The Brief: Jan. 16, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry's formal farewell Thursday afternoon to the state Legislature dominated headlines with writers trying to discern from his speech what the future holds for him. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry delivers a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Perry's Farewell Speech: Read Between the Lines
Gov. Rick Perry delivered a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas Legislature on Thursday. Our reporters read between the lines for you — using the online annotation tool Genius. Full Story
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![Gov. Perry gives his farewell speech during a joint session of the Texas Legislature on January 15th, 2015]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Musk: Texas a "Leading Candidate" to Host Hyperloop Test Track
Entrepreneur Elon Musk said Thursday that Texas is in the driver's seat for a test track for a transportation system known as the Hyperloop. He also said that a SpaceX facility wouldn't have been built in Texas without economic incentives. Full Story
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![Elon Musk, the CEO and of SpaceX and Tesla Motors, spoke at the Texas Transportation Forum in Austin on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Activists Line Up to Support Openly Carrying Guns
Gun rights groups lined up at a press conference on Thursday to voice support for legislation that would allow Texans to openly carry handguns without a license. Full Story
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Lt. Gov.-Elect Taps Business Leaders for New Advisory Board
Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick said Thursday he had appointed a 55-member special council made up of business and industry leaders in the state to provide recommendations to lawmakers throughout the legislative session. Full Story
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![Reporters listen as Lt. Gov.-elect Dan Patrick announces the creation of an advisory council on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Marc Veasey Sees a Future for Texas Democrats
Prospects for Democrats in Texas might seem grim at the moment, but from his Washington perch, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey thinks things will turn his party's way. Eventually. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, a Forth Worth Democrat, in his D.C. office.]()
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Judge Hears Arguments in Immigration Policy Case
UPDATED: A judge heard arguments Thursday on a request to halt a White House immigration policy that could affect hundreds of thousands of Texans living in the country illegally. The judge did not indicate when he would make a ruling. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaking on Dec. 3, 2014, about the lawsuit filed by Texas and other states against the Obama administration over immigration policy.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 15, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry will close the door on 30 years of state government work with a farewell address Thursday afternoon to the Legislature. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Video: New House Members on the Health Care
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about what the Lege is likely to do on health care. Full Story
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Commissioner Gets Cupcake Policy Wrong, Combs Says
When Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller granted amnesty to cupcakes on Monday, he pointed out that state rules that once banned such treats from classrooms were repealed last summer. But cupcakes have been allowed for a decade. Full Story
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![Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller gives away cupcakes at a press conference on Jan. 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: A Conversation With Three New House Members
Full video of my 1/14 conversation with three new members of the Texas House: Celia Israel, D-Austin; Linda Koop, R-Dallas; and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving. Full Story
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Straus Aims to Expand Authority for House Investigations
When members debate the proposed rules for the House on Thursday, they'll discuss a plan from House Speaker Joe Straus to expand one committee's jurisdiction in investigating state agencies and practices. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
T-Squared: The 84th Lege, at Your Fingertips
As excited as we are about the start of the 84th session, we’re equally pumped to roll out our brand new 84th Lege page — a comprehensive and convenient portal to all of your Texas legislative needs. Full Story
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Introducing the Texas Legislative Guide
Adding to our robust suite of Texas legislative tools, we've rolled out our Texas Legislative Guide — complete with an upgraded bill tracker and curated lists of the must-watch issues of the session across nearly a dozen different policy areas. Full Story
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Amid Health Commission Contracting Fallout, Abbott Calls for Review
UPDATED: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the creation of an independent "strike force" to review the state's largest health agency, specifically how it awards contracts to private vendors. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Slideshow: Day One of the 84th Legislature
On the first day of the 84th Legislature, state lawmakers were sworn into office amidst family and friends. Afterwards, the House re-elected Joe Straus speaker, while the Senate made Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa president pro tempore. Full Story
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![Outgoing Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and his daughter, Carolyn, on the first day of the 84th Legislative Session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 14, 2015
A video of a confrontation between open-carry activists and a lawmaker drew attention to the group's tactics on Tuesday. Full Story
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![Justin Delosh, r, of Lone Star Gun Rights stands with petitions to be delivered to legislators on the first day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Gun Rights Activists Cause Stir at Texas Capitol
The behavior of open-carry advocates trying to drum up votes for a measure repealing handgun licensing requirements prompted one lawmaker to escort them from his office Monday. Full Story
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![Senate Sergeant at Arms Rick DeLeon tells a group from Lone Star Gun Rights that they are not allowed in the secure back hall of the Senate on opening day Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Gun Advocates Take Up — and Make — Arms at Texas Capitol
As Texas lawmakers convened for the first day of the 2015 legislative session Tuesday, about a dozen activists carrying a variety of firearms gathered in front of the state Capitol to protest gun laws. Full Story
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![Activists who support a legislative proposal that would lift the state's handgun licensing requirements stand outside the state Capitol on the opening day of the Texas Legislature on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Storify: The 1st Day of the 84th Legislative Session
From the first day of the new legislative session, here's a selection of tweets that journalists, lawmakers and others have shared, along with the Tribune's on-the-ground reporting from the Texas Capitol. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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