Texas DPS: "Avoid Mexico and Stay Alive"
The Texas Department of Public Safety is recommending — again — that Texans avoid traveling to Mexico for vacation. It's the second warning in less than five weeks. Full Story
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![The Rio Grande is the ending place of many high-speed pursuits. People escape consequences by driving their vehicles into the water and swimming to Mexico.]()
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Lawmakers Want State, Not Federal, Insurance Connector
State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, is no fan of "Obamacare." But he told his House colleages this afternoon that if they don't set up a health insurance exchange — one of the tenets of reform — by 2014, the federal government will do it for them. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Burka, House Members on the Future of Texas
On Wednesday night, the LBJ Future Forum presented a conversation with six members of the Texas House about the future of Texas. Paul Burka of Texas Monthly moderated. Full Story
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![Paul Burka, executive editor at Texas Monthly.]()
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Ron Kirk: The TT Interview
The U.S. trade representative took a brief time-out during his visit to Austin last week to talk with the Tribune about trade with Mexico, public perception of the Obama administration, Dallas politics and his own political future. Full Story
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Lawmakers Talk Grading, Attendance Policies
The Senate Education Committee has sent legislation on minimum grading and attendance policies to the full chamber, but bills on residential development and special education policy have stalled. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for March 1, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Senate Democrats could block forensic nomination; disability advocates rally at Capitol; voter ID heard in House Full Story
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![Williamson County DA John Bradley speaks during Senate Nomination Committee to the Forensic Science Commision. February 28th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Disability Advocates: "No Cuts! No Cuts!"
Disability advocates gathered at the Capitol today to call on lawmakers to use the Rainy Day Fund, to raise new revenue and, above all else, to not cut community-based services for the disabled. Over and over again the crowd chanted, "No cuts! No cuts!" Full Story
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![People with disabilities protest at the Texas Capitol against budget cuts to home and community-based services on March 1, 2011.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Voter ID Gets Tense Hearing
The voter ID bill came before House lawmakers this morning — and it was a tense scene. Even supporters of the measure had to grapple with testimony from people who endorse the bill on anti-illegal immigration grounds. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Do Grants Offer Local Control, or Strings?
The Obama administration’s education budget includes $900 million for the Race to the Top program. And this time around, there’s a twist: Individual districts — as opposed to states — can apply for the funds. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: Top Texas News for March 1, 2011
Gov. Rick Perry, on a visit to the White House, swatted down a health care olive branch on Monday. Full Story
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Calling It Quits on Smoking Cessation?
Finding ways to cut health care costs is all the rage under the Pink Dome — and curbing smoking is a proven way to do it. But budget proposals slash tobacco cessation programs by more than 80 percent. Full Story
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Former Mayors Offer Advice to Austin
The city of Austin could follow in the footsteps of other major Texas cities if it changed its form of government to single-member districts in time for the next general election, former big-city mayors said Monday night. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Hispanic Lawmakers Spar Over Politics of Race, Education
Protecting education and recognizing that the rapidly growing Hispanic population will gain a major political voice in Texas were themes that emerged Monday at the Tribune's “New Day Rising” forum. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
TWIA Calls Emergency Meeting on Oversight
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association called an emergency board meeting this afternoon to discuss the Texas Department of Insurance’s decision to put the agency on administrative oversight. Full Story
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Are Texas Hispanics Up for Grabs?
Republican analysts said at today's Texas Tribune "New Day Rising" forum that as Texas' Hispanic population continues to surge, its traditionally Democratic electorate is more and more up for grabs. Full Story
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![Voting signs in Austin during the 2010 election cycle.]()
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Texplainer: Are Illegal Immigrants Importing Illness?
In a recent Tribune article, state Rep. Leo Berman alleged that illegal immigrants are bringing infectious diseases into Texas. Is he right? Full Story
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Rev. Carroll Pickett: The TT Interview
The onetime death house chaplain on what it was like to witness the most state executions of anyone in his job (95, by lethal injection), what changed his mind about the death penalty and why lawmakers should continue to fund the chaplain program. Full Story
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The Midday Brief: Top Texas Headlines for Feb. 28, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Pitts bill draws on Rainy Day Fund; forensic science chairman approved; freed man sues state of Texas Full Story
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Exoneree Sues to Clear Name, Get Compensation
Anthony Graves, who was freed from jail this year after spending 18 years behind bars for brutal murders he did not commit, sued the state of Texas today to officially clear his name and to force the Texas comptroller to pay him for the time he was wrongfully imprisoned. Full Story
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Forensic Commissioners Answer to Legislators
The Senate Nominations Committee voted 4-2 today to recommend approval of the state forensic board Chairman John Bradley's appointment. Sens. José Rodríguez and Kirk Watson voted against Bradley's nomination. Full Story
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![Williamson County DA John Bradley during his Senate Nomination Committee to the Forensic Science Committee. February 28th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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