state government

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 26, 2011

Root and Tan on the restoration of the Governor's Mansion and on the Perrys' expensive replacement digs, E. Smith's TribLive interview with three freshman legislators in El Paso, M. Smith on tough financial standards for local school districts, Ramshaw and Murphy on Texas docs paid by drug companies, yours truly on new congressional and legislative redistricting maps, Hamilton on the biggest competitive endeavor in Brownsville's schools and Aguilar on how border mayors feel about military equipment in their cities: The best of our best content from November 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Benjamin Hasson
Peña Won't Run for Re-election

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 25, 2011

State Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, says he can't win re-election under new court-drawn redistricting maps and won't seek another term in the Texas House. It would have been his first election as a Republican. Full Story
Drug Company Payments to Doctors Raise Concerns of Conflicting Interests

By Emily Ramshaw and Ryan Murphy Nov. 25, 2011

Thousands of Texas doctors, researchers and medical experts — including more than 100 who are employed by the state and are paid with taxpayer dollars — routinely supplement their salaries with income from pharmaceutical companies. Full Story
Weekend Insider: Redistricting, For-Profit Teacher Certification

By Justin Dehn Nov. 24, 2011

In this episode of Weekend Insider, Executive Editor Ross Ramsey describes where Texas' legislative redistricting stands, and reporter Morgan Smith explains how Texas became the industry leader in for-profit alternative teacher certification. Full Story
Campaign Chatter

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 24, 2011

Rep. Joe Driver and Travis County prosecutors come to terms on his legislative expense accounts. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
Inside Intelligence: Who to Blame?

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 24, 2011

In which we asked in the insiders about redistricting and, separately, about Formula One racing in Texas. Full Story
Court Proposes New Congressional Maps for Texas

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 24, 2011

A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas Wednesday. The map is a proposal; the court is seeking comments from the parties by noon Friday. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Mother Lode for Redistricting Nerds

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 24, 2011

The Texas Legislative Council has a terrific redistricting section on its website, with full statistical reporting on all of the new maps, including geography, demographics, incumbencies, and election results all the way back to 2002. Full Story

Credit: Muliadi Soenaryo
Court Increases Minority Districts in Texas Legislature

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

A panel of federal judges in San Antonio ordered the state to conduct its 2012 House and Senate elections using political maps drawn by the court and not those drawn by the state, issuing final maps that give minority voters — and Democrats — more power. The state's top lawyer will move immediately to stop the new maps. Full Story
Talking Turkey

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

A tiny tempest over deadlines, and Thanksgiving. Full Story
Pins and Needles

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

Holiday redistricting stories, not unusual things if you've watched this for a while, always start with three wise persons in the guise of federal judges. It's super-sized this year, with six wise men, three in San Antonio and three in Washington. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Courts Revise Maps for Legislative Elections

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

Federal judges in San Antonio ordered the state to conduct its 2012 House and Senate elections using political maps drawn by the judges and not those drawn by the state, issuing final maps that give minority voters — and Democrats — more power. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Chris Chang
Schools Face Tough New Rules on Financial Hardship

By Morgan Smith Nov. 23, 2011

The TEA has released new guidelines that set tough thresholds for school districts hoping to take advantage of special legal exemptions passed by the Legislature and intended to help schools cope with significant budget cuts. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Court Releases Congressional Maps

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

A panel of three federal judges in San Antonio proposed new congressional districts for Texas today. Among the headlines: It looks like U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin, and state Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, won't be running against each other. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Video: Perry's Journey From Ranch to Luxury Mansion

By Thanh Tan Nov. 23, 2011

In 2008, Gov. Rick Perry moved from the Governor's Mansion into a $10,000 a month estate in West Austin. Perry says security is his top concern and "to do that on the cheap is pretty hard to do." His critics say he's living a luxurious lifestyle on the taxpayers' dime. Full Story
Spending on Perry's Austin Mansion Hits $800,000

By Jay Root Nov. 23, 2011

When Rick Perry recently attacked entrenched politicians for living large at taxpayers' expense, critics were quick to turn the tables on the governor. A Tribune review shows how much Perry's arrangement costs. Full Story
Campaign Roundup: The Week's Political News

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 23, 2011

State campaign news, candidate announcements, retirements and rumors from the past week. Full Story
Rep. Joe Driver to Get Five Years Probation

By Jay Root Nov. 22, 2011

The Garland Republican pleaded guilty in court Tuesday to felony abuse-of-office charges after illegally pocketing state travel money. The humbled legislator agreed to five years probation and said he was thankful that the issue was finally resolved. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
TribLive: El Paso's Freshmen on the 82nd Session

By Evan Smith Nov. 22, 2011

At our TribLive conversation at the University of Texas at El Paso on 11/16, state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, and state Reps. Naomi Gonzalez, D-El Paso, and Dee Margo, R-El Paso, discussed cuts to public and higher education and other byproducts of the 82nd Session. Full Story
Governor's Mansion Rising From Ashes

By Jay Root Nov. 22, 2011

The careful restoration of the historic Texas Governor’s Mansion, nearly obliterated in 2008 when an arsonist tossed a Molotov cocktail on the front porch, will soon be complete. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman