The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
In the first installment of a three-part series on Texas Republicans' lock on state government over the past decade, Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune looks at the early days of the GOP's domination. Full Story
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When Ken Armbrister, chief legislative aide to Gov. Rick Perry, said last week that Perry had told him he was going to run for re-election in 2014, Armbrister may have done his boss a favor. Full Story
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As expected, the state of Texas is appealing a federal court decision throwing out Legislature's redistricting maps, Attorney General Greg Abbott announced Friday. The appeal, however, won't affect the current elections. Full Story
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Even if none of the remaining incumbents gets beat or loses, this will be the biggest freshman class over all — legislative and congressional officeholders combined — since 1983, when 63 newbies came in. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, fresh off a stinging loss to Ted Cruz in the race for the GOP nomination to the U.S. Senate, reshuffled the Senate committee chairs. Full Story
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Four new senators are coming from the Texas House, where their voting records can be analyzed. Compared to the people they're replacing, they're more conservative. Full Story
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It's a cringe-inducing moment in politics: To keep his seat in the Democrats' column, voters in Houston will have to cast one last vote for the late state Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr. Full Story
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The state’s $3 billion effort to battle cancer was delivered a major blow this month when 18 scientific reviewers resigned. Most of them allege that the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas was favoring politics, rather than science, when picking projects to fund. Full Story
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State Sen. Mario Gallegos Jr., D-Houston, who served in the Legislature for more than 20 years, has died at the age of 62. Full Story
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When lawmakers decided to charge inmates $100 a year for medical treatments, they expected it to help plug holes in the prison budget. But critics of the new policy say the result is less health care for sick inmates. Full Story
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State Rep. Bryan Hughes is a fiscal and social conservative who has become a Tea Party favorite in his effort to replace House Speaker Joe Straus. But the East Texan has one trait that is very un-Republican: He's a trial lawyer. Full Story
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At this morning's TribLive conversation, presumptive incoming state Reps. Stephanie Klick, Chris Paddie and Justin Rodriguez were asked if they were prepared to sign pledge cards for Speaker Joe Straus or his challenger, state Rep. Bryan Hughes. Full Story
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Amid a recent increase in suicides among military veterans, Texas lawmakers are looking at ways to address mental health challenges for veterans as they return home from Iraq and Afghanistan. Full Story
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The new state representative for the Rio Grande Valley's House District 41 on his unusual path to office, what he hopes to accomplish before his re-election bid in November and how he's approaching the general election. Full Story
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Leaders of homeless service programs on Monday addressed a joint hearing of a House appropriations subcommittee and the Urban Affairs Committee, saying any funding cuts would hinder their ability to provide services. Full Story
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This week in the Newsreel, we look at the two debates held this week and check out Senate committee assignments. Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, I talked with Attorney General Greg Abbott about voter ID, redistricting, the cost of suing the feds 24 times and whether he's going to run for governor. Full Story
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After a crushing loss in his bid for U.S. Senate, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's influence in next year's legislative session remains a question mark. Thursday's committee assignments may reflect efforts to appease some critics. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on Thursday appointed state Sen. Dan Patrick as chairman of the education committee. He also replaced state Sen. Judith Zaffirini with state Sen. Kel Seliger as chair of the higher education committee. Full Story
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Advocates for inmate Donald Rash, who suffers numerous medical problems, argue that he should be granted parole. They say the state is wasting millions caring for infirm and elderly inmates who no longer pose a threat to society. Full Story
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