state government

Guest Column: How Conservative is David Dewhurst?

By Mark P. Jones July 25, 2012

The state's lieutenant governor has clearly sided with and protected the Republicans in the Texas Senate, but has he presided as a conservative? That's in the eye of the beholder. Full Story

Credit: Tommy LaVergne of Rice University
Unlikely Tea Party Candidate Challenges State Senator

By Ben Philpott, KUT News July 24, 2012

State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, expected a tough fight in the GOP primary for Senate District 25. But instead, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, Wentworth has instead been tussling with a political newcomer who has broad Tea Party support. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Kamys Cotera | Spencer Selvidge
Rodriguez, Gallego Make Final Arguments in CD-23

By Hollie O'Connor July 24, 2012

With the July 31 runoff around the corner, the Democratic candidates in Congressional District 23 are busy rallying voters across the district. And the size of CD-23 is only adding to the challenges for Pete Gallego and Ciro Rodriguez. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Does It Matter Who Wins the Railroad Commission Runoffs?

By Kate Galbraith July 20, 2012

The four Republican Railroad Commission candidates sound remarkably similar on the big-ticket topics. But that doesn't mean they will vote the same way on everything once they get into office. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Jeramey Jannene/Paul Lowry/Todd Wiseman
Video Series: The State of Family Planning in Texas

By Thanh Tan July 19, 2012

From the evolution of state and federally subsidized contraception to the battle over Planned Parenthood to the cost of unplanned pregnancies, this six-part series is the most comprehensive look yet at the politics of reproductive health in Texas. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Justin Dehn / Ariel Min
Interactive Map: Women's Health Program Providers

By Becca Aaronson July 19, 2012

Use our interactive map to chart the locations of health care providers participating in Texas' Women's Health Program. Flip through various map styles to compare women's health statistics statewide, or get a video tutorial here. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman
Texas Governor's Mansion: A Timeline

By Todd Wiseman and Zoë Gioja July 18, 2012

As Gov. Rick Perry and his wife prepare to move back into the restored Governor's Mansion, we take a look back at some of the highlights of the building's history. Full Story

Credit: Courtesy of Texas State Library & Archives Commission
Years After Arson, Governor's Mansion Restoration is Complete

By Jay Root July 18, 2012

Four years after an arsonist nearly burned down the Governor’s Mansion, Gov. Rick Perry and his wife, Anita, stood a few feet from its iconic front porch and announced Wednesday that a painstaking restoration of the 156-year-old structure is complete. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Accountability Concerns Raised at Foster Care System Hearing

By Hollie O'Connor July 16, 2012

The Department of Family and Protective Services is moving forward on redesigning its foster care system, which will outsource services to private contractors. At a hearing Monday, some raised concerns about accountability. Full Story

Credit: David Garzon
To Try to Predict Perry's Future, Look to His Past

By Ross Ramsey July 13, 2012

Gov. Rick Perry looks like he will be in office as long as voters will have him. He talks like he wants voters to keep him where he is. Many think he's just bluffing, but that's not how he has operated in the past. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Land Office, Agriculture Department Facing Federal Suit

By Hollie O'Connor July 11, 2012

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the Texas General Land Office and the Texas Department of Agriculture, alleging that the agencies are liable for pay discrimination against three women. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Todd Wiseman
Interactive Map: Texas Senate Committees in 82nd Legislative Session

By Ryan Murphy July 11, 2012

Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Texas Senate, by committee, to see who's got what clout, geographically speaking, on what subject. Full Story
TWIA Concerns Are Focus of Senate Committee Hearing

By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News July 10, 2012

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association was the main topic of discussion at a Senate committee hearing Tuesday as lawmakers raised concerns about proposed rate increases. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Inside Intelligence: In the Open Seats...

By Ross Ramsey July 10, 2012

For this week's nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked about a dozen open House races on the July 31 ballot and found the insiders mostly in agreement, wrong or right. Full Story
Horse Slaughtering to Be Focus of Senate Hearing

By John Wayne Ferguson July 10, 2012

Texas was home to two of the last three horse slaughterhouses in the U.S. On Tuesday, state senators will hear testimony on the economic impact of the closure of Texas’ slaughterhouses. Full Story
Seeking Solutions

By Brandi Grissom, Justin Dehn and Ryan Murphy July 10, 2012

Michael Morton’s 2011 exoneration brought to a crescendo calls for change in the way that prosecutors are regulated in Texas. Morton, prosecutors and criminal justice reform advocates talk about why prosecutorial errors happen and how they can be prevented. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond / Justin Dehn / Mark Graham
Straus: Process to End Budget Diversions Starts Now

By Aman Batheja July 9, 2012

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus called on lawmakers Monday to start figuring out how to stop diverting billions of dollars in dedicated taxes and fees that are being used to balance state budgets. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Texas Won't Adopt Common Science Standards Soon

By Morgan Smith July 9, 2012

In Texas, where the curriculum-setting State Board of Education has engaged in high-profile skirmishes over science education, there will be no rush to implement new nationally developed common standards. Full Story

Credit: Erich Schlegel/The Texas Tribune
Heated Arguments

By Brandi Grissom July 6, 2012

While advocates worry particularly about heat conditions in a prison unit with recent water shortages, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is considering arguments in a lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice alleging that the sweltering living quarters constitute cruel and unusual punishment. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmerich
Interactive: Wrongful Convictions in Texas

By Ryan Murphy July 5, 2012

At least 86 Texans' convictions were overturned between 1989 and 2011, according to the National Registry of Exonerations. The Texas Tribune analyzed court rulings, media reports and pardon statements to determine the cases in which courts ruled that prosecutorial error contributed to a wrongful conviction. Use our interactive to learn more about each case. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Todd Wiseman