The Brief: Sept. 16, 2011
The U.S. Supreme Court's surprising decision to halt the execution of a Texas death row inmate threatens to thrust Gov. Rick Perry's death penalty record into the center of the presidential race. Full Story
The U.S. Supreme Court's surprising decision to halt the execution of a Texas death row inmate threatens to thrust Gov. Rick Perry's death penalty record into the center of the presidential race. Full Story
David Dewhurst is the Mitt Romney of the U.S. Senate race. He's the candidate who has climbed the ladder in an orderly way. If you go for this sort of thing — and the Republican party often does — it’s his turn. Full Story
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board wants to eliminate degree programs with low enrollment — like physics. Critics, including many professors, say that could do lasting harm to the state. Full Story
Abstinence still rules on a state policy level, but from Midland to Spring Branch, a quiet message is spreading through Texas schools: It's time to start teaching students about contraception. Full Story
A handful of Texas House members who say they're leaving — either getting out or trying to move into other posts — top this week's roundup of campaign news. Full Story
General elections in Texas will be less competitive than ever under the redistricting maps approved by the Legislature earlier this year. The takeaway is simple: Texas has a strongly Republican map and the political threats to incumbents, if any, will come in primaries and not in general elections. Full Story
Lots of things affect election outcomes. Candidates. Money. Issues. Surprises. But some of the results are wired into district maps, through redistricting. Here's our charting of the political atmosphere — Republican or Democratic — in each of the House, Senate and congressional districts drawn by the Legislature this year. Full Story
Amidst a record-setting drought and neighborhood-devouring wildfires, we asked the insiders this week about water and fire policy. Full Story
At about 7:40 p.m., the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the execution of Duane Edward Buck. His trial was one of several cases in which a psychologist told jurors that his race made him more dangerous. Full Story
State Rep. Randy Weber, R-Pearland, wants to go to Congress: He announced today he'll run for the seat now held by U.S. Ron Paul, R-Surfside. And state Rep. Rodney Anderson made his intentions for state Senate official. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: reprieve sought ahead of execution scheduled for tonight; Perry returns to Iowa with newly assembled political team; why Perry's debate showings haven't hurt him Full Story
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, took his efforts to require nationwide use of the electronic employment verification program, known as E-Verify, before his committee today. “Yes, E-Verify is a jobs killer, but only for illegal workers,” he said. Full Story
A mountainous tract of West Texas land that has been a point of contention between the General Land Office and environmental groups will serve a new purpose — a research and educational area for university students. Full Story
The Texas land commissioner on running for lieutenant governor (in an election that's three years off), water and education and other issues facing the state and his potential foes — especially Comptroller Susan Combs. Full Story
In his first return to Iowa since participating in back-to-back debates, Gov. Rick Perry will revisit the hand-shaking, small-town campaigning he does best. Full Story
Rick Perry returns to Iowa today with a major order of business: vanquish Michele Bachmann. Full Story
Rick Perry, still the front-runner in the GOP presidential race but weakened somewhat by a shaky debate performance Monday night, comes out swinging in an exclusive interview in the new issue of Time magazine. Full Story
This morning we've posted a 2011 update to our government employee salary database, which now includes 140 entities and salary data for more than 664,000 public employees. Full Story
Advocates for a review of previous arson cases fear it may be inadequate if it is led by the state fire marshal, who continues to stand by the Cameron Todd Willingham investigation — even though it relied on methods now considered scientifically unsound. Full Story
Tonight, Texas is scheduled to execute its 11th death row inmate this year. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, controversy surrounding the inmate's case could put the spotlight back on Gov. Rick Perry's death penalty record, which has received national attention in recent weeks. Full Story