The Evening Brief: March 20, 2012
Your evening reading: major Texas donors contributing to Romney Super PAC; Paul Super PAC's fundraising slows; state suspends burro-killing policy Full Story
Your evening reading: major Texas donors contributing to Romney Super PAC; Paul Super PAC's fundraising slows; state suspends burro-killing policy Full Story
Congressional candidate Michael Williams released his 2011 tax returns today, and the former Texas railroad commissioner urged his 11 Republican primary opponents to do the same. Full Story
The Super PAC Restore Our Future, which supports Mitt Romney, received $3 million from Houston homebuilder Bob Perry and $100,000 from Contran Corporation CEO Harold Simmons of Dallas in February. Full Story
A new funding model for public higher education in Texas is in the works. The latest proposal was revealed today at a committee meeting at the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Full Story
Today's Illinois primary may determine whether Texans get a say in the presidential primary process. Full Story
Drilling for oil and gas has surged in Texas, benefiting the state's economy. But as Dave Fehling of KUHF News reports for StateImpact Texas, it’s also costing local governments and the state as trucks transporting drilling materials take a toll on roads and highways. Full Story
The former University of Texas president and the Houston Endowment's director of research and planning on why new measurements for educational success are necessary and the troubling education situation in Texas. Full Story
Opponents of a coal company's plan to mine land in Eagle Pass are also fighting a plan to build a rail line to transport the coal to Mexico. Full Story
Now that the filing deadline has passed, the congressional and legislative candidates are scouting their field. Some are shoo-ins, others have a primary crowd and a few are seeking another chance at the Lege. Here's who's who. Full Story
Your evening reading: Perry's Facebook page bombarded over family planning cuts; joke between friends could end up before Texas Supreme Court; Paul immune to money woes? Full Story
Will the Planned Parenthood brouhaha affect elections? Should state officeholders be able to collect retirement while they're still on the job? And should Texas lawmakers have term limits? Full Story
His supporters haven't lost their fervor, but Ron Paul may be losing some of his trademark fundraising prowess. Full Story
Rural community colleges play pivotal roles in their communities but face unique financial challenges that demand creative solutions to keep the doors open. Full Story
Most attention goes toward political races that either have a lot of candidates or are close for other reasons. But lots of elections are decided quietly, without drama. Full Story
Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators. Full Story
As the Ogallala Aquifer slowly declines, some West Texas farmers are facing a new type of regulation: a limit on the amount of water they would pump from wells on their own land. And many aren't happy about it. Full Story
Ramshaw on how much the state pays workers for unused vacation, Aguilar with the latest on voter ID, Tan and Dehn take a multimedia approach to the Women's Health Program controversy, Hamilton on an outcomes-based higher ed funding model, Murphy's new and improved election brackets, Root on how state money is being spent to attract sports events, Grissom with an update on Michael Morton's wrongful conviction and Aaronson's latest on Texas' growing economy: The best of our best content from March 12 to March 16, 2012. Full Story
Your evening reading: Abbott files suit against federal government over Women's Health Program; Texas congressman arrested at D.C. protest with Clooney; Paul running low on cash? Full Story
Attorney General Greg Abbott has filed yet another lawsuit against the federal government, this one, no surprise, over the Women's Health Program. Full Story
U.S. Rep. Al Green, D-Houston, was arrested this morning in front of the Sudanese Embassy in D.C. He was one of more that a dozen demonstrators there to bring awareness to starvation in Sudan — including actor George Clooney. Full Story