The Brief: Jan. 5, 2015
Three special elections are on tap for Tuesday, including two contests to find replacements for a pair of San Antonio Democrats who have opted to run for mayor. Full Story
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![Campaign signs outside a polling place at Zilker Elementary School in Austin on March 4, 2014.]()
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Inside Texas Politics: Looking Ahead
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey share some political predictions for 2015 with host Jason Whitely. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics on Jan. 4, 2015.]()
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Analysis: With New Officeholders, a Possible Legislative Power Shift
The lieutenant governor used to be the most powerful official in state government, but with a record-setting term in the governor's office, Rick Perry moved that post into the top spot. With new people in the top jobs, will the power shift back? Full Story
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![Sen. Dan Patrick R-Houston, listens to Attorney General Greg Abbott during a Senate Finance Committee hearing on Feb. 5, 2013. What will the balance of power look like between the incoming lieutenant governor and governor?]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Inside Texas Politics: Perry, Abbott and Straus
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics: Gov. Rick Perry and the renaming of a building, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott tours the state and more on the race for speaker of the state House. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey on WFAA-TV's "Inside Texas Politics" on Sept. 21, 2014.]()
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Gay Marriage Ban on Precarious Legal Ground
Almost a decade after voters overwhelmingly added it to the Texas Constitution, the clock may be running out on the state's gay marriage ban. Full Story
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![Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman, plaintiffs in the Texas same-sex marriage lawsuit, pose before a a town hall discussion about the upcoming hearing before the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
As Oil Prices Plunge, Texas Eyes Are on Hegar
Incoming Comptroller Glenn Hegar is on the hot seat as a nosedive in crude oil prices – and the increasingly gloomy forecasts that have followed – cast a pall over the next legislative session. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar (far right) stands with chief revenue estimators past and future. From left: Dale Craymer, Billy Hamilton and Tom Currah, the incoming estimator.]()
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The Brief: Dec. 18, 2014
The awarding of a no-bid Medicaid fraud detection contract to the 21CT company continues to draw scrutiny with three separate news reports published Wednesday evening. Full Story
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![Jack Stick, the top lawyer for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel -
The Brief: Dec. 17, 2014
In an election where Austin voters changed their form of city government, an outsider, Steve Adler, easily bested City Councilman Mike Martinez for mayor. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 16, 2014
The Tribune's Jim Malewitz tries to get at, in a piece also published in Politico Magazine, the root causes that spurred the town of Denton to approve a ban on fracking last month. Full Story
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Dissecting Denton: How One City Banned Fracking
State lawmakers, the oil and gas industry and national environmental groups are asking deep questions about Denton, home to two universities, 277 gas wells and, now, thanks to a group of local activists, Texas’ first ban on fracking. Full Story
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![A grassroots effort to ban fracking in Denton succeeded last fall, but has now been trumped by state lawmakers.]()
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The Playlist: Tears Over Beers
Three Texas breweries filed a lawsuit against the state for allegedly "stifling the craft beer renaissance," so we begin this week's news-inspired playlist with "Tears Over Beers" by Modern Baseball. Full Story
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Roundup: Health Agency Overhaul and Abbott's Agenda
This week in the Roundup: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott highlights the issues he'll prioritize in the coming legislative session, the state loses out on millions of federal dollars for pre-kindergarten programs, and Texas' health care system is on the cusp of a major overhaul. Full Story
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Newsreel: Abbott Priorities, HHS, Charter School
This week in the Newsreel: Abbott unveils key issues for next session, the sunset commission recommends health and human services agencies be consolidated and 14 charter schools don't meet state performance standards. Full Story
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Court Tells TDCJ to Name Lethal Injection Drug Suppliers
The name of the compounding pharmacy supplying lethal injection drugs for Texas executions must be released because it is public information, a judge ruled late Thursday. Full Story
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Panetti Doesn't Need Mental Health Treatment, Prison Doctor Says
As the state and Scott Panetti's defense team battled over whether his execution should be halted last week, a four-page affidavit provided a tantalizing peek into the mental health care Texas has provided for the schizophrenic death row inmate. Full Story
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![Death row inmate Scott Panetti.]()
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The Brief: Dec. 9, 2014
The New York Times is reporting on efforts by GOP big donors and fundraisers "to clear the field" so that a single establishment candidate can compete for the 2016 presidential nomination. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Says Education Will Be Top Policy Priority
During a news conference in which he announced the selection of his senior staff, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott said Monday that he wants to improve the educational foundation that students receive in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. Full Story
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![During a news conference on Nov. 11, 2014, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced that he's appointing Cameron County Judge Carlos Casco as the next Texas secretary of state.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Livestream: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott on Transition, 84th Session
We're livestreaming Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's news conference Monday, in which he will give an update on the transition process and outline his priorities for the upcoming legislative session. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 8, 2014
Incoming Gov. Greg Abbott made it clear he would not play favorites in 2016, telling Meet the Press moderator Chuck Todd in a Sunday appearance on the show that his endorsement would come only after Republicans select their presidential candidate. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Abbott Declines to Endorse Perry, Cruz for 2016 Run
Texas Attorney General and Gov.-Elect Greg Abbott on Sunday declined to throw his support behind any the Texas Republicans rumored to be considering a run for the White House in 2016. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott on NBC's Meet the Press]()
Credit: NBC
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