The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
UPDATED: Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples confirmed he has been selected to head up the Texas Oil and Gas Association – the state’s largest and oldest petroleum group. He will leave his current post early. Full Story
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Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples lost out on his bid to be lieutenant governor, but he might be in line for another job before his term ends in January. Full Story
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David Alameel, the Democrat challenging Republican John Cornyn for his U.S. Senate seat, knows he faces an uphill battle at best. So why is he running? The wealthy Dallas businessman says it has a lot to do with wanting to reform his own party. Full Story
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The State Board of Education took its first vote Wednesday on an amendment that would require teachers in the state to adhere to the state's curriculum standards when teaching Advanced Placement courses. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday invited Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to witness for himself the operations of the National Guard patrolling the Texas side of the Rio Grande. Full Story
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State leaders seem reluctant to break out the "Mission Accomplished" banner on the border surge even though apprehensions of illegal immigrants have hit a target goal laid out in July. Full Story
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University of Texas System regents moved quickly Monday to keep two lawmakers from sitting in on interviews conducted by an external investigator into admissions procedures at the system's flagship Austin campus. Full Story
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The congressional debate about how to address the influx of unaccompanied Central American minors crossing illegally into Texas is likely to re-emerge later this year when lawmakers debate an omnibus budget bill, according to a Texas lawmaker. Full Story
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The Planned Parenthood Association of Hidalgo County is cutting its ties with the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The move is an attempt to reclaim state dollars for women’s health care for impoverished women. Full Story
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It can be jarring for a political movement built around restraining the legal system to spawn a collection of officeholders eager to use the courts to get their way. Full Story
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At stake, according to a posted agenda for today's meeting of the UT System regents, is "the integrity and independence" of an external investigation of admissions procedures. Full Story
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On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, we talked about the campaigns being run by three GOP statewide candidates, the conservative makeup of the state Senate, Wendy Davis' new book and more. Full Story
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During a Spanish-language townhall on Univision, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, advocated for raising the minimum wage in Texas. Full Story
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Greg Abbott continued on Thursday his attack against his rival in the race for governor, not going after the substance of Wendy Davis' new memoir but rather the publicity tour that has accompanied it. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst issued a harsh rebuke of the Mexican government on Thursday for issuing what he called an “offensive” statement on the border surge that coincided with the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Full Story
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The campaign manager for GOP gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott filed an ethics complaint on Thursday alleging that the Wendy Davis book tour represents a conversion of political contributions into personal use. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Dallas Republican, has bucked businesses and some Republicans in his battle to phase out the agency that finances U.S. exports. KERA takes this look at Hensarling, a rising political star, who may lose the short-term battle, but expects to win the fight. Full Story
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State Sen. Wendy Davis' revelation that she had an abortion late in her 1997 pregnancy is shedding light on a provision in the restrictive abortion legislation she tried in vain to stop last year. Full Story
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Opinions differ as to whether the procedure would be allowed under an exemption for fetal abnormalities. Full Story
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An aide to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Wednesday night that speculation the Texas Republican would try to force a government shutdown over an immigration measure isn't coming from the junior senator’s office. Full Story
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