The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst confirmed he will run for re-election in 2014. He also called for Republicans to unite behind Mitt Romney for president, hopes Ted Cruz wins on Nov. 6 and said he is already focused on the next Texas legislative session. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers didn’t comply with the Voting Rights Act when they drew new maps for congressional, state Senate and state House districts, a federal court in Washington, D.C., ruled Tuesday. Full Story
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Texas Agriculture Comissioner Todd Staples says he is looking forward to running for lieutenant governor in 2014 — regardless of who else is on the ticket. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, after getting a standing ovation by the Texas Republican delegation in Florida, announced Tuesday that he plans to run for re-election. Full Story
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In the last two weeks, the number of reported 2012 cases of the West Nile virus has nearly doubled, and the death toll rose to 30 in Texas. This interactive shows the number of reported cases by county. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has appointed Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, to chair the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee. He'll replace Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, who isn't seeking another term. Full Story
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In a preview of a likely battle in the upcoming legislative session, state lawmakers on Friday heard testimony on school choice programs, including vouchers that would allow students to use public money to attend private schools. Full Story
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The executive director of the state's $3 billion cancer institute said Friday that news retired cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong would be stripped of his Tour de France titles would not affect the agency's partnership with him. Full Story
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Here's a visual perspective of reproductive health issues in the Rio Grande Valley, one of the country's poorest areas. This year, the issue of public financing for contraceptives and cancer screenings has often become intertwined with the controversy surrounding abortion. Full Story
Representatives from Texas military bases were at the capitol Wednesday asking legislators to require developers to involve military officials in plans for construction near their facilities and training grounds. Full Story
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Only about a quarter of the state's Class of 2012 students are college ready, according to a new report by the ACT. Texas Education Agency officials attribute the numbers to an increase in students taking the test. Full Story
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At a public meeting held Tuesday by the Public Utility Commission, a state representative suggested that the commission create a way for customers to opt out of having smart electric meters installed at their homes. Full Story
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Under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, Texas public schools are supposed to have 100 percent passing rates in reading and math by 2014. The chances of meeting that benchmark are slim. So what happens next? Full Story
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After months of fielding complaints about smart electric meters, the Texas Public Utility Commission will hold an open meeting Tuesday to hear testimony from opponents and supporters of the technology. Full Story
John Higgins, a top aide to state Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt, R-Lexington, is under criminal investigation for alleged improprieties related to travel reimbursements he got from the state, a prosecutor told the Tribune on Friday. Full Story
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The state fire marshal on how he’ll implement the changes in a Texas Forensic Science Commission report, ideas for educating fire investigators and ways to bring more experts to the scene when arson occurs. Full Story
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In 2011, Texas drastically changed the way it regulates school district purchases of instructional materials. Last week, a new online marketplace opened, giving districts more than 100,000 options to exercise their newfound freedoms. Full Story
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State officials are reporting more than 380 human cases of the West Nile virus in Texas so far this year — and no region has been harder hit than North Texas. Here’s an interactive look at reported West Nile cases and deaths by county. Full Story
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For this week's nonscientific survey of political and governmental insiders, we asked about the Senate in general and its two-thirds rule in particular, and about personal financial disclosures by public officials. Full Story
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All that’s standing between Texas and an absolute one-party rule is a traffic jam or a sick day. I don’t care what your politics are — that’s not good. Full Story
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