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All Coverage

  • The Nuclear Option

    By Kate Galbraith

    Seventeen years ago, Texas turned on its last nuclear reactor, about 50 miles southwest of Fort Worth. In another decade, several more reactors could get built here — if events in Washington go the power companies' way. Full Story 

    Two new reactors, shown at the upper left-hand corner of this artist's rendering, could be added to the Comanche Peak nuclear plant in Somervell County.
    Credit: Graphic by Comanche Peak Nuclear Power Company

  • Enthusiasm, Yes. But Can the Democrats Win?

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    The Texas Democrats wrapped up their convention in Corpus Christi on Saturday, and the party's grass roots activists headed home newly energized to elect their candidates — including Bill White as governor. But as Ben Philpott of KUT and the Tribune reports, excitement may only be able to carry them so far. Full Story 

    Gubernatorial candidate Mayor Bill White works the rope line of supporters after his keynote speech at the Texas Democratic Convention Friday night in Corpus Christi, Tex.
    Credit: Spencer Selvidge

  • Signs of the Times

    By Forrest Burnson

    A quiet ideological battle is being waged yard to yard in affluent neighborhoods of San Antonio. It began with one side declaring "No socialism" in white letters on a black background. Some didn't like that message, so they changed it to read "No selfishness." Full Story 

    June 2010. The signs all over the Alamo Heights neighborhood.
    Credit: Forrest Burnson

  • Health Hacker?

    By Emily Ramshaw

    The FBI is investigating whether a hacker broke into the state’s confidential cancer database, possibly accessing personal information and medical records. Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs says state health officials notified his office in early May that a hacker was holding the Texas Cancer Registry hostage and demanding a ransom. Suehs says preliminary investigation results from the FBI indicate the threat may be a hoax but that if private records were compromised, health officials will quickly notify the people listed in the registry. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Pulling the Democrats' Dance Card

    By Ross Ramsey

    Two years after Democrats’ complicated presidential primary process — the “Texas Two-Step” — had voters across the state frustrated and outraged, party officials will continue to wrangle this weekend over the fairness of its election system. Full Story 

  • Democrats Still Dancing

    By Brandi Grissom and Reeve Hamilton

    Two years after the party’s hybrid primary/caucus system allowed Barack Obama to win more presidential delegates than Hillary Clinton, Texas Democrats voted at their convention this weekend in Corpus Christi to keep the controversial “Texas two-step.” Full Story 

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    Credit: Spencer Selvidge

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    Ramsey's interview with Rick Perry's chief consultant, Stiles on the massive amount of cash that cities are collecting from red-light cameras, Grissom on the coming debate over the Democrats' two-step primary/caucus process, Thevenot on the State Board of Education's latest controversial plan, Aguilar on immigrants deported for minor infractions, Ramshaw on the social conscience (or lack thereof) of medical schools, M. Smith on a nascent voter registration effort in Harris County, Hamilton's interview with the newest state senator, Philpott on Bill White's feistier week, Galbraith on how tighter EPA rules will affect Texas and Hu on questions about the governor's transparency: The best of our best from June 21 to 25, 2010. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • Two-Stepping In It

    By Brandi Grissom

    At this weekend's state Democratic Party convention in Corpus Christi, there will be the usual speeches from candidates like gubernatorial hopeful Bill White, a debate over the party’s platform and a vote to determine its next chair. But one of the biggest fights could come when party officials reconsider the system that Texas Democrats use to award delegates in the presidential primary election process. Full Story 

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    Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva

  • Is Rick Perry Transparent?

    By Elise Hu

    His campaign was criticized this week for failing to detail its expenditures. But Craig McDonald, who filed an ethics complaint on behalf of liberal watchdog group Texans for Public Justice, says there's a larger issue at play: the Perry administration's overall lack of openness. Full Story 

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  • Fred Lewis: The TT Interview

    By Morgan Smith

    Harris County has a voting problem, and the ethics reform lobbyist and campaign finance lawyer aims to do something about it. As he told the Tribune last week, he's behind a new nonpartisan voter registration drive that targets what he calculates are the 600,000 unregistered adult citizens there. Full Story 

    Fred Lewis in his Austin office on June 22, 2010.
    Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller

  • Crawford Reboots

    By Nathan Bernier, KUT News

    The international attention that came with being George W. Bush's other hometown attracted throngs of media, swarms of protesters and a steady stream of tourists. But as Nathan Bernier of KUT News reports, the small community west of Waco has undergone some big changes since the 43rd president handed over the keys to the White House. Full Story 

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