The Legislature has taken up a bill that would increase the number of extended-family members who can sue for visitation rights if they believe a parent has put a child's well-being at risk. Full Story
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Lawmakers, like professional athletes, want to play fair and also want to win. That's why it's hard to get them to write their own rules. Full Story
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With about 90 percent of Texas still weathering drought conditions, climate experts say tropical storm and hurricane landfall could be the best hope to get rain to parts of Texas that will desperately need it this summer. Full Story
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Bob Perry, a behind-the-scenes titan in the Texas political world, has died at the age of 80. Full Story
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Bob Perry, a wealthy homebuilder and philanthropist who was among the nation's largest political givers, has died at his home in Nassau Bay, near Houston. He was 80. Full Story
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At last Friday's quarterly meeting of the Texas Lyceum, I interviewed Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins about transportation policy and funding at the state and local level. Full Story
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Many lawmakers are quick to name the sacrifices they make to serve. But life in the Lege is not half bad. The perks associated with the job — from exotic trips to luxury gifts — can dramatically augment their lifestyles. Full Story
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At a TribLive event on Thursday, three Texas senators discussed the "Kumbaya" session. Little did they know that, in doing so, they were also selecting the first track of this week's news-inspired playlist. Full Story
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This week in the Newsreel: An effort to legalize casinos is under way in the Texas Senate, Attorney General Greg Abbott wants a redistricting bill, and some lawmakers want to give drug tests to recipients of unemployment and TANF benefits. Full Story
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Aguilar looks at the potential impact of a border security bill, Hooks on Tesla Motors' pitch to lawmakers, Grissom on the progress of the "Michael Morton Act," Hamilton has the latest with the UT System, Murphy updates our voting-age population map, Batheja on a Rainy Day Fund debate in the Senate, E. Smith talks with three senators, M. Smith examines the fate of algebra II in Texas high school standards, Galbraith looks at the drilling industry and lawmakers, and Ramsey writes about a bid to curtail the legal battles over redistricting. The best of our best for the week of April 8-12, 2013. Full Story
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On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: While there's still plenty of time and bill debates left in the 2013 session, many lawmakers are already looking ahead to the next election cycle. Full Story
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UPDATED: State Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, said Friday that he has suspended his chief of staff, John Higgins, who was indicted this week on 12 felony charges stemming from allegedly improper travel reimbursements. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry talks re-election, backs dedicated car sales tax for transportation funding; Stockman bumper sticker stirs controversy; Railroad Commission chairman apologizes for retweeting noose image Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Friday said he likes the idea of dedicating a portion of future car sales taxes to road projects and also said he's open to spending up to $6 billion of the Rainy Day Fund on infrastructure projects. Full Story
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Full video of my 4/11 TribLive conversation with state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. Full Story
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Erica Grieder, a senior editor at Texas Monthly and the author of a new book on the "Texas Model," on the state's successes, its critics and whether the model needs any tweaks. Full Story
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As Texas reconsiders whether all students should take algebra II to earn a high school diploma, it is bucking a national trend that it helped launch a decade ago toward more stringent math curriculum. Full Story
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Texas could trim the size of its court fights over redistricting by endorsing maps drawn by federal judges, but legislative leaders fear the harmony of the current session would evaporate in the process. Full Story
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With universities across the state grappling with aging infrastructure and growing student bodies, a state senator has filed a bill that would use tuition revenue bonds to fund more than $4 billion in construction costs for college campuses. Full Story
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Friendliness toward the drilling industry is typical in Texas, where many lawmakers receive campaign contributions from oil and gas groups or have investments in drilling companies. Full Story
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