The founder of Teach for America and Highland Park High School alumna on why she's (generally) positive about the direction of public education in America and how Texas school districts should cope with deep funding cuts. Full Story
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Texas A&M University System Chancellor Mike McKinney is stepping down effective July 1, 2011. "The time has come for me to step aside," he explained this morning in a memo to System employees. Full Story
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President Barack Obama will be in Texas today for a fundraising event, and at least one Republican running for U.S. Senate, former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams, is eager to welcome him to the state — sort of. Full Story
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Not that he was stepping onto the friendliest of political territory anyway, but President Barack Obama's visit to Texas today has coincided with a dramatic display of Republican legislative might. Full Story
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In a Texarkana courtroom Monday, Delma Banks Jr. faced again the district attorney's office that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled committed misconduct when it successfully fought to send him to death row in 1980 for the shooting death of 16-year-old Richard Whitehead. Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: How does a special session work? And how is it different from the regular session? Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry has unsuccessfully tried to get a meeting with President Barack Obama, who will be visiting Texas today, to discuss the federal government's denial of a wildfire disaster declaration in Texas, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports. Full Story
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After hours of contentious and often emotional debate, the Texas House passed HB 12, the controversial "sanctuary cities" legislation. The measure was passed on a 100 to 47 vote just after midnight. Full Story
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What will happen next in the debate over the contentious “sanctuary cities” bill is anyone’s guess. As the afternoon bleeds into night, Democrats in the Texas House are still huddling on the floor to discuss their next move. Full Story
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Senators today amended an education finance reform bill to allow community college students to carry concealed handguns on campus, increase the cost of cigarettes and allow drastic changes to university administration. Full Story
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Sen. Jeff Wentworth is relentless with campus carry, and today, the San Antonio Republican got his way. Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: What's all the talk about deadlines at the Legislature this week? Aren't there three weeks left in the session? Full Story
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University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers delivered a speech today — two days before the University of Texas System Board of Regents gathers in Austin for a highly anticipated meeting — outlining the university's budget concerns and plans for innovation. Full Story
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An effort by Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, to require undocumented Texas students to pay out-of-state tuition rates sparked emotional debate in the Senate today, and forced Birdwell to pull the measure down. Full Story
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Texas got one step closer today to becoming one of the few states with a rule that awards legal fees to prevailing parties in lawsuits. Full Story
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The state Senate today approved a conference committee report on the voter identification bill that includes changes that would allow citizens to use a new form of documentation to cast their ballots. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Senate approves concealed carry for legislators; tweaked voter ID bill gets final approval; Obama signaling he'll campaign in Texas Full Story
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Fraudulent fishermen better reel it in. The Senate passed a bill today to make cheating in a fishing tournament up to a third-degree felony, sending the measure on to the governor. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers — current and former — may soon be able to pack heat at church, the hospital, a sporting event or even bars. Full Story
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House debate hit dramatic heights on Saturday in what could go down as the Great Mother's Day Fight of 2011. Full Story
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