Analysis: School Finance Case Gives Candidates Something to Talk About
As candidates in the general election focus on making themselves known to voters, the latest school finance ruling provides their clearest marching orders yet. Full Story
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![District Court Judge John Dietz of Austin is shown in his courtroom on Feb. 4, 2013, before he ruled that the state's school finance system was unconstitutional.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: National Guard Troops on Border Struggling Financially
Some of the Texas National Guard troops deployed by Gov. Rick Perry to help secure the border haven't been paid and are unable to pay for their own food or gas, according to a report from KGBT Action 4 News in the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Swelling School Districts Find a Costly Way to Grow Within State Debt Limits
Leander and other fast-growing school districts have relied heavily on a controversial financing tool called capital appreciation bonds to borrow money to expand even as they bump up against state limits on school district debt. Full Story
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![Leander ISD's Whitestone Elementary School, shown on Aug. 21, 2014, has six portable classrooms to help with increased student enrollment. District officials say If the district couldn't use capital appreciation bonds to borrow money, it would have to put more students in portables.]()
Credit: Charlie Pearce -
Analysis: The Hunt for a Different Spot to House Political Watchdog
Lots of people want to take prosecutions of state officials away from the Travis County district attorney's office. But agreeing on a place to put it is not going to be easy. Full Story
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![Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas.]()
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Critics Say Bond Elections Lack True Transparency
Texas voters approve billions of dollars in new local debt each year. A growing group of critics argues that voters wouldn't be so agreeable if they were more clearly informed of the debt that's already owed in their name. Full Story
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![Keller ISD Superintendent Randy Reid spoke during an Aug. 11, 2014, town hall meeting, where attendees debated whether to put a $175 million bond up to Keller ISD voters in the general election.]()
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Analysis: Despite the Calendar, Campaigns Are Taking a Back Seat
This is the time of a political year when voters start — slowly — to pay attention to the candidates, issues and arguments ahead of a general election. But this year, there is something else to watch instead. Full Story
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Bob Daemmrich -
Education Commissioner: "The System Needs to Catch Up"
UPDATED: Asked why the state had delayed a transition away from lower passing standards on state exams, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams told state lawmakers Tuesday that classroom instruction had failed to meet the rigor demanded by the new tests. Full Story
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![Education Commissioner Michael Williams, a former railroad commissioner, is shown at a TribLive event on Jan. 27, 2011.]()
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In Court Filing, Perry Lawyers Challenge Indictment
Lawyers for Gov. Rick Perry, saying his indictment is unconstitutional on several grounds, filed briefs Monday asking the courts to strike the charges and stop further prosecution of the governor. Full Story
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![A defiant Texas Governor Rick Perry speaks to supporters after his booking at the Travis County Courthouse on August 19, 2014.]()
Credit: Chris Daemmrich -
Davis Releases 2013 Tax Information
Wendy Davis earned significantly less income from her legal work in 2013 than in previous years, according to tax documents released Friday by her campaign. But the Democratic gubernatorial candidate also received a six-figure payment that year for her upcoming memoir. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis addresses supporters before they canvass for her in East Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond -
Video: Perry's Week in Review
From the charges to a post-booking ice cream stop, we recap the headlines since a Travis County grand jury handed down an indictment against Gov. Rick Perry related to his threat to veto funding for the state’s public integrity unit. Full Story
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Credit: Charlie Pearce -
Van de Putte Calls for Expanded Medicaid Coverage
Hoping to overcome Republican opposition to expanding Medicaid, Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte said Friday she would seek a Texas-specific plan to cover poor, uninsured adults if elected lieutenant governor in November. Full Story
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![Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor of Texas, Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, speaks during a campaign swing in Austin on June 4.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
First Lady's Surgery Kept Her From Standing by Perry
As Gov. Rick Perry had his mugshot taken and told supporters he would fight the charges, the first lady was recovering from foot surgery. Full Story
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TribLive: Health Care — What's Next?
At our 8/18 TribLive conversation in Richardson, I talked with state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton, about health care and the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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Video: Perry Booked, Speaks Out on Veto
On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry gave brief statements before and after he entered Austin's Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center, where he was booked on two felony charges related to his threat to veto funding for the state’s public integrity unit. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
At Booking, Perry Reiterates Defense of Veto
After being booked on two felony counts — a process that took less than 10 minutes — Gov. Rick Perry again stood by his veto of public integrity unit funding and called his indictment "a chilling restraint on the right of free speech." Full Story
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![Governor Rick Perry is led into the booking area of the Travis County Courthouse for fingerprints and photographs on August 19, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
RickPAC Ad Defends Veto, Features Lehmberg's Arrest
In an ad featuring clips of Travis County DA Rosemary Lehmberg's conduct during her 2013 drunken driving arrest, Gov. Rick Perry's federal political action committee defends the Texas governor's veto of funding for the state's public integrity unit. Full Story
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Video: Perry's Legal Team Slams "Outrageous" Indictment
The defense attorneys representing Gov. Rick Perry, who faces an indictment related to his veto of funding for the state’s public integrity unit, said Monday that the governor acted "perfectly within the bounds and scope of his job." Full Story
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Formidable Lawyer at Center of Perry Prosecution
Michael McCrum, the special prosecutor who secured an indictment against Gov. Rick Perry on Friday, is described by colleagues as faithful and aggressive. One thing they don't call him is partisan. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry speaks at an Aug. 16, 2014, news conference, the day after a grand jury indicted him on charges related to his veto of public integrity unit funding. "This indictment amounts to nothing more than abuse of power," Perry said.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
TribLive: Health Care — What's Next?
We're livestreaming Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-in-Chief Evan Smith's discussion on the future of health care in Texas with state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton. Full Story
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Five Things to Know About Perry Indictment
There is a lot we don't know about how the prosecution of Gov. Rick Perry will take shape. In the meantime, here are five things to remember about this case and its history as things move forward. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry speaks to reporters on Aug. 16, 2014, the day after a grand jury indicted him on two felony counts related to his veto of public integrity unit funding.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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