The Midday Brief: Oct. 20, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry's polling lags in Iowa as he struggles with likability; a media war breaks out around Michael Morton: drought likely to worsen in winter. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
New Federal Forecast Says Drought Likely to Worsen Over Winter
While already-sodden northern regions of the United States can prepare for above-average rains this winter, the worst one-year drought in Texas history looks set to persist, according to a federal winter forecast released today. Full Story
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Morton Prosecutor Says He's Victim of Media War
Mike Davis, one of the original prosecutors in the 1987 murder case against Michael Morton, said in court filings today that he is the victim of a media war between Morton's lawyers and Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley. Full Story
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![Michael Morton sits beside his mother, Patricia Morton, during an emotional press conference after a judge agreed to release him on personal bond after he spent nearly 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife.]()
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TribLive: Combs on the Data Breach
At this morning's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the data breach on her agency's web site that inadvertently exposed the personal information of 3.5 million state employees and retirees. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 20, 2011
Has Rick Perry found his own “9-9-9”? Tune in to his economic speech next week to find out! Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Education Board Could Give Schools More Control Over New Exams
The State Board of Education may try to modify the state's rigid new standardized exams — the STAAR tests — in a way that allays school districts’ concerns that they're losing local control over grading. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Parched Western States Looking to Perry's Water Record
You won't hear about the water problems out West during the GOP presidential debate, but as Ben Philpott reports for KUT News and the Texas Tribune, the problems are there — and the next President could play a role in the solutions. Full Story
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Credit: Ben Philpott -
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 102
This week on the TribCast, Ross, Reeve, Kate, and Emily discuss the recent GOP debate, drought and wildfire preparedness, and the future of Texas higher education. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Video: Leppert Campaign Ad Touts Job Creation Record
U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert, the former Dallas mayor, has released a new campaign spot that boasts of his job creation experience, and takes a swipe at so-called "career politicians." Full Story
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On the Records: Obama Finds Four New TX Bundlers
President Barack Obama released an updated list of volunteer fundraisers, known as "bundlers," who raise money on his behalf. Of the more than 350 bundlers listed, 17 Texas fundraisers have collected more than $2.7 million. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Perry, Swagger In Full Effect, Calls For Flat Tax
Gov. Rick Perry, giving a sneak peek of his forthcoming economic policy initiative, called for a flat tax Wednesday in Las Vegas. It was a confident delivery from a governor who seems to have gotten his swagger back. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: Oct. 19, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry lays out plans for a flat tax; rivalry between Perry and Romney gets personal; five men are arrested in San Antonio for either a strange prank or a terrorist plot. Full Story
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Texas ACLU Files Lawsuit Against ICE
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas filed a lawsuit in federal district court today on behalf of three women who were allegedly sexually assaulted at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's T. Don Hutto Family Residential Center in Taylor. Full Story
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The Brief: Oct. 19, 2011
Tuesday night’s Republican debate became a tempest in a Tea Party as tempers flared and jabs got personal. Full Story
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Campaign Roundup: The Week's Political News
State campaign news, candidate announcements, retirements and rumors from the past week. Full Story
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Accountability Measures Prompt Questions About Higher Ed Morale
It's not just a UT and A&M thing. Some say efforts to boost productivity at all levels of higher education threaten to cause a statewide faculty morale problem with serious long-term consequences. Full Story
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ICE Removes Record Number of Immigrants
Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced this week it deported more immigrants during the 2011 fiscal year than it did in any year since the agency's 2003 inception. Full Story
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Special Guest at Las Vegas Debate? A New Rick Perry
A new Rick Perry showed up to the GOP presidential debate in Las Vegas. In his strongest performance yet, Perry took every opportunity to attack Mitt Romney, and to turn the attention back to his talking points and rehearsed lines. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Gage Skidmore / Michael Koukoullis -
Liveblog: High Stakes for Perry in Tonight's Debate
We liveblogged the CNN/Western Republican Leadership Conference debate at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, where Gov. Rick Perry had one more shot to make a better impression before a several-week debate hiatus. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Gage Skidmore / Michael Koukoullis -
Dewhurst Tells Senate Committees to Study Drought, Wildfires
State Senate committees will soon begin studying the impact of drought on power generation, agriculture and the economy, along with how to improve Texas' response to wildfires, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced today. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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