Full Story
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Sen. Kel Seliger, who co-chairs the Legislature's joint higher education oversight committee, said UT regents should have access to the information they have requested, but the committee wants to make sure it is being gathered and used appropriately. Full Story
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In an interview with The Shark Tank, a Florida politics blog, Gov. Rick Perry said he would decide whether to run for re-election in June, then make his decision on a presidential bid "sometime later in the year." Full Story
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UPDATED: Attorney General Greg Abbott is supporting a bill by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would require DNA testing of "all biological evidence" in cases where prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in politics and government, we asked about exemptions from school property taxes and about the political future of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story
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Members of the Texas House on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of a bill to create a new South Texas university that includes a medical school. Full Story
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