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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Jan. 19, 2013

Our first-of-its-kind news app detailing the financial interests of state lawmakers, Ramshaw asks in whose interest our part-time Legislature operates, Root on how public and private blur for Sen. John Whitmire, M. Smith on why politicians regulating themselves means not much chance of ethics reform, Aaronson on the Women's Health Program provider list, Murphy and Batheja on the growth in Texas' spending, Galbraith on water and fracking, Ramsey talks to George P. Bush and Rocha and I separately talk water with Todd Staples and Allan Ritter: The best of our best content from Jan. 14 to 19, 2013. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Dewhurst Appoints Senate Committees

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 18, 2013

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst filled out his committee assignments late Friday afternoon, supplementing the chairmanship shuffle he announced late last year. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
The Polling Center: Lawmakers Fret About Water, but the Public Doesn't

By Jim Henson and Joshua Blank Jan. 18, 2013

Water has emerged as the top infrastructure issue before the 83rd Legislature — an issue that appears to be more important to lawmakers than to most of the people they represent. Full Story

Credit: Nicolas Henderson
The Evening Brief: Jan. 18, 2013

By David Muto Jan. 18, 2013

Your evening reading: Cornyn presses Holder for information on internet activist's death; Dallas mayor backs Obama on gun control; Texas unemployment rate falls Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Regulators Face Criticism Over Earthquake Monitoring

By Mose Buchele, KUT News Jan. 18, 2013

As domestic drilling continues to boom, more earthquakes are occurring, and states are taking action to fight them. But not in Texas, where the most drilling is taking place. Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
For Fourth Month in a Row, Texas Unemployment Rate Drops

By Ryan Murphy Jan. 18, 2013

The state's unemployment rate fell for the fourth month in a row in December, capping off a drop of more than 1 percentage point in the rate since December 2011, the Texas Workforce Commission announced Friday. Full Story

Credit: Kate Hiscock
Lawmakers to Again Take Aim at Predatory Lending

By Audrey White Jan. 18, 2013

The Legislature will have another go at fighting the practices of some payday lenders and auto-title loan businesses, which critics say often prey on vulnerable Texans. Full Story

Credit: James Malone
TribLive: A Conversation with Allan Ritter

By Evan Smith Jan. 18, 2013

Full video of my January 17 TribLive conversation with state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Full Story
Subdued Start for Those at the Head of the Table

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 18, 2013

The legislative session just started, but it seems clear that state leaders are running low on what a former president from Texas once called "the vision thing." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
For Dean of Senate, Public and Private Blur

By Jay Root Jan. 18, 2013

Critics say the dean of the Texas Senate, John Whitmire, D-Houston, is a poster boy for a legislative culture in which real and perceived conflicts of interest are commonplace. Whitmire says he's proud of his four decades in office. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Texas State Library and Archives Commission / Todd Wiseman
Slideshow: Sen. John Whitmire Through the Years

By Jay Root Jan. 18, 2013

Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, served 10 years in the Texas House before becoming the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate. Here's a photographic look back at the dean of the Senate's 40 years in elected office in Texas. Full Story

Credit: Courtesy of Texas State Library and Archives Commission
The Brief: Jan. 18, 2013

By David Muto Jan. 18, 2013

Hoping to avert another debt ceiling showdown, President Obama has found a little common ground with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Bill Looks to Adjust Medical Parole to Help Alleviate Prison Budget

By Maurice Chammah, The Marshall Project Jan. 18, 2013

As lawmakers try to trim the budget for health care for prison inmates, one bill aims to cut costs by re-examining a program that releases inmates deemed the oldest, sickest and most expensive. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
The Evening Brief: Jan. 17, 2013

By David Muto Jan. 17, 2013

Your evening reading: Cruz says gun control efforts will backfire on Obama; at least 20 gun-related bills filed so far in Legislature; Democrats question women's health provider list Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Variety of Gun-Related Bills on Table for Session

By Maurice Chammah, The Marshall Project Jan. 17, 2013

At least 20 bills have been filed or proposed by Texas lawmakers on the subject of guns, with most of the legislation aiming to widen access to guns. Here's a roundup of the proposals. Full Story
TribLive: Ritter on Water as a Local Issue

By Evan Smith Jan. 17, 2013

At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, talked about what it will take to make local communities recognize the magnitude of the state's water crisis. Full Story
TribLive: Ritter on Funding the Water Plan

By Evan Smith Jan. 17, 2013

At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Rep. Allan Ritter, R-Nederland, the chairman of the House National Resources Committee, talked about his desire to withdraw $2 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to jump-start the state water plan. Full Story
TribCast: Legislator Transparency and Budget

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Jan. 17, 2013

This week on the soon-to-be-award-winning TribCast (it could happen): Ben, Evan, Ross and Aman dive into the Tribune's new Bidness as Usual data app and ongoing series. The group also goes over the House's and Senate's base budgets. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Mexico’s Choice for New Ambassador Wins Praise From Texas Lawmakers

By Julián Aguilar Jan. 17, 2013

Republicans and Democrats say the appointment of Eduardo Medina Mora as Mexico's ambassador to the U.S. opens an opportunity for the nations to forge a new relationship. Full Story

Credit: White House Photo
Legislating Goes Social: Lawmakers File Bills Addressing Web Postings

By Cody Permenter Jan. 17, 2013

Legislators concerned about online privacy and safety have filed bills that could change the way some Texans use social media. Such regulations are becoming more widespread as states take on questions of online privacy. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman