The Brief: Sept. 28, 2011
The Perry campaign, still looking to regroup, appears to have settled on a new strategy: Don't panic. Full Story
The Perry campaign, still looking to regroup, appears to have settled on a new strategy: Don't panic. Full Story
In a startling development, Travis County authorities are investigating whether an unsolved 1988 killing of an Austin woman is related to the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, for which her husband, Michael Morton, is serving life in prison. Full Story
Rick Perry may be down, but he's certainly not out. Still, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, he has work to do before attempting a comeback. Full Story
TCU's 10th chancellor on the concerns of independent institutions in Texas, why it's worth paying a high price for private higher education, and — to a very limited extent — the turmoil convulsing the college athletic conferences. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Perry team calls $20 million fundraising report "nutty"; Romney hits Perry again on immigration; Texas nets biggest haul in latest federal health care grant Full Story
The Texas Water Development Board's just-released 295-page report says that if Texas does not spend tens of billions more on water infrastructure, a drought as bad as that of the 1950s could cost Texans $116 billion per year by 2060. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry’s defense of in-state tuition for illegal immigrants now seems out of step with the GOP mainstream. But that wasn't the case 10 years ago. It's the Republican Party that has moved — not the governor. Full Story
The chairwoman of the Public Utility Commission on how close Texas came to rolling blackouts this summer, what consumers can expect to pay as wind-power transmission expands, and how the historic drought affects the reliability of the power grid. Full Story
Ron Paul was Jon Stewart's guest on last night's episode of The Daily Show. Only a portion of the extended interview aired, but the full video was posted online this morning. Full Story
On Monday, Rick Perry, still reeling from a pundit pile-on, went on the offensive. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry’s meteoric rise to the top of the Republican field last month led many analysts to conclude that the Texas governor would waltz to his party’s presidential nomination. It’s looking more like a grind dance now. Full Story
The numbers prove it: State government is shrinking. Many attribute the drop in state jobs to the budget cuts lawmakers passed last legislative session. But agencies had been preparing for the deficit by dropping employees for more than a year. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry's underwhelming and inconsistent debate performances have made him a target of pundits, political satirists — and many of his party's top figures. Full Story
Protesters gathered outside the Headliners Club in Austin to urge U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. Boehner was in Austin to attend a reception with several GOP congressmen from Texas. Full Story
The former head of the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command said Monday that if the U.S. does not provide more support to Mexico, that country's next presidential administration may have no choice but to make a deal with cartel leaders. Full Story
Travis County prosecutors on Monday provided “powerful evidence” to a Williamson County district court that could be crucial in exonerating Michael Morton of the 1986 murder of his wife. Full Story
State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, won't seek another term in the Texas Legislature, he said Monday, and he encouraged Victor Vandergriff to get into the race. UPDATE: Vandergriff says he's in. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: post-debate poll shows Perry still on top but Romney gaining; Romney still swinging at Perry over book; Bachmann opens up new line of attack Full Story
Rick Perry's roughest week yet has put his front-runner status in serious jeopardy. Full Story
In this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked about immigration — and how Rick Perry's positions as governor will work out for his campaign for president. Full Story