The Brief: Oct. 14, 2013
While fiscal negotiations inched forward over the weekend, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz held the spotlight. Full Story
The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
While fiscal negotiations inched forward over the weekend, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz held the spotlight. Full Story
Singer, songwriter, novelist, humorist and former independent gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman will seek the Democratic nomination to be the state's next agriculture commissioner. Full Story
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: Wendy Davis starts traveling the state, Rick Perry hits the road, too (for water funding), and John Cornyn wants the Tea Party to know he's right there with them. Full Story
On Friday, at the Texas Municipal League conference, I talked politics and policy with four Republican candidates for lieutenant governor: incumbent David Dewhurst, state Sen. Dan Patrick, Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples. Full Story
Your evening reading: Cruz confronts Obama at White House meeting; GOP lieutenant governor candidates clash again over Patrick ad; Cruz heckled at Values Voter Summit Full Story
While other Republicans make noise about repealing the law that lets young undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition rates, the front-running GOP candidate for governor has been silent on the issue. Aides say he wants to reform the law — not repeal it. Full Story
A down-ballot dispute over in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants has spilled into the governor's race. Full Story
More than 150 years after about 500 Wendish people came to Texas on a ship called the Ben Nevis, descendants of those immigrants and of others are striving to maintain their culture, customs and heritage. Full Story
Your evening reading: Cruz supports six-week debt ceiling hike; Republicans to hold fundraiser for Texas Women's Health Program; federal government to fine West plant company Full Story
Sages in both political parties say they are the natural ideological allies of the rising Hispanic population in Texas. But while the demographic trends are undeniable, the political meaning behind them is cloudy. Full Story
As lawmakers in Washington call for a review of how asylum law pertains to Mexicans seeking protection, one Mexican exile is embarking on his own public relations campaign. Full Story
More than a week into the government shutdown, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn sees a potential end in sight. Full Story
Your evening reading: national Republicans launch Hispanic outreach effort in Texas; Battleground Texas moving key staffers to Fort Worth; TxDOT may get extra funding for damaged roads Full Story
Attorney General Greg Abbott, the GOP front-runner for governor, is getting help from the Republican National Committee to reach Hispanic voters in Texas. Full Story
Well over half of the money raised so far by the Water Texas PAC came from heavy contractors, Dow Chemical Co. and Energy Future Holdings/Luminant. Use our analyzer to take a closer look at the donors. Full Story
The state of Texas last performed a study on the economic impact of undocumented immigrants in 2006. The majority of the candidates running for comptroller in 2014 say it's time for that analysis to get an update. Full Story
The Longhorns and Sooners won't be the only ones looking for a win this weekend in Dallas. More than 30 Texas legislators are hoping to turn the Red River Rivalry game into campaign cash. Full Story
Battleground Texas says it's focused on resurrecting the moribund Texas Democratic Party over the long term. The group's focus on helping Wendy Davis in her race for governor shows how much those hopes rest on her candidacy. Full Story
Republican Todd Staples' first commercial in the race for lieutenant governor, running on the web and statewide on TV, touts his conservative credentials as an obstacle to Democratic efforts to turn Texas blue. Full Story
Your evening reading: national Democrats to use Cruz against Republicans in 2014; Tea Party activist Lisa Fritsch joins governor's race; senator says government shutdown impeding West probe Full Story