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  • Keeping Full Day Public Pre-K Alive, With Fees

    By Morgan Smith

    The 82nd Legislature delivered a fatal whack to state grants for full-day pre-kindergarten. But some public schools are refusing to let the budgetary machete finish off their early childhood programs, choosing instead to charge tuition to students. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Counting Confusion Keeps Cowboy Confined

    By Brandi Grissom

    Diabetic cowboy outlaw Roddy Dean Pippin thinks his ride out of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Carole S. Young unit should have started Thursday. Prison officials plan to keep him until 2013 — and so taxpayers continue paying for his extensive health care needs. Full Story 

    Roddy Pippin, a severely diabetic prisoner who is serving time for cattle rustling, points to court documents he has filed challenging the amount of time that prison officials say remains on his sentence.
    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller

  • Video: Did Democrats Bungle Sanctuary Cities Bill?

    By Thanh Tan

    One of the most emotional and controversial issues of the year centered around the sanctuary cities bil. Senate Democrats managed to block SB 9 during the regular session, but it's found a new life in the special session. Behind the scenes, some question whether the Democrats are now reaping what they sowed when one of their members pushed the Legislature into overtime. Full Story 

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  • Fun (Actually in the Water) on the Trinity River

    By Joe Nick Patoski

    The Trinity has never been much-loved like the Guadalupe, the San Marcos or the Frio. For the first time, both Dallas and Fort Worth are making efforts to revitalize it and make it a destination for recreation. Full Story 

    Floaters splash and stay cool at "Rockin' the River-Live on the Trinity", a free event sponsored by the Trinity River Vision.
    Credit: Rodger Mallison

  • Anthony Graves: The TT Interview

    By Brandi Grissom

    The state of Texas incarcerated him for nearly two decades — and nearly executed him twice — for murders he didn't commit. Now, the state is balking at giving him the $1 million he's owed for all the years he spent wrongfully imprisoned. Despite it all, Anthony Graves remains positive. Full Story 

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    Credit: Todd Wiseman

  • Video: Perino, Trippi Size Up Perry Candidacy

    By Thanh Tan

    In a "Power Play Live" webcast posted on Fox News' website, host Chris Stirewalt discusses the GOP's fast-growing fascination with Perry's potential presidential candidacy with Dana Perino, past press secretary for former President George W. Bush, and Democratic strategist Joe Trippi. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • House Tentatively Approves Prisoner Health Care Fee

    By Ioanna Makris

    Current law requires inmates to make a copayment of $3 per doctor visit. HB 26, by state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, seeks to offset some of the prison health care costs that taxpayers now absorb by requiring inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to pay an annual fee of $100 if they use prison medical services. Full Story 

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    Credit: Dave Nakayama

  • House Approves Key Education Bills

    By Morgan Smith

    When the Senate passed her two signature education bills, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, made an effort to keep her colleagues from weighing them down with extra amendments. The lower chamber took a different approach. Full Story 

    Several Democrats line up at back mic to speak with Rep. Rob Eissler R-The Woodlands while discussing amendments to SB8 on June 16th, 2011
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • Poll: Obama Almost as Popular as Perry in Texas

    By Ari Auber

    Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders. Full Story 

    Gov. Rick Perry on May 30th, 2011
    Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera

  • Guest Column: An SBOE That Resists the Herd Mentality

    By David Bradley

    Following a legislative session that sought more accountability, monitoring and oversight of public education, the capacities of the State Board of Education will be severely tested. The good news is that the board’s 15 members are up to the task. Full Story 

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  • Government Pay Update Completes UT System

    By Ryan Murphy

    We have a special update to the Tribune's government employee salary database, adding recently acquired salary data from the last six agencies missing from the the University of Texas System, Texas Woman's University and the Sabine River Authority. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman