The Evening Brief: Oct. 25, 2012
Your evening reading: Clinton, Cheney headlining campaign events tonight; 5th Circuit upholds ban on gun sales to people under 21; comptroller's report details public school debt Full Story
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Court Upholds Ban on Gun Sales to Those Younger Than 21
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s ruling that banning the purchase of handguns by people younger than 21 does not infringe on those individuals' constitutional privileges. Full Story
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Comptroller's Report Examines College, Public School Debt
A report on government debt from Comptroller Susan Combs examines colleges and public school districts, the latter of which are responsible for a third of the money owed at the local level. Full Story
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Board Proposes Major Overhaul of TEXAS Grants Program
TEXAS Grants, the state’s primary need-based financial aid program for college students, could get a major retooling next session if lawmakers follow new recommendations by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Full Story
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Eiland Ad Touts Hurricane Ike Relief, Insurance
In a new TV ad, state Rep. Craig Eiland, D-Galveston, touts his efforts to win Hurricane Ike relief money for UTMB in Galveston, and his lawsuits on behalf of property owners trying to get settlements from their insurance companies. Full Story
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A Compilation of Texas Newspaper Endorsements in Key Races
As Election Day nears, editorial boards at newspapers across Texas have begun endorsing candidates. Here's a list of official endorsements in particularly competitive or noteworthy races. We'll update the list as endorsements come in. Full Story
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Impact of Late Legislators is Felt in HD-144 Race
As the two candidates running for a Texas House seat in suburban Houston try to reach out to voters, the deaths of the district's previous incumbent and an area state senator have cast a shadow on the race. Full Story
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A Trip Down the Fastest Highway in America
The newly opened stretch of State Highway 130 from Austin to Seguin has an 85 mph speed limit, the fastest in the country. Beyond the debate over whether it's safe, what's it like to drive? Full Story
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After Years on Top, Future Brings Challenges for State GOP
In the last installment of a three-part series on Texas Republicans' lock on state government over the past decade, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at the evolution of the GOP in Texas — and what the party might look like 10 years from now. Full Story
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Even in Uncontested Texas, Early Voting Up in Many Counties
Early voting in Texas is under way, and the number of people heading to the polls this year is up in many counties. In a state with only a handful of contested races, what's behind the spike? Full Story
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Tuition Exemptions for Vets May Be Adjusted
The state policy that waives tuition and fees for veterans and their families may get tweaked in the upcoming legislative session. It has been a hot topic for universities that support it in principle, but lose millions on it each year. Full Story
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Texas Parks and Towns Embrace Movement to Darken the Night Sky
In West Texas, the dry desert air makes for bright stars. But light pollution remains a problem as fast-growing cities, plus a distaste for regulation, mean that light diffuses into the night sky. A few towns in West Texas and the Hill Country are trying to change that. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 25, 2012
Texas may miss out on the presidential drama, but a flurry of campaign activity today — including a visit from Bill Clinton — will seek to remind voters about drama further down the ballot. Full Story
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Lampson Ad Claims Partial Credit for Amber Alerts
In his latest ad, Democratic CD-14 candidate Nick Lampson of Beaumont claims partial credit for Amber Alerts, saying they're an example of bipartisan work when he was in Congress. Full Story
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TribCast: Endorsements, Water and School Finance
Evan, Ross, Reeve and Kate ponder the purpose of newspaper endorsements, wonder about water policy in the state and talk about the trial on school finance. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Oct. 24, 2012
Your evening reading: state officials say cancer-research fund will recover from controversy; speculation about Romney cabinet includes Texas names; Cruz campaigns for Sheets Full Story
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Willingham's Family Seeks "Posthumous Pardon"
The surviving relatives of Cameron Todd Willingham have sent an application for pardon, hoping to clear his name eight years after his execution for a 1991 fire that killed his three young children. Full Story
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![From Left, Patricia Willingham Cox, Cameron Todd Willingham's cousin, Eugenia Willingham, his stepmother, and Judy Cavnar, his cousin, are seeking to clear Willingham's name from a 1991 arson case for which he was executed in 2004. They spoke at a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday, October 24th, 2012.]()
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TribLive: A Conversation with Michael Burgess
At last Friday's quarterly meeting of the Texas Lyceum, I interviewed U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, about the future of Medicaid and Medicare, Texans without insurance and the likely fate of the Affordable Care Act. Full Story
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"Victory or Death" Letter to Return to Alamo for Exhibit
After addressing concerns about security and preservation, the Texas Library and Archives Commission voted to allow Col. William Travis' famous 1836 letter to be displayed at the Alamo in February as part of a special exhibit. Full Story
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Interactive: Find Your Statewide Districts
Early voting in Texas is under way for the Nov. 6 general election. In an effort to remind our readers of their districts, we have revived and revamped the district discovery tool we deployed during this year's redistricting battle, except this time without the comparison to last election's districts. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Ryan Murphy Noah Seger
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