The death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin has put self-defense laws like Florida’s into focus. What does Texas law say about using deadly force in self-defense?
Guides
Looking for information on how to prepare for a weather emergency? Or do you have questions about Texas politics? The Tribune offers several resources, such as explainers, guides, and articles to provide answers and equip Texans with the right context. You can browse our collection of articles to understand how Texas politics and policies affect you.
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Guides
Texplainer: Why Didn’t Perry Attend National Governors Conference?
Why did Gov. Rick Perry opt out of the National Governors Association conference last weekend? The answer is part penny-wise, part political.
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Guides
Texplainer: What is a Court of Inquiry?
Hey, Texplainer: Courts of inquiry have been used to exonerate wrongfully convicted Texans and to look at earlier cases. When does a judge call for a court of inquiry, and what else can judges review in these proceedings?
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Guides
Texplainer: What Are the Odds of a Third-Party Win for The Donald in Texas?
Supporters of business tycoon Donald Trump have filed paperwork to establish the Make America Great Again Party so that “The Donald” might still be able to run for president here. Could he actually win Texas?
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Guides
Texplainer: Could Universities Be Put Under Sunset Review?
Could the state’s public universities go through the so-called sunset review process, forcing them to periodically defend their existence to state legislators?
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Guides
Texplainer: What Would Happen if the U.S. Dept. of Education Were Abolished?
Hey, Texplainer: One of the federal agencies Rick Perry managed to remember during Wednesday’s GOP debate is the U.S. Department of Education. He says he wants to close it. But what exactly would that mean?
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Guides
Texplainer: Will Judge Who Beat Daughter Be Punished?
Hey, Texplainer: What will happen to Aransas County Court-at-Law Judge William Adams now that the video of him beating his then 16-year-old daughter has gone viral?
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Guides
Texplainer: Will the Texas Primary Be Too Late to Matter?
Hey, Texplainer: With several states racing to move up their primaries, will my vote even matter when Texas holds its primary? Yes, at least for every candidate other than the ones running for president — and maybe for them, too.
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Guides
Texplainer: Can Texas Use the Rainy Day Fund to Fight Wildfires?
Gov. Rick Perry has said the Rainy Day Fund should be preserved as an insurance policy against natural disasters, but Texas can’t actually dip into it until the next legislative session — in 2013.
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Guides
Texplainer: Why is the Texas Constitution So Dang Long?
Hey, Texplainer: Why does the Texas Constitution have so many amendments? The way it’s written makes it both fairly easy to amend and highly restrictive in the powers it grants, making frequent and often highly specific changes necessary.