Gov. Rick Perry's "happy warrior" is coming to the rescue again for the state's troubled youth lockups. Jay Kimbrough will serve as special assistant for safety and security at the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Full Story
Health care providers are lacking across the vast expanses of rural Texas, and the problem could be worsening. The Tribune created an interactive map to illustrate just how few physicians there are in some parts of the state. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the issues and groups with the greatest influence on the May primaries, about early voting, and about whether online voting ought to be allowed. Full Story
Here's a look at congressional and legislative primary races, ranked by competitive heat. This list is certainly subject to argument, and we'll revise and adjust each week through the May 29 primary. Full Story
The former lobbyist on how to regulate lobbying in Washington, why he thinks the system is essentially corrupt, when money in politics is a problem and when it's not, and why anyone should listen to someone like him. Full Story
Rivals in the Democratic primary battle to replace state Rep. Inocente “Chente” Quintanilla, 69, D-Tornillo, have spent much of the campaign debating who is too liberal or conservative for the rural West Texas district. Full Story
UPDATED: Texas' controversial voter ID law will not likely be in place in time for the November elections, a federal district court ruled today, unless the state can meet a tight deadline to turn over documents. Full Story
Your evening reading: race for lieutenant governor spills into vicious email exchange; Cruz not endorsing Paul; Perry asks Obama to address concerns over illegal-immigrant minors Full Story
On April 30, which was 30 days ahead of Texas' May 29 primaries, participating candidates were required to file reports that represent all campaign-finance efforts leading up to the election. We have pulled all contribution data for filers between Jan. 1 and April 30 and made it searchable here. Full Story
Calling the "humanitarian crisis" a byproduct of President Obama’s failed effort to secure the border, Gov. Rick Perry has asked the White House to address an influx of unaccompanied minors crossing in to the country. Full Story
While U.S. Rep. Ron Paul endorsed former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz on Sunday to be the next U.S. senator from Texas, Cruz isn't returning the favor and endorsing Paul's presidential bid. Full Story
Rice University political scientist Mark P. Jones looks at the legislative voting records of candidates in a half-dozen GOP primaries, finding some significant differences in House races and negligible differences in two Senate contests. Full Story
The quiet race for lieutenant governor isn't quiet any more, as two senators opened a fiery and very public email fight over gossip that could sink both of their chances to succeed Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. Full Story
In Travis County, which some consider the liberal hub of Texas, a controversial immigration-enforcement program has become the key issue in the Democratic primary race for sheriff. Full Story
At a Tea Party-organized rally at the Capitol, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul said the presidential nomination isn't sewn up yet. And U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz reminded the crowd of his abiding conservatism. Full Story
By Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune, and Rudolph Bush, The Dallas Morning News
Housing reforms quietly approved by Gov. Rick Perry late last year were intended to address concerns over fairness and transparency. But the unintended consequences could mean fewer affordable housing developments. Full Story
Use our interactive map to view the roughly 70 low-income housing projects that bypassed the state's point system and got board-approved for coveted tax credit subsidies over the last decade — subsidies worth a combined $660 million. Full Story
Aguilar on the House District 77 primary, Batheja on the HD-101 and SD-9 primaries, Galbraith on the GOP candidates for two Railroad Commission slots, Grissom on the latest in the Kerry Max Cook case, Hamilton on Texas A&M's new accountability website, Murphy and M. Smith on how much superintendents make, Ramsey interviews a would-be Democratic Party chair, Root on that nice Ted Nugent, M. Smith on the resignation of the state's education commissioner and Tan on the continuing court fight over Planned Parenthood: The best of our best content from April 30 to May 4, 2012. Full Story