The Evening Brief: Oct. 22, 2013
Your evening reading: Pitts testifies in Regent Hall investigation; Stefani Carter drops Railroad Commission bid for run at re-election; blowback over Combs' endorsement of Hegar for comptroller Full Story
The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Your evening reading: Pitts testifies in Regent Hall investigation; Stefani Carter drops Railroad Commission bid for run at re-election; blowback over Combs' endorsement of Hegar for comptroller Full Story
UPDATED: Records requests that University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall filed with the University of Texas at Austin were the subject of hours of testimony Tuesday afternoon during a legislative committee hearing. Full Story
In a new web ad, Republican Attorney General candidate Dan Branch highlights a bill he sponsored in 2003 requiring that students in Texas public schools be allowed to observe a moment of silent prayer or meditation. Full Story
State Rep. Steve Toth, R-The Woodlands, announced on Monday that he will run for the state Senate seat being vacated by Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands. Full Story
Job creation during Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's tenure is the emphasis of a web video, featuring a Texas-shaped cake, that was released Monday by his re-election campaign. Full Story
Things are different now. People come to see Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis, for sure, but not as spectacles, not for the same reasons they came to see the candidates who came to be known as Ann and Claytie. Full Story
Just weeks before a new rail bridge connecting Texas and Mexico is set to open, controversy surrounding an X-ray machine for the bridge has unfolded and could delay the opening. Full Story
Texas' abortion wars may flare anew this week as the state's contentious new restrictions head to court. Full Story
In a new television ad produced by the Water Texas PAC, baseball hall of famer Nolan Ryan advocates for Proposition 6, a water financing measure on the November ballot. Full Story
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The federal government shutdown comes to an end, Gov. Rick Perry racks up sky miles with a trip to Israel and London, and a resignation in the state Senate starts a political land rush. Full Story
Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott said Friday that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made good on his campaign promises with his controversial actions in the federal government shutdown. Full Story
Your evening reading: Combs endorses Hegar for comptroller; key conservative group backs Patrick for lieutenant governor; Merritt to run for agriculture commissioner Full Story
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility announced on Friday that it would back GOP state Sen. Dan Patrick in the race for lieutenant governor because of his record "of advocating for practical, reform-minded policies supported by Texans." Full Story
At the end of a week of shakeups in the race for agriculture commissioner, former state Rep. Tommy Merritt announced he will join the race for the Republican nomination. Full Story
Undaunted by his failed effort to defund Obamacare, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has already picked another fight with the White House. Full Story
Your evening reading: Cruz won't rule out another shutdown fight; Obama renews push for immigration reform; Democrat joins attorney general's race Full Story
During the federal government shutdown, Texas agricultural producers were unable to access key pricing data, low-cost loans for their operations or disaster relief payments that many have been hoping for. Full Story
His push to defund Obamacare may have led to a stinging political defeat for Republicans, but will Ted Cruz try again? Full Story
The race for agriculture commissioner got a shake-up on Wednesday night, as state Rep. Brandon Creighton announced he would instead run for state Senate and former state Rep. Sid Miller said he would enter the ag commissioner's race. Full Story
Your evening reading: Cruz backs down but won't admit defeat; Hutchison criticizes Republicans who "hijacked" budget debate; Cruz and Cornyn meet with Texas Democrats Full Story