The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Jon Wellinghoff, the former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman, talks about what looming federal climate regulations mean for Texas, whether the state should link its grid to others and how to incentivize energy conservation. Full Story
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University of Texas at Austin provost Gregory Fenves may not have always appeared to be the top choice in the search to replace UT-Austin President Bill Powers, but faculty leaders say he has the skills to thrive in the top spot. Full Story
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The debate over whether some Texas city drilling ordinances go too far has become a much-discussed issue during the Texas legislative session. Use our tool, with data from the Texas Municipal League, to see if your city has an ordinance. Full Story
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Efforts to ditch a law that allows some undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition appear to be on a fast track in the Senate, but key House leaders aren't on board with the idea. Full Story
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The hunt is on in Southeast Texas for a Democrat to challenge U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi. Full Story
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The Texas Tribune's Jay Root took a trip through New York City's Times Square to ask folks what they thought about U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the first declared 2016 presidential candidate. The answers might surprise you. Full Story
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When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker sets foot Friday in the Rio Grande Valley, it won't be your typical photo op on the border. Full Story
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Railroad Commissioner David Porter has kicked off an initiative to tout the benefits of natural gas, whose low price has benefited some power generators but bedeviled operators and other energy companies that bet big on it years ago. Full Story
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One thing you can say about East Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert is that reporters listen carefully to his every word. But he did not mean it when he said he might form an exploratory committee to run for president. Full Story
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A federal court has temporarily blocked a federal rule change that would give medical leave benefits to certain same-sex couples, according to an announcement Thursday from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Full Story
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On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Jay and Aman about Ted Cruz's presidential announcement, the differences between the House and Senate budgets and the Trib's major collaboration with the Houston Chronicle, "Blood Lessons." Full Story
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Lawyers for some of the state's most active conservative groups expressed vocal opposition Wednesday to a series of ethics reform proposals. Full Story
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After fielding emotional pleas and various complaints in a committee hearing, state Rep. Cecil Bell plans to revise his bill that would bar the state from recognizing same-sex marriages even if the courts declare it legal. Full Story
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Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison said Wednesday on MSNBC that she will endorse Jeb Bush for president, calling him "the trusted father-type that you want to run our country." Full Story
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The Texas House on Wednesday tentatively approved a statewide ban on texting while driving, a measure that made it all the way to Gov. Rick Perry's desk in 2011 before getting vetoed. Full Story
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In the wake of three child deaths under the state’s ward so far this year, Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday told the Department of Family and Protective Services to straighten up and fly right. Full Story
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Texas Republicans have long used the Affordable Care Act as a political punching bag, but that hasn’t stopped state budget writers from taking $102 million from the president's signature health care law to pay some bills. Full Story
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The Texas Ethics Commission can't do its job if compliance is "wholly voluntary," says one member who thinks the commission should stop all enforcement activities in response to a judge's recent dismissal of its ruling against conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan. Full Story
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The final piece of a high-profile border security package got moving Tuesday when a House committee heard House Bill 12 by state Rep. Oscar Longoria, which would elevate the state's Border Prosecution Unit into an official statutory being. Full Story
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Likely 2016 presidential candidate Scott Walker is headed to the Texas-Mexico border on Friday, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will be there to show him the ropes. Full Story