Two Rounds Likely Needed in SD-4 Special Election
It’s less than a month before voters in Montgomery, Harris, Galveston, Jefferson and Chambers counties choose whom they want to succeed Tommy Williams in the state Senate.
Full StoryIt’s less than a month before voters in Montgomery, Harris, Galveston, Jefferson and Chambers counties choose whom they want to succeed Tommy Williams in the state Senate.
Full StoryAlso, David Dewhurst goes on the attack, and Ted Cruz announces a big fundraising haul.
Full StoryThis week in the Newsreel: Travis County prosecutors are eyeing a report on UT Regent Wallace Hall, Julián Castro and Dan Patrick duke it out in San Antonio and comptroller candidate Mike Collier stops by a TribLive event.
Full StoryFor this week’s nonscientific survey of governmental and political insiders, we asked about forecasts of a budget surplus in 2015 and what that might mean for taxes, spending and gambling.
Full StoryKey meetings and events for the coming week.
Full StoryThis wasn’t about winning or losing, but I do feel that I won in San Antonio tonight because I got to discuss one of the most pressing public policy issues in our state.
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, declaring himself the winner of this week's debate between him and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro on immigration
Actually, you’re our meal ticket back in.
Castro, during the debate, answering Patrick's assertion that Democrats fear him
There were no winners in tonight’s ‘debate,’ but the clear losers were the people of Texas.
David Dewhurst political director Chris Bryan, disagreeing with Patrick on who won the debate
They’re giving me grief, saying this looks silly. In Houston, they’re saying, 'Well, this is your tax dollars at work, Dallas.'
State Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, on getting flak for his lonely quest to lure Sriracha maker Huy Fong Foods from California to North Texas
I'm going to take money from anybody that'd give me money.
Mike Collier, Democratic nominee for state comptroller, saying he would take contributions from people who have business before the comptroller's office
This is not predictive. This is just what’s going on now.
Democratic political consultant Jason Stanford playing down the results of a recent Public Policy Polling survey that has Republican candidates with double-digit leads in several statewide contests
State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro traded barbs in a televised debate on Tuesday. The topic ostensibly was immigration, but the exchange touched on other hot-button topics such as abortion.
Lawmakers held a hearing on what can be done a year after the fertilizer explosion in West to avoid a similar disaster in the future. Some potential reforms were put forward, but big changes would be difficult in Texas, where new regulations are viewed skeptically.
A report on alleged wrongdoing by UT System Regent Wallace Hall in handling private student information was referred to Travis County prosecutors. The director of the Public Integrity Unit said he would need a week to determine whether his office would move forward with a case.
The Boats 'N Hoes PAC, the creation of an employee of GOP political consultant Allen Blakemore, was swiftly shut down after news reports surfaced of its formation. Democrats seized on the PAC name, attempting to associate it with GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott.
A federal judge denied an El Paso abortion clinic temporary relief from a new state requirement that physicians who provide abortions obtain hospital admitting privileges. The abortion provider had claimed the law placed an "undue burden" on women by forcing them to go to New Mexico for the procedure.
Two abortion doctors sued a Dallas hospital, claiming their admitting privileges were revoked after they became the target of anti-abortion protests. The doctors were given back temporarily their admitting privileges with a hearing on the matter scheduled for April 30.
Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Texas Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here.
Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick has been tapped to lead the Republican Party of Texas' Victory 2014 effort. The prime fundraising vehicle for the party, Victory 2014 raises the resources to support the party's get-out-the-vote activities for the fall general election.
Former Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin has been named executive director of the Texas Dental Association. He begins his new job on May 1.
Former state Rep. Aaron Peña was hired on at the Texas Department of Agriculture as assistant general counsel.
Oscar Garza is leaving state Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa's office for a job with Estrada Hinojosa Investment Bankers. His first day is May 1.
Strategic Public Affairs has hired a new manager, Libbie Krueger, and a new director, Ashley Kaden. Krueger worked in the Minnesota state Senate. Kaden has worked in the office of Texas House Speaker Joe Straus as well as for state Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston.
Linda Estrada, campus secretary for Donna ISD's Runn Elementary School, was named to the National Education Association's board of directors. Her three-year term begins Sept. 1. Texas has three seats on the NEA's 160-member board.
Texas redistricting expert Michael Li has been hired by the Brennan Center at the NYU Law School. Beginning May 19, he will serve as counsel with responsibility for redistricting projects. He will also work on voting and election law issues. He said he plans to continue his blog on Texas redistricting, although it may change some in scope or presentation.