State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and a union that represents prison employees hope to make more history in 2013, suggesting the potential closure of two privately run prison facilities in Dallas and in Mineral Wells. Full Story
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Two bills filed by lawmakers recently seek to restrict the actions of federal agencies in Texas. Lawmakers say the bills are meant to stand up for Texans' freedom, but federal agencies say practices targeted by the bills keep people safe. Full Story
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The race for speaker of the House may have just gotten a lot more interesting. Full Story
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State Rep. David Simpson of Longview, a Republican who rode to office with heavy Tea Party support two years ago, is considering a run for Texas House speaker against incumbent Republican Joe Straus of San Antonio. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Perry to guest host CNBC's Squawk Box; Texas Democrats optimistic about deal on Medicaid expansion; calls for CPRIT investigation intensify Full Story
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Amid growing concern about the review process used to award taxpayer-funded cancer research grants, lawmakers and two left-leaning political organizations have called for investigations of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. Full Story
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Recommendations in a new draft report on Texas undergraduate medical education caution against rushing to build any new medical schools, which may irk those that are pushing to do exactly that. Full Story
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The board of the Dallas-based utility company Oncor recently authorized a $17 million payment to its chairman and chief executive, Robert Shapard, according to an SEC filing on Nov. 21, the day before Thanksgiving. Full Story
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A new report recommends reforming the state-run jail system by mandating probation for certain types of nonviolent felony offenders and only using the jails for those who violate their probation. Full Story
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Though the controversial proposal to build a 4,000-mile network of highways and rail lines across Texas never came to fruition, the Trans-Texas Corridor proposal helped usher a change in how the state builds roads. Full Story
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Despite Gov. Rick Perry’s firm opposition to Medicaid expansion, a key tenet of federal health reform, Texas Democrats remain optimistic that the 2013 legislative session can yield a deal on the issue. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry's control of the executive branch after 12 years in office is well established. But he's made hundreds of judicial appointments, too. Full Story
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The scorching summer months have passed, but the state recorded barely any rainfall in November, sparking fears that Texas could be in store for a dry and potentially devastating winter. Full Story
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A new report has intensified the spotlight on business incentives in Texas. Full Story
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Already a fixture in Houston, toll lane projects are set to spread to cities across Texas. Officials in urban areas say the lanes are a key way to address congestion, but some deride the projects as "Lexus lanes." Full Story
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This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: It's freshman orientation at the Texas Capitol, and Gov. Rick Perry has appointed a new Texas Supreme Court justice and a new secretary of state. Full Story
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Aguilar on Kay Bailey Hutchison’s immigration proposal and an answer to it, Batheja on the rise of toll roads and Murphy’s interactive toll road map, Galbraith on the pushback against “smart” electricity meters, Grissom on snitches in criminal trials, Hamilton finds Florida following Texas on cheap degrees, KUT’s Philpott looks at the next state budget debate, Ramshaw examines efforts to get a medical school in South Texas, E. Smith corners Todd Hunter and Blake Farenthold, and M. Smith takes a look at the state’s report card on high school dropouts: The best of our best from Nov. 26 to 30, 2012. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Cornyn calls White House proposal to unilaterally raise debt ceiling "crazy"; congressional Republicans clashing over approach to immigration reform; education commissioner to delay 15 percent rule Full Story
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Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams on Friday announced that he would defer a rule that requires state end-of-course exams count for 15 percent of high school students' final grades. Full Story
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Robert Titus had told his mom that he would get a college degree. But service in the U.S. Navy and a long sales career derailed that pledge for years. But Titus, 80, is now the proud owner of a degree from WGU Texas, an online university. Full Story
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