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All Coverage

  • "Fed Up" Frenzy

    By Justin Dehn

    After a media tour in New York, Gov. Rick Perry returned to Texas to promote his new book, "Fed Up!" San Antonio supporters were not only eager to read the book but hopeful that the governor would run for president. Full Story 

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  • The Most Unpopular Fraction

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Whatever the size of their majority in the Texas House, Republicans in the Texas Senate have to contend with the rule requiring two-thirds of members to agree to bring a bill up for vote. That's 21 out of 31 — and there are only 19 Republicans in the upper chamber. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, some in the GOP want the rule changed. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Going Head to Head

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Whether reconditioned football helmets sufficiently protect young players from concussions and other serious injuries has become a subject of fierce debate. Texas parents are torn between the desire of their kids to play and increasingly hard-to-ignore studies about the relationship between football and long-term brain damage. Coaches struggle to balance safety with fans’ cries for harder hits, bigger players and crushing wins. And at least one upstart manufacturer is contributing to the public's unease by challenging the industry’s long-standing practice of refurbishing old helmets. Full Story 

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    Credit: Tom Pennington

  • The Crackdown Begins

    By Elise Hu

    Republican state lawmakers, buoyed by their party’s resounding victories on Election Day, have filed several bills ahead of the next legislative session that signal how far they're willing to go in tackling illegal immigration. State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, filed a nine-bill bundle that included a proposal to require picture IDs at polling places. Full Story 

    Newly-elected state Rep. David Simpson at the head of the line to prefile bills on Nov. 8, 2010.
    Credit: Elise Hu

  • A Death at Daystar

    By Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune, and Terri Langford, Houston Chronicle

    The same Houston-area residential treatment center where staffers forced disabled girls to fight each other — prompting child welfare officials to halt admissions and hire a safety monitor — is now under fire for the asphyxiation of a 16-year-old boy who died Friday after a restraint was applied by a staffer in a closet. Full Story 

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    Credit: Nick de la Torre / The Houston Chronicle

  • Surrendering to the Giant?

    By Reeve Hamilton

    After a month of contentious debate, the future of a partnership between the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College that has flourished for the last two decades remains up in the air. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • A Tsunami of GOP Bills

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Monday was the first day that state lawmakers could file bills for the 2011 session. As Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, the substance of the legislation is a reflection of conservative success on Election Day. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • 2010: Donna Howard Wins in a Squeaker

    By Elise Hu

    It appears state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, will keep her seat in the Texas House. After overseas ballots were counted Monday, the final vote tally gave Howard a 16-vote victory over Republican challenger Dan Neil. Full Story 

    State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, and her GOP challenger, Dan Neil.
    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • HuTube: First to File

    By Elise Hu

    It's the first day to prefile bills for the next legislative session, and lawmakers lined up early to get in their legislation. (Some lawmakers were more eager than others.) Our latest HuTube post has the action from inside the House clerk's office. Full Story 

    Newly-elected state Rep. David Simpson at the head of the line to prefile bills on Nov. 8, 2010.
    Credit: Elise Hu

  • TribBlog: A Death At Daystar

    By Emily Ramshaw, The Texas Tribune, and Terri Langford, Houston Chronicle

    A 16-year-old boy has died of an apparent restraint-related asphyxiation at the Daystar Residential Treatment Center, the same facility where children with disabilities were forced to fight each other a couple of years ago. Full Story 

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    Credit: Nick de la Torre / The Houston Chronicle

  • Guest Column: Over Before It Started

    By Jason Stanford

    On April 15, 2009, Rick Perry positioned himself for the first time as the defender of Texas against Washington oppression — and the 2010 race for governor was decided. Full Story 

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