The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Your evening reading: when private companies come in to manage schools, transparency takes a hit; judge rules NSA phone program likely unconstitutional; state GOP chairman calls Texas "somewhat competitive" Full Story
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The short game in Texas politics is the year ahead — the primaries in March and the general election in November. But a loss in 2014 might lead to something bigger in a future election. Full Story
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The week starts with questions over whether the Texas A&M regents' decision on Saturday to tap the chancellor's favorite for interim president over the governor's favored candidate will lead to more controversy in College Station. Full Story
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With various levels of government in two countries making decisions that affect the Rio Grande, the 1,900-mile river has become the subject of interstate and international legal battles that have intensified during the continuing drought. Full Story
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The big shots at Texas A&M ought to be relaxing and enjoying this week's battles over UT-Austin's football coach and president, but they're stuck in a distracting political fight of their own. Full Story
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Your evening reading: new numbers and analysis on the Cornyn-Stockman primary contest; Texplainer explains the AG's duty to defend state laws; ex-El Paso County commissioner gets probation in corruption case Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman's challenge to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn gives the insurgent branch of the Texas GOP a chance to show its strength — or the lack of it. Full Story
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New numbers suggest the state is having a hard time — at least initially — maintaining the same level of women's health services under its new purely state-funded program as the mostly federally funded program that preceded it. Full Story
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All four Republican candidates vying for lieutenant governor said at a Thursday debate that religion should play a larger role in public education — and three said they believed that should include the teaching of creationism. Full Story
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Your evening reading: UT-Austin president can keep his job; Combs reports a bigger than expected budget surplus; a rift at A&M on interim president selection Full Story
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Republican candidates in Texas have figured out how to talk about immigration without stepping on political land mines: They talk about border security instead. Full Story
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Bill Powers' future as University of Texas at Austin president could be put to a vote at a Thursday meeting of the UT System's Board of Regents. Full Story
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Texas gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott held back from taking a position on private school vouchers or state education funding during a Wednesday appearance at a San Antonio charter school. Full Story
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Your evening reading: Texans are No. 1 in purchasing health plans through the online insurance marketplace; the petition to remove the Travis County DA is denied; Tea Party blowback builds against Stockman Full Story
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Reeve, Emily, Ross and Evan talk about U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman's decision to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, how the 2014 election brackets shaped up, and potential job openings at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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A West Texas utility company and a coalition of neighborhood activists have reached an agreement that paves the way for the construction of a natural gas power plant in far east El Paso County. Full Story
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A day after Steve Stockman pulled the election switcheroo heard around the nation, the question is now: Who knew of Stockman's plans, and when did they know it? Full Story
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In the blink of an eye, Steve Stockman has turned the upcoming Texas GOP primary into a nationally significant contest with his last-minute launch of a conservative insurgency campaign against the state's senior senator, John Cornyn. Full Story
UPDATED: A sworn ethics complaint against state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, has been thrown out, his lawyer said. The complaint alleged Carona failed to disclose various companies to the Texas Ethics Commission. Carona called the complaint a "stunt" by his opponent. Full Story
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The candidates have filed for the 2014 elections, and our election brackets — an idea lifted from the NCAA's March Madness basketball brackets — are back. We'll update these as officials from the state and large-county parties update their own lists. Full Story
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