state government

More Time, But No Maps or Election Dates for Texas Candidates

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 13, 2011

The Texas primary elections are still set — precariously — for March 6 but a panel of three federal judges extended the filing deadlines for candidates to Monday. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Fracking Disclosure to Start in February

By Kate Galbraith Dec. 13, 2011

Rules requiring the disclosure of chemicals used in the controversial hydraulic fracturing process will take effect in Texas in February, the Texas Railroad Commission decided on Tuesday. Full Story
On the Records: What Are Federal Lawmakers Saying?

By Becca Aaronson Dec. 13, 2011

The Sunlight Foundation released an update to the interactive Capitol Words on Monday. The application allows users to search and compare words spoken by federal legislators using data from the Congressional Record. Full Story
On the Records: Texas Exonerations

By Ryan Murphy Dec. 12, 2011

Texas ranks third in the number of exonerations in the United States since 1989, according to data compiled by Mother Jones. Take a look at how Texas compares to other states across the nation with this map. Full Story
Combs: State Revenues Higher Than Expected

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 12, 2011

The state's finances are in better shape than previously believed, the state comptroller said Monday, with a new projection showing $1.6 billion more than lawmakers expected, even after the state covers part of the its Medicaid shortfall and restores some cuts to state agencies and universities. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Feds Approve One Health Waiver, Reject Another

By Emily Ramshaw Dec. 12, 2011

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has turned down Texas’ request to run a family planning program that excludes some providers — namely Planned Parenthood. But it approved Texas' request for a waiver to expand Medicaid managed care. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Redistricting Orders Create Political Chaos

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 12, 2011

Forget everything. The candidate announcements, the relocations, the decisions not to run again, the who vs. who and the campaign finance. With a Friday night order, the U.S. Supreme Court turned Texas election season into chaos. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Measuring the Impact of Historic Education Cuts

By Morgan Smith Dec. 12, 2011

One question has dominated education conversations in Texas since even before the 2011 legislative session and budget slashing began: How will public schools be affected? The answers are many and varied. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Hochberg's Exit Leaves a Hole in the House

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 12, 2011

After 20 years, Scott Hochberg is bailing out of the Texas Legislature. He’ll get back his nights and weekends. But he also won't be at the Capitol to help sort out education policy and financing. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Supreme Court Freezes Texas Congressional, Legislative Elections

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 9, 2011

In a late Friday afternoon order, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the use of court-drawn maps for legislative and congressional districts in Texas, telling the lawyers involved to be ready for oral arguments next month. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Chris Chang
Morrison Won't Run for Re-election

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 9, 2011

State Rep. Geanie Morrison, R-Victoria, won't seek re-election. The seven-term legislator told her hometown paper, the Victoria Advocate, that the court-drawn redistricting maps made another run difficult. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
The Waiting Game

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 8, 2011

Redistricting is right where we left it last week — in the U.S. Supreme Court. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Political Pre-bituaries

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 8, 2011

So far, 26 members of the Texas House have said they won't seek reelection — 27 if you count Rep. Fred Brown, R-Bryan, who resigned after the legislative session. The list could grow by next Thursday, the deadline for filing for the 2012 elections. And four more incumbents will lose their elections next year — to four incumbents. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Weekend Insider: Immigration and Politics, Second Chance Candidates

By Justin Dehn Dec. 8, 2011

In this episode of Weekend Insider, Tribune reporter Julian Aguilar discusses immigration and politics, and executive editor Ross Ramsey discusses talks about candidates looking to voters for a second chance. Full Story
El Paso is Tops Again on Low-Crime Cities List

By Susannah Jacob Dec. 8, 2011

El Paso has the lowest crime rate of American cities with populations over 500,000, according to rankings assembled by the CQ Press and released earlier today. This is the second year in a row the border city has topped the list. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
New Youth Agency Taking Shape as Two Close

By Brandi Grissom Dec. 8, 2011

With the closure of two previous youth agencies, lawmakers and advocates hope to see cost savings and better results out of the new Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Full Story
Jon Wellinghoff: The TT Interview

By Elizabeth Titus Dec. 7, 2011

The chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on managing wind energy, how electric cars could change the grid and what he's learned by monitoring his electricity consumption at home . Full Story
Dogs' Evidence Stands as Woman Waits in Prison

By Brandi Grissom Dec. 4, 2011

If the dog-sniffing evidence that led to the conviction of her father for conspiring to commit murder was unreliable enough for him to be released from prison, why is Megan Winfrey still serving a life sentence for the same crime based largely on the same evidence? Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Dec. 3, 2011

Aaronson maps the growth of poverty in Texas, Aguilar on the suicide of an illegal immigrant, Galbraith on the prospect of more rolling blackouts, Grissom on a prosecutor's memory lapse, Hamilton on the prospect of public universities undergoing a sunset review, Murphy's latest awesome redistricting interactive, Ramsey on a stumbling start to the 2012 election season, Root on Rick Perry's latest populist tirade, M. Smith on the boom in for-profit teacher certification programs and Tan on the fight against cervical cancer in ... Africa: The best of our best content from November 28 to December 2, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Video: Understanding the Redistricting Battle

By Justin Dehn and Thanh Tan Dec. 2, 2011

Redistricting. It's a long process all about drawing lines that determine elections and which political party is in power in Texas. Months after the Legislature established its maps, it's still not clear who Texans will be voting for in next year's congressional and state House and Senate races. The Trib's Thanh Tan and Ross Ramsey explain why. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich