For Perry Administration, the End is Beginning Now
The state's longest-serving governor is beginning his last year in office. His people are finding long-term jobs, and his allies and appointees can start thinking about what happens next. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry addresses the National Right to Life convention.]()
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Friedman Hopes to Win With Weed in His Third Bid for Statewide Office
Kinky Friedman — noted singer, humorist, novelist and hawker of tequila — has tried in vain to add “elected official” to his résumé. His most recent attempt is all about legalizing marijuana. Full Story
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![Kinky Friedman at home on his ranch in Medina on Dec. 12, 2013.]()
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The Evening Brief: Jan. 3, 2014
Your evening reading: Stockman in gray area with Bitcoin; Azle-area residents sound off on earthquakes; experts in Canada saying giving up citizenship easier than Cruz makes it appear to be Full Story
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![Rep. Steve Stockman]()
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Stockman Enters Legal Gray Area With Bitcoin Donations
U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, may have already begun receiving donations in Bitcoin since embracing the private virtual currency. That puts him firmly in a gray area of campaign finance law. Full Story
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![U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Friendswood, holds a QR code linked to a Bitcoin account at an event at the NYC Bitcoin Center in New York on Dec. 31, 2013.]()
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Changing the Characters, but Not Their Parties
The legislative changes coming in the 2014 elections mean several current lawmakers will be replaced. But their voters, in almost all instances, are likely to stick with politicians of the same party. Full Story
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Crowded Field Leaves Candidates In Search of Good Campaign Help
These are heady days for Republican consultants, with an unusually large number of open seats creating a bumper crop of primary campaigns along with a challenge: finding enough staff to work them. Full Story
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![W. Corbin Casteel, President of Four One Three Communications and political consultant, works from his home office in west Austin on December 18, 2013.]()
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The Brief: Jan. 3, 2014
Here's a novel strategy for state officials looking to avoid answering questions from the public: When in doubt, blame the Sugar Bowl. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 2, 2014
The political conversation is wasting no time in 2014 pivoting to what is expected to be the biggest story of the year — the November clash between Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis. Full Story
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Beyond Perry, Future of Deal-Closing Fund Murky
With a year left to go in Rick Perry's governorship, the future of the Texas Enterprise Fund is unclear. The two front-runners to succeed him have offered mixed messages on the fund in the past. Full Story
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As Year Begins, Texas Governor's Race Heats Up
Welcome to the marquee political contest this year in Texas, where the gubernatorial primaries are all but decided and both candidates are looking toward a November showdown with knives drawn. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott, then a candidate for governor and now the governor-elect, spoke at a NE Tarrant Tea Party meeting at Concordia Lutheran Church in Bedford on Nov. 12, 2013. State Sen. Wendy Davis, who was also running for governor, spoke to veterans at Luby's in Forest Hill the day before.]()
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Year in Review: Politics
2013 wasn't supposed to be a very political year, but in this very political state, it became one. Full Story
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Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Selected for Drone Program
The Federal Aviation Administration has selected Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi as a test site to further study the uses of unmanned aircraft systems. Full Story
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![Micheal Cincienne of Absolute Aerospace and Texas A&M Corpus Christi, engineering student Adam Ersepke, and lab coordinator Jack Edward Esparza carry the University’s RS-16 unmanned aerial vehicle, otherwise known as a drone, back to the command center after a test flight over the Kennedy Ranch near Sarita, Texas on January 18, 2013.]()
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For Democrats, a Habit of Losing Big Elections
For Texas Democrats, 2014 marks another run at the statewide offices that have remained out of their reach for two decades. Their challenge: convincing voters that a Democrat can win a statewide race here. Full Story
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![Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at the Flawn Academic Center on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012 in Austin, Texas.]()
Credit: Tamir Kalifa -
Harold Simmons, GOP Mega-Donor, Dead at 82
Harold Simmons, a Dallas businessman and billionaire, philanthropist and Republican mega-donor, died Saturday at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas. He was 82. Full Story
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![Dallas billionaire Harold Simmons, who passed away on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013.]()
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What's in a Surname? Bush's Run Adds to Debate on Hispanics, GOP
Many Republican officials have pointed to George P. Bush, the odds-on favorite in the 2014 land commissioner's race, as an example that Hispanic candidates are able to win statewide GOP primaries. But several political observers do not see a trend starting. Full Story
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![George P. Bush, candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, delivers keynote address at 4th Annual State Legislative Conference]()
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A Sales Pitch Aimed at the Audience, Not the Job
Campaign advertising is all about what appeals to the audience of voters — even if that means ignoring the office the candidates are seeking. Full Story
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![In full campaign mode Texas candidate for Attorney General Barry Smitherman tells the audience why he believes he'd make a good AG during a campaign stop at the Harris County Courthouse Bay Area Annex in Houston on Nov. 19, 2013.]()
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Year in Review: The TribLive Interviews
We had especially provocative and interesting guests as part of our TribLive conversation series in 2013. Here are 10 must-watch clips from the many interviews we conducted. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Dec. 23, 2013
Your evening reading: oil boom creates another, unexpected boomlet in windshield repair; Ralph Hall says next term in Congress would be his last; move to push Medicaid expansion is losing support from key industry groups Full Story
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For Candidates, the End of the Year is a Deadline
Dec. 31 is not a political deadline voters care about — but candidates sure do. It's the last day they can bring in money for a report that will demonstrate their strength to supporters. Full Story
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The Brief: Dec. 23, 2013
Dreams of Texas playing a pivotal role in choosing the next GOP presidential nominee are running thorugh state Republican Party Chairman Steve Munisteri's head. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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