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All Coverage

  • The Polling Center: White's No Mad Man

    By Jim Henson

    Bill White deciding to travel to points far from Austin and Dallas while President Barack Obama visits the state today to raise money and speak at the University of Texas presents us with yet another mountain-out-of-a-molehill political story in the long, hot summer of gassy coverage of the governor’s race. A look at Obama’s standing in Texas makes it clear that White would be nuts to share a stage with Obama unless he feels like doing a favor for Gov. Rick Perry’s ad team. Full Story 

    Democratic candidate for Texas governor Bill White campaigns in Henderson at the East Texans for Texas rally
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • "We Need Your Help Here"

    By Julián Aguilar

    A government report finds the U.S. has been too slow to aid Mexico and other crime-ridden countries at a time when drug-related violence is escalating. Efforts to combat alien smuggling have also fallen short. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jason Ganser

  • Bill's Barack Problem

    By Ross Ramsey

    Ever had a date you didn't want to introduce to your mother? Bill White knows how you felt. The Democratic nominee for governor will campaign today in Midland, Abilene and Alvarado. Where he won't be is in Austin and Dallas, where Barack Obama, the leader of White's party, will be holding two fundraisers and giving a speech on higher education — and, it turns out, meeting briefly with Rick Perry to talk about border issues. It remains to be seen whether avoiding the president is a plus or a minus in what is already an uphill battle to oust a 10-year incumbent. Full Story 

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    Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman

  • Learnstrong

    By Reeve Hamilton

    Can a $3 million marketing campaign to promote higher education change the culture of a country-sized state in which just 27 percent of the population has a college degree or certificate? It worked for cancer ... Full Story 

    "Generation TX" stickers
    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • The End of Private Practice?

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Across Texas, hospital systems are scooping up physician groups and solo practitioners, scrambling to create the kinds of coordinated medical teams that federal health care reform puts a premium on. But some health care providers say the gold-rush-style push is an overreaction driven by fear of the unknown. Full Story 

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  • Working in a Bad Economy

    By Mose Buchele, KUT News

    As the nation’s unemployment rate hovers around 9.5 percent, the jobless are hardest hit by the poor economy. But as Mose Buchele of KUT News reports, the stress of working through the downturn is also taking a toll on those who have jobs. Full Story 

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  • Not Ready for Prime Time

    By Ross Ramsey

    There couldn't be more difference between the two candidates for an open spot on the Texas Railroad Commission. If you see them one after the other, it's hard to conclude that Republican David Porter is the better choice. He's timid, uncomfortable in public, shows no signs of leadership and has apparently been through a quick political charm school curriculum designed to make him risk-averse and to keep him from making a mistake that would put the seat in Democratic hands. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Ross Ramsey

    Thevenot on bogus public school accountability rankings, Garcia-Ditta on what locals think of increased patrols on the border, Stiles and Ramsey on where Kay Bailey Hutchison's donors have landed, Grissom on the pay gap between state and local police, Cervantes on how tweaks to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder will impact Texas, M. Smith on the sinking prospects for an East Texas wetlands project, Ergenbright on the challenge of educating autistic children, Aguilar on efforts to legalize medicinal marijuana, Ramshaw on former foster children having trouble getting records from the state and Burnson on public health officials battling imported infectious diseases: The best of our best from August 2 to 6, 2010. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman

  • Crossing While Contagious

    By Forrest Burnson

    The 1,200-mile border it shares with Mexico makes Texas one the most vulnerable states when it comes to imported infectious diseases. In a majority of cases, Customs and Border Protection officers are unable to detect these public health threats at ports of entry, according to a new Centers for Disease Control study. Full Story 

    Scene from the Laredo port of entry
    Credit: Marjorie Cotera