The Legislature will soon begin the so-called sunset review process for the Department of Criminal Justice and the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The review, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, has already attracted the attention of advocacy groups looking to change the state’s criminal justice system.
Politics
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Politics
Different Date, Different Turnout, Different Result
The Texas primaries will be held on March 6 next year, with runoffs more than two months later, on May 22. Maybe. If the federal courts decide redistricting maps should be redrawn before the voting starts, some of those primary contests could be moved to May.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: Primary Election Issues
Candidates started filing for the primaries this week, so the latest nonscientific survey of political and government insiders focused on what will separate Republicans and Democrats in their respective primaries. And football, too.
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Guides
Texplainer: Could Universities Be Put Under Sunset Review?
Could the state’s public universities go through the so-called sunset review process, forcing them to periodically defend their existence to state legislators?
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Politics
A Wobbly Starting Position for Texas Elections
Monday’s the day candidates can begin filing for office, and after a flurry of legal activity over the holidays, they now know what districts they’re seeking to represent. Probably.
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Inside Intelligence
Inside Intelligence: Who to Blame?
In which we asked in the insiders about redistricting and, separately, about Formula One racing in Texas.
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Politics
Court Proposes New Congressional Maps for Texas
A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas Wednesday. The map is a proposal; the court is seeking comments from the parties by noon Friday.
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Politics
Pins and Needles
Holiday redistricting stories, not unusual things if you’ve watched this for a while, always start with three wise persons in the guise of federal judges. It’s super-sized this year, with six wise men, three in San Antonio and three in Washington.
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Politics
Updated: Courts Revise Maps for Legislative Elections
Federal judges in San Antonio ordered the state to conduct its 2012 House and Senate elections using political maps drawn by the judges and not those drawn by the state, issuing final maps that give minority voters — and Democrats — more power.
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Politics
Court Releases Congressional Maps
A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas today. Among the headlines: It looks like U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, won’t be running against each other.