The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
It's great to have experienced leaders on hand to help run the Legislature. But it's also great — at least from a leader's perspective — to have some openings to offer to potential supporters. Full Story
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Michael Morton’s name isn’t on the ballot, but he has become the central figure in the heated campaign to become tough-on-crime Williamson County's next district attorney. Full Story
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At our Hot Seat conversation at Angelo State University, state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, and state Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other by-products of the 82nd Session. Full Story
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State Rep. Chuck Hopson, R-Jacksonville, faces a tough road to re-election in the redrawn HD-11. Some constituents are calling GOP primary challenger Travis Clardy the conservative alternative in the race. Full Story
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An administrative judge has again denied Kerry Max Cook's request to move his case out of Smith County, a decision the former death row inmate worries will doom his fight to legally prove his innocence. Full Story
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The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association's board of directors approved a 5 percent premium rate increase Tuesday and is still considering a proposal with staggered premium rates. Full Story
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For the latest nonscientific survey of politics and government insiders, we asked about several hotly contested Democratic primaries for Congress, and we threw in a question about the email volleys roiling the Texas Senate. Full Story
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Former Railroad Commissioner and Senate District 25 hopeful Elizabeth Ames Jones on Monday released a television ad accusing incumbent state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, of ethical lapses. Full Story
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With oil production on the rise in Texas, drilling companies are increasingly burning off the natural gas that surfaces with the oil, because they can't get pipelines in place fast enough to transport it. Full Story
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Usually, the political establishment is more or less united, with major trade groups and major officeholders sticking with incumbents and, more importantly, sticking with one another. Not this year. Full Story
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E. Smith interviews Dan Patrick about John Carona, Root on the race to replace Ron Paul, Batheja on a nest of open House seats in Tarrant County, Aguilar on a border brawl over a congressional seat in El Paso, Tan on the fight over Planned Parenthood in West Texas, Aaronson maps the holes in the state's health care provider network, M. Smith on who might be the next Texas education commissioner, Ramshaw on social media sabotage, Hamilton and Ramshaw on the reaction to news of job insecurity for UT-Austin's president and Grissom on a knickers-twisting historical marker: The best of our best content from May 7 to 11, 2012. Full Story
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Full video of my May 10 TribLive conversation with state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. Full Story
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With the state government tightening its belt, there are now 10,200 fewer state government employees, according to our latest analysis of data collected by the state auditor’s office. Full Story
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Of crucifixions, sagebrush lizards, political primaries and brownouts. Full Story
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The endorsements just keep on rolling in... Full Story
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At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, talked about "turning things upside down" in the public education system. Full Story
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State Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, is launching a website to try to kickstart discussion on what will surely be a hot topic in the next legislative session: school accountability. Full Story
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At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, discussed his extremely public feud with state Sen. John Carona, R-Dallas. Full Story
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Education Commissioner Robert Scott's successor will have his or her hands full. The job requires a delicate balancing act in regard to state officials and school administrators. So who could get Gov. Rick Perry's nod for the post? Full Story
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State Rep. Barbara Nash, R-Arlington, is running for re-election in a district that shares only 20 percent of the population with the district that originally elected her two years ago. Full Story
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