The Brief: Aug. 4, 2014
A new report raises fresh doubts about a key witness instrumental in securing the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. This new evidence forces again the question as to whether Texas executed an innocent man. Full Story
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![Cameron Todd Willingham was executed on Feb. 17, 2004.]()
Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
The Brief: Aug. 1, 2014
Ted Cruz has become the latest D.C.-based practitioner of the Pottery Barn rule: He broke the border bill, and now, possibly more than any other single person, he owns it. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas thanks Republican delegates in Fort Worth on June 6, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 31, 2014
This week's House committee hearing in which leading officials in charge of executing the plan said they never asked for Guard troops revealed another aspect of Rick Perry's border action, according to the Houston Chronicle's Patrick Svitek. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry announces the deployment of National Guard troops along the Texas border as Texas Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listens at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas Governor's Race: Analyzing the Money
The candidates for Texas governor have been raising millions for their campaigns since last summer. The Tribune identified their top donors, famous givers and other noteworthy contributions. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: July 30, 2014
Top officials at the Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday told a select House committee looking at the costs of the ongoing border operation that they did not request Guard troops. Full Story
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![Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Congress Holds Hearing on Red River Land Fight
UPDATED: Lawmakers at a congressional hearing Tuesday considered legislation that seeks to clear up confusion over whether Texans who live along the Red River own their property — or whether the federal government does. Full Story
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![A view of the Red River looking east, north of Bonham, Texas. Texas is to the right, and Oklahoma is on the left. The border between the two states runs along the south (right) bank of the river.]()
Credit: Henley Quadling -
With Summer Ads, Some Campaigns Are Testing Conventional Wisdom
In Texas, the traditional model for general election campaign advertising — don't run ads before Labor Day — is being challenged by some campaigns. Full Story
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![Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott isn't on TV right now, but he is spending campaign funds to screen his latest 30-second spot at theaters before screenings of some summer blockbusters.]()
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The Brief: July 25, 2014
Can those National Guard troops being sent to the border arrest people? The latest word is they can. And the reason why is that Rick Perry sent them, and not the federal government. Full Story
![Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texplainer: Does New AP U.S. History Curriculum Contain Common Core?
Hey, Texplainer: If high school students take AP U.S. history, does that mean they are studying Common Core? Wouldn't that be illegal in Texas? Full Story
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![The new U.S. history framework is the first of what will be updates to all 34 AP subjects offered as a result of a redesign effort launched by the College Board in 2006.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Amid Lawsuit, Farmers Insurance PAC Gives Thousands to Abbott
Critics of Attorney General Greg Abbott say he has not fairly represented Texas homeowners who were charged too much by an insurance company whose employees' PAC has given generously to his campaign. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott speaks to supporters at Lavazza Espression on Congress Avenue in Austin.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: July 22, 2014
The words of the day on Monday were "force multiplier," as in what Gov. Rick Perry said the activation of up to 1,000 National Guard troops would do for the border surge effort already underway by the Department of Public Safety. Full Story
![Gov. Rick Perry announces the deployment of National Guard troops along the Texas border as Texas Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listens at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 21, 2014
Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will make a border security announcement at 2 p.m. at the state Capitol. The two are expected to announce the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry and DPS Director Steve McCraw spoke at a June 23, 2014, news conference following a tour of a federal facility housing unaccompanied minors in Weslaco, Texas. The state is providing $1.3 million per week to step up border patrols.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Abbott Stands By Transparency Record Some Say is Mixed
Ask Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott about his record on government transparency and he will tell you it is one worth bragging about. Open government advocates say his record is more varied. Full Story
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![Republican attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott speaks one-on-one with members of the media following his appearance at a Congress Avenue coffeehouse on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: July 17, 2014
Wendy Davis' fundraising figures from Tuesday that showed her raising slightly more money than her GOP rival for governor are now being questioned. Full Story
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![Texas gubernatorial hopeful Wendy Davis addresses delegates at the Black Caucus at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 27, 2014.]()
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Davis Money Haul Less Than Advertised
Democrat Wendy Davis' campaign for governor boasted that it outraised Republican Greg Abbott over the last few months and had hauled in $13.1 million. The actual reports, published online Wednesday, told a different story. Full Story
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![State Sen. Wendy Davis, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, addressing supporters on July 13, 2014, in East Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Fact Check: Greg Abbott at the State GOP Convention
With help from The Washington Post’s Truth Teller, we’re analyzing the speeches that Texas’ candidates for governor gave at their respective state political party conventions. Here we focus on Republican Greg Abbott. Full Story
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![Republican candidate Greg Abbott gives his vision for a new Texas if he's elected governor in a speech to Republican delegates on June 6, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 16, 2014
Greg Abbott's disclosure that he has close to $36 million in the bank as the campaign for governor starts to kick into high gear dominated a day where he and his Democratic rival Wendy Davis posted big fundraising numbers. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis are shown on primary night on March 4, 2014.]()
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Abbott Has $35.6 Million War Chest; Davis Reports $13.1 Million Total
Attorney General Greg Abbott has amassed a $35.6 million war chest in the race for Texas governor. His Democratic opponent, Sen. Wendy Davis, says she has $13.1 million for the effort. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott, then a candidate for governor and now the governor-elect, spoke at a NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church in Bedford on Nov. 12, 2013. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who was also running for governor, spoke to veterans at Luby's in Forest Hill the day before.]()
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The Brief: July 14, 2014
The challenges to Republican-drawn maps in 2011 return to a San Antonio federal courtroom Monday morning with The Associated Press reporting that the U.S. Department of Justice is deciding to become more closely involved with the case. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Davis Presses Attack on Abbott Over Chemical Plant Ruling
Wendy Davis, the Democratic nominee for governor, wrapped up her five-day “Texans Deserve to Know” tour on Saturday, calling Republican opponent Greg Abbott an “insider working for other insiders.” The Abbott campaign said Davis was misleading Texans. Full Story
![State Sen. Wendy Davis, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, addressing supporters on July 13, 2014, in East Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond