TribBlog: Perry Won't Grant Thompson Clemency
Gov. Rick Perry won't grant clemency to Robert Lee Thompson, who was sentenced to death under Texas' controversial "law of parties." Full Story
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The Brief: November 18, 2009
Could Sarah Palin be far behind? Full Story
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On the Records: Your Turn to Make Word Clouds
An easy guide to visualizing tweets. Full Story
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Credit: Matt Stiles -
Behind Closed Doors
Should the Texas Forensic Science Commission meet in private? The new chairman, John Bradley, says there's a good argument for it. Full Story
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The Public Payroll
Our searchable database of public employees' pay — now featuring data from universities and eight of the state's largest cities. Full Story
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![The payroll database contains more than $250,000 public employees' salaries.]()
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On the Records: Campaign-Finance FAIL.
Numbers and text don't mix. Full Story
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Credit: Matt Stiles -
Off The Books, Part Two: Contractor Conflicts
State contractors – many of whom get paid top dollar to advise Texas agencies – are largely immune from reporting conflicts of interest. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
TribBlog: The Inside of Hasan's Apartment
All-star Dallas Morning News journalists Lee Hancock and Courtney Perry somehow finagled their way into the apartment of Maj. Nidal Hasan, the army psychiatrist who murdered more than a dozen people at Fort Hood last week. Full Story
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The Brief: November 11, 2009
There was a bittersweet note of unity preceding what will undoubtedly prove a poignant Veteran’s Day. Full Story
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Off The Books, Part One: High-Price High-Tech
State agencies are spending tens of millions of dollars every year on information technology contract workers, employees who aren’t on the state payroll – but whose pay often dwarfs those who are. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Forensic Science Chairmen Face Off
John Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney and the newly-appointed chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, spent his morning answering a steady stream of questions from Texas lawmakers. At issue, if and when his panel will re-open the investigation into whether faulty science led to the arson conviction of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by the state in 2004. Full Story
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TribBlog: Bradley Makes His Case
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley expected some verbal jousting today at the Senate Criminal Justice Committee about his plans for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He was right. Full Story
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Credit: Elise Hu -
On the Records: Ethics Fines Now Searchable
In keeping with our goal of making government data more accessible, we've created a simple application for searching fines issued by the Texas Ethics Commission. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
TribBlog: A Timely Announcement
Gov. Perry made a timely announcement today: He's proposing initiatives to improve mental health programs for veterans. Full Story
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Case Open
If you're waiting for closure on questions of Cameron Todd Willingham's guilt or innocence, get comfortable. The Texas Forensic Science Commission's new chair tells the Tribune that he doesn't yet have the rules or resources to investigate whether faulty science led to the Corsicana man's conviction and execution. Full Story
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![John Bradley, left, is the new chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Cameron Todd Willingham, right, was executed for setting a house fire that killed his three daughters.]()
Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
The Midday Brief: November 6, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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The Brief: November 6, 2009
A clearer picture of Thursday afternoon’s events is beginning to shape. Full Story
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TribBlog: Fort Hood Shootings
As news of the Fort Hood shootings unfolds, we'll be adding links, maps, audio, photographs, and other information from around the web to this post. Full Story
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TribBlog: Tarrant County College sued for banning empty holster protest
“It’s both an ideological concern and a safety concern,” one of the student plaintiffs said. “Obviously college campuses aren’t some magical zone where no violence occurs, and so I feel particularly strongly that every student that feels the need to carry handgun anywhere in their lives should also be able to do so on a college campus.” Full Story
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The Midday Brief: November 5, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story