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The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    by Ross Ramsey

    Stiles and Thevenot collaborate on the salaries paid to superintendents, and even compare them on price per student… Ramsey’s look at redistricting and next year’s elections… Aguilar’s report on jails, brought to you by the federal agency that’s in the ag business… Rapoport’s peek at the power behind Texas pre-kindergarten programs… Smith’s conversation with Dan Patrick, in three parts… Grissom’s narrative on a circular immigration and deportation route financed by two governments… Ramshaw finds doctors agreeing on public policy and split on strategy and tactics… Hu’s latest Stump Interrupted puts the camera on Farouk Shami… Hamilton’s story on two retired cops who are taking on cargo theft in Texas… And Kreighbaum and Stiles pop open the itineraries of your folks in Congress. The best of our best from December 12 to 18, 2009. Full Story 

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  • Keep On Trucking

    by Reeve Hamilton

    Texas has the worst rates of cargo and heavy equipment theft in the country. Yet while criminals are raking in billions of dollars each year, the state has never had an organized system to address the problem. Full Story 

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  • 2010: Is Seven Enough for Isett?

    by Ross Ramsey

    Rep. Carl Isett, R-Lubbock, has his hometown buzzing with rumors that he won't seek an eighth term in the Texas House. Isett didn't return calls and texts to confirm, and his office said simply that he'll have an announcement on Friday. Full Story 

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  • Super Salaries

    by Matt Stiles and Brian Thevenot

    School superintendent salary data offers a unique window into the vast diversity of Texas districts, from massive to miniscule, and the way they pay their chief executives. One new trend: Performance pay. Full Story 

    Superintendent salaries often, but not always correlate with district enrollment. The top earner in Texas, Beaumont ISD's Carrol Thomas, is the exception. He earns $334,212 for managing a system one-tenth the size of the state's largest, Houston ISD.
    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Home Alone

    by Emily Ramshaw

    The home health care cuts that Congress will likely make to fund federal health care reform will take an extra large swipe at Texas. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • The Rich are Different

    by Abby Rapoport

    When political consultants take on wealthy candidates, does that mean they can milk them and their campaigns for all they’re worth? Are they simply trying to help good people get elected? Or both? Full Story 

    Tony Sanchez, Farouk Shami
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Todd Wiseman

  • Legal Lottery

    by Emily Ramshaw

    Can Texas lottery winners sell all of their payments to private finance companies? State attorneys say no. A state appeals court says yes. The Texas Supreme Court will decide. Full Story 

  • Never Can Say Goodbye

    by Ross Ramsey

    Texas voters won't be offered a real chance at change in the Legislature and Congress next year. Four out of five state and federal lawmakers face no real competition in their primary or general elections. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Mapmaker, Mapmaker

    by Ross Ramsey

    Think like the political pros and your mind will go to the long game instead of the short one. The short game is the elections of 2010. The long game is redistricting in 2011, when maps are drawn that corral the voters into the districts that will elect legislators for the next ten years. Full Story 

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  • Advice for Annise Parker

    by Kirk Watson

    Congratulations, Mayor-Elect. Now you get to govern a great city — Houston — that’s much bigger than the electorate and much more complicated than the campaign. Perhaps you’d like some aspirin? Or a re-count? Full Story 

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    Credit: gavelgrab.org