state government

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
Interactive Map: Texas House Committee Clout

By Ryan Murphy July 2, 2012

Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Texas House, by committee, to see who's got what clout on what subject. Choose a committee and the map highlights the district of each member and, in a different color, the home districts of the chairs, vice chairs and co-chairs. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Chris Chang
San Antonio Considers Tax for Pre-K Initiative

By Morgan Smith June 29, 2012

An eighth-of-a-cent sales tax increase is being proposed in San Antonio to fund full-day pre-kindergarten for primarily low-income children in the city. Full Story

Credit: Lisa Krantz
Court Stays the Course on Politics and Business

By Ross Ramsey June 29, 2012

Corporations and unions can play in politics, but complete disclosures are not required. A corporate political campaign in Texas two years ago was unusual, featuring an unknown corporation that was open about what it was doing. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Video: The GOP and Democratic U.S. Senate Debates

By Justin Dehn June 27, 2012

Full video of Republican and Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate squaring off in separate debates hosted by Dallas public television station KERA (and co-presented by the Tribune). Full Story
TPWD Looks to Rebound After Devastating Year

By Hollie O'Connor June 27, 2012

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is still feeling the effects of last year's wildfires, drought and budget cuts, but officials say the situation is improving with increased park attendance and donations. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Theodore Scott / Todd Wiseman
Amid Controversy, CPRIT Reassesses Priorities

By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News June 26, 2012

Advisers to the state's $3 billion Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas on Tuesday held the first of several meetings aimed at reforming an entity reeling from the controversial resignation of its chief scientific officer. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Family Sues TDCJ Over Heat-Related Death

By Emily Foxhall June 26, 2012

As summer temperatures rise, so do worries about conditions in state prisons. The Texas Civil Rights Project on Tuesday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Texas prison officials on behalf of the family of an inmate who died last summer. Full Story

Credit: Dave Nakayama
Charter Schools to File School-Finance Lawsuit

By Morgan Smith June 26, 2012

Texas is now about to face six lawsuits targeting the way it funds public schools. The Texas Charter School Association announced Tuesday it would join in legal action against the state over school financing. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Decision on Juvenile Sentences Leaves Unanswered Questions

By John Wayne Ferguson June 26, 2012

State officials are unsure how Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision on mandatory life sentences for juveniles will affect the 27 people in Texas who were incarcerated for life without the possibility of parole before the age of 18. Full Story
After Controversy, CPRIT Meets to Chart Future

By Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News June 26, 2012

Under the microscope following its chief scientific officer’s controversial resignation, the state’s $3 billion cancer institute will host a meeting Tuesday in Austin to assess its business and science practices. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Prosecutors Stepping Up Fight Against Barratry

By Becca Aaronson June 25, 2012

Prosecutors are cracking down on barratry, often derided as "ambulance chasing." A handful of notable arrests — including charges against a state representative — have been made this year. Full Story

Credit: Allen Otto
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey June 23, 2012

Aguilar on the aftermath of changes in U.S. immigration policy, Batheja on how the Republican candidates for Senate are handling that sensitive issue, KUT's Philpott on new driver's license laws and immigration, M. Smith on racial tensions and an ousted police chief in Jasper, Galbraith on the state's efforts to limit electric service blackouts, Hamilton on the hot Campbell-Wentworth Senate runoff in Central Texas, Murphy maps the May primary voting, Root on the restoration of the arson-damaged Texas Governor's Mansion and Dehn's latest Weekend Insider on obese Texans: The best of our best content from June 18 to 22, 2012. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Advocates Worry Cuts to Food Aid Programs Could Hurt Texas Families

By Hollie O'Connor June 21, 2012

As legislators tinker with what some say is the cornerstone of America's food safety net, some Texans are concerned about what cuts could mean for low-income families, if they come to fruition. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Julie Jordan Scott
Historic Furnishings to Return to Governor's Mansion

By Jay Root June 20, 2012

Restoration of the Texas Governor’s Mansion takes a significant step Wednesday, with the return of historic furnishings to the building. Gov. Rick Perry and the first lady are expected to return to the mansion late next month. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman