We stuck with the presidential race and the governor in this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, asking for their impressions of Gov. Rick Perry and how his candidacy reflects on the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo.png){kind=logo}
Texans will vote on 10 constitutional amendments on Nov. 8, and early voting is under way. Andy Uhler of KUT News has a look at Proposition 4, which would allow counties to issue bonds for redevelopment projects and improvements. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/110210_elexdayvoter.jpg)
Your afternoon reading: opponents respond to Perry's debate hesitancy; Cruz slams group his wife belonged to; officials urge Perry to halt execution Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/cf0ac4b6dc7a8f13ff73392307d4f29d/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Debate%20Stage%202011)
More than a dozen current and former lawmakers, prosecutors, judges, police officers and even a former Texas governor sent a letter today calling on Gov. Rick Perry to allow for DNA testing death row inmate Hank Skinner says could prove his innocence. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20100120-IMG_2761-2.jpg)
Nearly 62,500 more students enrolled in colleges and universities in Texas this fall than did in 2010, according to preliminary enrollment data released by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_StudentsUT_MS_2.jpg)
In this edition of the Texas Tribune Weekend Insider, reporter Becca Aaronson talks about the embattled Texas weatherization program getting back on track. Reporter Kate Galbraith introduces us to a family that's been "windmilling" for more than 100 years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/oct28.jpg)
Bedeviled by debates, Rick Perry may have settled on a familiar strategy: skip them. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/2cb1f7070f057c87563b74aef196f7d6/BD%20INC%20Debate%20Stage%20CMS%202011)
At least some Republican 2012 primary candidates for the Texas House hope to trade the anti-government cries of the last election cycle for a message with a decidedly different focus: the state of Texas public schools. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/EducationsVotingRepublicans.jpg)
Despite the record dry stretch, most Texans are still far from running out of water. But the drought's economic impact is beginning to extend beyond agriculture and into tourism, real estate and other staples of urban economies. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RainOnMe.jpg)
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied a request from former Williamson County District Attorney Ken Anderson to keep him from providing testimony in an investigation of what led to the wrongful conviction of Michael Morton. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Morton-CCR.JPG)
In an interview with Piers Morgan that aired tonight on CNN, Donald Trump said the so-called birther issue is "positive" for Gov. Rick Perry's presidential campaign. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/CM_Capture_5.png)
This week on the TribCast, Evan, Ross, Reeve and special guest Ana Marie Cox review Rick Perry's week so far, including his birth certificate "joke," his campaign shake-up and his flat tax proposal. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry has delayed, for the second time, federally required disclosures about his wealth and income. The Federal Election Commission granted Perry a second 45-day extension for his personal financial statement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/15d2021dbcd2e5875ff73d664c9f5275/BD%20INC%20Tiffin%20Perry%20Pistols%20140%202011)
Whatever Gov. Rick Perry was doing with the birther issue, he isn’t doing it anymore. Perry now says he has no doubt Obama is a native U.S. citizen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d1dc1ec004d5653a3d3265edd835448b/BD%20INC%20Obama%20233%202011)
Your afternoon reading: Perry comes out against Confederate license plates; Lamar Smith endorses Romney; anti-tax groups taking aim at constitutional amendments Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Cap_sized2.jpg)
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has asked congressional colleagues to investigate whether federal officials ran a gun-walking program in Texas similar to the controversial and now defunct Fast and Furious operation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e705b861bd9f1ac6a6572cc5fd9fec1d/BD%20INC%20Cornyn%20Border%2003%202011)
Texas voters started going to the polls this week to decide whether to add 10 amendments to the state's massive Constitution, potentially taking the total number of amendments to 477. A few of them have drawn the ire of anti-tax groups. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/VoteHere_1.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry does not support a Confederate flag specialty license plate under consideration by the state Department of Motor Vehicles board, he said in Florida this morning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Perry-2012_Campaign-002.jpg)
In his flat-tax speech on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry also listed five ways to fix Social Security. One of those, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, is based on a system Galveston County created after opting out of the federal program. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-GalvestonSS-008.JPG)
Rick Perry's presidential campaign reportedly spent $175,000 on its first ad buy in Iowa, whose crucial caucus is a little more than two months away. The ad focuses on job creation efforts in Texas during Perry's tenure as governor. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/CM_Capture_3_1.png)