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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Freshman legislators are getting their first look at Washington and Austin, and the differences are as clear as red and blue. Full Story
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Amid a lack of public financing to meet the state's transportation needs, Texas officials are increasingly looking to toll projects, some boosted by investments by private firms. Full Story
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Still reflecting on the election, Ted Cruz says he knows why Republicans lost, and what they can do about it. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Dewhurst proposes taking $1 billion from Rainy Day Fund for water projects; Perry voices support for letting districts decide on 15 percent rule; ethics commission backs off plan to add investigative powers Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry has come out in favor of allowing school districts to choose whether to implement a rule requiring that new state assessments count for 15 percent of high school students' final grades. Full Story
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The Texas Ethics Commission backed off Thursday from a proposal to take some investigative authority away from the Travis County district attorney’s office, but the agency approved two recommendations aimed at enhancing criminal investigations of state elected officials. Full Story
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While skeptics say reporting requirements for state graduation rates contain too many loopholes, other education policy experts say Texas deserves credit for implementing innovative programs to keep students in school. Full Story
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Cost-cutting and fiscal transparency will likely dominate the upcoming legislative session, but lawmakers don't have high hopes for reforming the System Benefit Fund, a pot of $850 million not being used for its intended purposes. Full Story
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A day after U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison introduced immigration legislation that would give legal status to some undocumented minors, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus laid out its own goals for reform. Full Story
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Our interactive map highlights every existing toll road in Texas and all toll projects currently in development. Charging drivers for the ability to avoid traffic is spreading from the state's biggest cities to every corner of the state. Full Story
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He hasn't even taken office yet, but one of Ted Cruz's first moves as Texas' senator-elect is already delighting conservatives. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Norquist says Perry could be viable 2016 candidate; Abbott moves to seize polygamist ranch; panel says Reyes may have violated ethics rules Full Story
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A Texas law that aims to prevent puppy and kitten breeders from abusing animals faces a court challenge, but advocates have come forward to defend the law. Full Story
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Some Texans in rural areas face double- or even triple-digit rate increases from private water providers. On Wednesday they urged the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to address the problem, and lawmakers seemed receptive. Full Story
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Ross, Reeve, Emily and Ben discuss the latest bout of secession fever, the latest news regarding the Yearning for Zion ranch and Gov. Rick Perry's latest political appointments. Full Story
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The Texas attorney general's office is pursuing legal action to seize the West Texas ranch owned by the polygamist sect led by Warren Jeffs, who is serving life in prison for sexually assaulting young girls. Full Story
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At our Hot Seat conversation at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, state Rep. Todd Hunter, R-Corpus Christi, and U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, talked state and national politics and previewed both the 83rd session and the 113th Congress. Full Story
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State regulators say it all the time: Texas' competitive electricity market benefits customers by letting them shop for the best prices. But in many parts of the state, the complex market has left consumers paying more than they should be. Full Story
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A few Texas school districts and charters are finalists for funds through a new version of the Obama administration's Race to the Top program. Texas had refused to participate in the program at the state level in 2010, citing concerns over federal intrusion into Texas classrooms. Full Story
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