Health Care Assistance Program to Shut Down
A program created to help insurance-seekers in Texas cut through the complexities of federal health care reforms is shutting down in April, years before the law goes into full effect. Full Story
The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
A program created to help insurance-seekers in Texas cut through the complexities of federal health care reforms is shutting down in April, years before the law goes into full effect. Full Story
In the land of redistricting, May 29 is only a week away. Full Story
The political action committee of Dallas billionaire waste magnate Harold Simmons is asking 18 lawmakers to return about $65,000 in contributions after admitting that an oversight led to illegal campaign contributions. Full Story
Despite their striking similarities, Texas’ abortion sonogram bill and Virginia’s abortion sonogram bill were debated at very different times, and under very different circumstances — leading to a very different national reaction. Full Story
Mark Vickery, the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will retire in May — and his successor has yet to be chosen. Full Story
Texas has joined six other states and a handful of Catholic organizations in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a new health care rule approved by the federal government that would require all employers to include coverage for contraceptives in employees' health care benefits. Full Story
Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs signed a rule today that formally bans Planned Parenthood clinics and other "affiliates of abortion providers" from the Women's Health Program — likely ending the program. Full Story
At the national level, voters are concerned about pocketbook issues, while at home immigration is the top problem. Full Story
Federal judges have set May 29 as a tentative state primary date. The Tribune's Thanh Tan explains what that date could mean for candidates, voters and the election process. Full Story
Texas' state Senate maps were finalized this week, but the protracted court battle has left state House and congressional districts without boundaries. And as Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, the district-line confusion is costing some candidates time and money. Full Story
There is a date for primary elections, but it's uncertain. And there is one redistricting map done, with two to go. And for what it's worth, the judges seem to be in a hurry. Full Story
God and Country, a new Texas-based organization, will hold a rally Saturday at a Tyler church to “draw a line in the sand and aggressively and publicly defend those certain unalienable rights endowed by our creator.” Full Story
UPDATED: Election officials were told to prepare for a possible May 29 primary, as redistricting foes reached agreement on a map for Texas Senate elections this afternoon and continued talks on state House and congressional maps. Full Story
UPDATED: April primaries are all but impossible for the state's election administrators, a Bexar County elections official said today, as an agreement on political maps remains elusive. Full Story
The state's political mapmakers will be back in court this morning, trying to produce maps in time for April primaries. Full Story
With greening disease infecting some Texas citrus trees, some growers fear the infections could spread and seriously damage their industry. Full Story
Some of redistricting is about getting a good seat in the office. Some is about getting good seats when you're not at the office. Full Story
Aguilar on an environmental battle in South Texas, Galbraith on the impact of the drought, Grissom on the latest in the Michael Morton case, Hamilton and Theobald on plans for greater scrutiny of faculty performance, Murphy on Rick Perry's campaign donors and expenditures, Ramsey on where we stand on redistricting, Ramshaw on the intense interest in stem cell rules, Root on a congressman's controversial pipeline holdings, M. Smith on the backlash against student testing and Tan on the fight for a new medical school in Austin: The best of our best content from February 6-10, 2012. Full Story
Federal judges told redistricting lawyers Friday afternoon to redouble their efforts to reach a quick settlement — by next week — on interim political maps for the state's congressional and legislative elections. Full Story
Pushing the state's primaries from March back to April (or further) could cheat Texas voters out of a rare chance to choose the next nominee for president. Full Story