The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
State Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas, says his long tenure in office is an asset. Donald Huffines, who is challenging him in a contentious Republican primary race, says he's too liberal and too corrupt to represent a conservative Senate district. Full Story
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The Senate Health and Human Services committee at a hearing on Thursday discussed Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state. Full Story
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The Department of Family and Protective Services has ramped up its efforts to conduct predictive data analysis and reduce the high turnover of CPS caseworkers, the agency’s commissioner told a panel of senators on Thursday. Full Story
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State Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, is playing defense against two Republican primary challengers, Elisa Chan, a former San Antonio city councilwoman, and Mike Novak, a former Bexar County commissioner. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, former state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, a 2014 candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, discussed the proper balance between strengthening border security and maintaining the agricultural industry's labor force. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, former state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, a 2014 candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, talked about why he would have opposed the farm bill recently passed by Congress. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/13 TribLive conversation with former state Rep. Sid Miller, R-Stephenville, a 2014 candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. Full Story
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After at first distancing himself from Rick Perry on the campaign trail, Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott is set to make a joint appearance at a fundraiser in Houston on Wednesday with the man he's hoping to succeed. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/7 TribLive conversation with three Amarillo lawmakers: state Sen. Kel Seliger and state Reps. "Four" Price and John Smithee. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, assessed her GOP rivals. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor, talked about where she and state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, the Democratic frontrunner for governor, differ on open carry. Full Story
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Full video of my 2/6 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a 2014 candidate for Texas lieutenant governor. Full Story
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After a crackdown a few years ago in Laredo, gaming halls are on the rise again. But local officials aren't quite on the same page about whether to enforce the gambling laws or to try to change them. Full Story
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UPDATED: Democrat Celia Israel defeated Republican Mike VanDeWalle on Tuesday in a special election runoff for House District 50. She will serve the remainder of former state Rep. Mark Strama's term. Full Story
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After re-electing Harvey Hilderbran every two years since 1992, the voters in House District 53 are vetting a group of fresh faces and hosting a slew of candidate forums to hear where the GOP primary candidates stand on issue No. 1 — water. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst made the case for voters re-electing him to a fourth term. Full Story
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Full video of my 1/16 TribLive conversation with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who's running for reelection in 2014. Full Story
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Republicans have a comfortable majority in the Texas Legislature, but in the primaries, the debate is over which sorts of Republicans should be in control. Full Story
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Republican candidates in the crowded field for agriculture commissioner could benefit from talking about a lot more than agricultural issues, and some are relying on that strategy more than others. Full Story
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Texas is preparing for a new drug screening procedure required of applicants for unemployment benefits, but the federal Labor Department has yet to set the parameters. Full Story
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