The Brief: March 19, 2015
Lawmakers late Wednesday afternoon signaled that they will tap the brakes on plans to consolidate the state's health and human services agencies. Full Story
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![State Rep. Four Price, R-Amarillo and Sen Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, at the final Sunset Advisory Commission meeting on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz's Digital Guru Tapped for Likely 2016 Campaign
Josh Perry, Ted Cruz's top digital strategist, is joining the Texas senator's political operation in Houston. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns in a Barrington, N.H. manufacturing plant.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston -
The Brief: March 18, 2015
A bill allowing the carrying of handguns on college and university campuses wasn't heard on the Senate floor on Tuesday because of a paperwork error. But it is expected to be heard today and will likely pass. Full Story
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![Sen. Joan Huffman R-Houston]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: March 17, 2015
Oil prices are falling again with worries growing anew that the price per barrel might dip below $40. Full Story
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![An oil pump.]()
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Perry and Cruz Deploy Differing Styles in New Hampshire
Both Rick Perry and Ted Cruz are showing New Hampshire voters that they are willing to brave icy weather to travel across the state and get their messages to voters. But the two likely Republican presidential candidates are taking different paths. Full Story
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![Rick Perry and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and 2014 RedState Gathering at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas on August 8, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
The Brief: March 16, 2015
Legislative activity begins to ramp up in the two chambers this week with speculation rampant that the Senate might take up as early as today legislation that would allow permitted gun owners to carry handguns openly. Full Story
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![Anti-guns advocates inside Texas Capitol where the Senate Committee on State Affairs is listening to testimony SB 11 & SB 17 both related to handguns on Feb. 12th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Cruz Hunts for Conservative Support in New Hampshire
He is not officially a candidate for president, but U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz edged a little closer to becoming one as he went looking for conservative voters in New Hampshire Sunday. Full Story
![Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns in a Barrington, N.H. manufacturing plant.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston -
At SXSW, Paul Courts Nontraditional GOP Voters
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, came to Austin this weekend eager to show he's not your average Republican. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Rand Paul speaks Sunday at the launch event for a new group based in Austin. The organization, Liberty Action Texas, wants to see more young people involved in politics.]()
Credit: Patrick Svitek -
The Playlist: Something in the Water
This week, we published Undrinkable, our series on why tens of thousands along the Texas border don’t have ready access to safe, clean drinking water, so we start this week’s playlist of the week’s news with “Something in the Water” by Prince. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by John Jordan -
Perry Goes Small in New Hampshire
On the road in New Hampshire, Rick Perry is going back to his political roots, visiting small and rural venues while other candidates focus on bigger cities and media markets. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry in Lancaster, N.H.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston -
Cruz Heavy on Border Rhetoric, Light on Trips
As he feels out a possible presidential bid, Ted Cruz has made border security and immigration his calling cards. But Texas' first Hispanic U.S. senator has only made three trips to border since taking office. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz holding a press conference at the Anzalduas International Bridge in Mission surrounded by a group of local ranchers who said they've been affected by poor border security.]()
Credit: Doug Young -
The Brief: March 11, 2015
State contracting has become one of the signature issues of the legislative session, but finding a fix won't be easy. Full Story
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![Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, wraps up the Sunset Advisory Commission hearing on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz Spokeswoman Heads to Houston for Likely Presidential Campaign
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's public face to Capitol Hill, press secretary Catherine Frazier, is heading home to Houston to join his political operation. Full Story
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![Sen. Ted Cruz listens to a question in the final moments of his keynote interview at TribFest on Sept. 20, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz Shot at Clinton Greeted With Grumbles
Speaking to a firefighters group on Tuesday gave U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz a chance to show how he might expand his following beyond a passionate conservative base in a general election. The reception he got was chilly. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the 2014 RedState Gathering at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth on Aug. 8, 2014.]()
Credit: Cooper Neill -
The Brief: March 10, 2015
Legislation intended to stop some government officials from collecting retirement benefits before leaving office appears to have a better prognosis the second time around. Full Story
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The Brief: March 9, 2015
This weekend, the Tribune launched a five-part series exploring the difficulties of people along the Texas-Mexico border in maintaining access to regular sources of drinking water. Full Story
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With New Iowa Approach, Perry Looks to Flip Script
If you listen to the early speculation about the 2016 presidential race, you won't hear Rick Perry's name mentioned much among national analysts. But Perry is taking on a strategy in Iowa that has proved successful in recent Republican contests. Full Story
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![Former Texas Governor Rick Perry campaigns at a Pizza Ranch in Indianola, Iowa.]()
Credit: Abby Livingston -
The Playlist: The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines
With a story this weekend on a lawsuit involving a Houston dry cleaner, plus our coverage of Rick Perry and Ted Cruz appearing in Iowa, we're leading off this week's playlist of the week’s news with Joni Mitchell’s “The Dry Cleaner From Des Moines.” Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
Cruz: Timing of Menendez Probe "Awfully Coincidental"
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says the timing of the pending indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., "seems awfully coincidental." Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. speaks at the Iowa Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015.]()
Credit: Rebecca Miller -
In Iowa, Cruz and Perry Won't Pledge to Biofuels
Former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made their presidential cases to the heavyweights of Iowa agriculture Saturday, and each made no apologies for opposing one of the state's favorite programs. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz]()
Credit: Cooper Neill