On the Records: Tracking Unemployment
Analyzing unemployment in Texas: What would Google do? Full Story
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![The percent of the labor force that is unemployed: 1990-2009.]()
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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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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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On the Records: Campaign-Finance FAIL.
Numbers and text don't mix. Full Story
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Credit: Matt Stiles -
Broken Border, Part Five: Safer?
In some places, the governor's border security efforts have led to a reduction in crime — in rural counties, for instance, where there aren't many people and there wasn't much crime to begin with. But in large urban counties like El Paso and Webb, it's a different story. Full Story
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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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Shifting Away from the Death Penalty
Texas lawmakers got their chance Tuesday to ask questions about the recent changes on the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Governor Rick Perry replaced several members of the commission – including its chair just days before it was to hear a report that questioned the science used to convict and execute Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson deaths of his three children. 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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Broken Border, Part Three: Decriminalize?
Experts from around the U.S. and Mexico are debating the War on Drugs and its affect on violence south of the border. Some of them wonder whether decriminalization is the answer. Full Story
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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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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.]()
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The Midday Brief: November 6, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story