state government

Senate Floor Debate on Sonogram Bill

By Justin Dehn Feb. 17, 2011

Abortion sonogram legislation passed the Senate 21 to 10, and is moving to the House, where the overwhelming Republican majority is expected to pass it. Here's a look at the floor debate. Full Story
Abbott Ruling Will Exclude Planned Parenthood

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 17, 2011

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott just released two opinions expected to force Planned Parenthood out of the state's Women's Health Program, which provides family planning, but not abortions, to Medicaid patients. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
Police Worry Immigrant Victims, Witnesses May Go Silent

By Julián Aguilar Feb. 17, 2011

Law enforcement authorities worry that some immigration-related legislation would silence immigrant crime victims and witnesses, who may stop cooperating with the police out of fear that their undocumented status will be discovered. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Ian Britton/Todd Wiseman
DPS Identifies Persons of Interest in Mansion Fire

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez Feb. 17, 2011

More than two years after an arsonist torched the Governor's Mansion, the Department of Public Safety still hasn't made any arrests, but investigators say they have identified persons of interest in the case. Full Story

Credit: Office of the Governor
Prison Chaplains Pray, Plead for Funds

By Brandi Grissom Feb. 17, 2011

Chaplains have been a part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice since at least 1910, providing spiritual guidance and programs. Under the proposed House budget, all 121 Texas prison chaplains would lose their jobs. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
2010 Census Data for Texas Released

By Matt Stiles, Julián Aguilar and Ryan Murphy Feb. 17, 2011

New U.S. census data shows the Hispanic population in Texas increased by 42 percent since 2000 and makes up 38 percent of the population. The state's total population increased by 4,293,741 since 2000. Full Story
Abortion Sonogram Passes in Senate

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 17, 2011

The controversial abortion sonogram bill has passed the Senate by a vote of 21-10. Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, got the two-thirds vote needed to bring it to the floor, effectively ensuring it would pass. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Sara Hickman: The TT Interview

By Justin Dehn and Andrew Weber Feb. 17, 2011

The 2010 official state musician of Texas sat down with the Tribune to talk about Gov. Rick Perry's proposal to suspend funding for the Texas Commission on the Arts and what it could mean for the state's students. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
Sara Hickman: The TT Interview

By Justin Dehn and Andrew Weber Feb. 17, 2011

Full Story
Facing Budget Crisis, Should Texas Be in the Cancer Business?

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 17, 2011

To solve the state’s budget crisis, lawmakers are considering sweeping cuts to almost everything, from school funding to child welfare services. But a $300-million-a-year cancer institute championed by Gov. Rick Perry and Lance Armstrong has so far escaped the budget knife. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Rainy Day Fund: Is it Drizzling Out — or Pouring?

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Feb. 17, 2011

Texas, like many other states, is proposing billions of dollars in cuts to help close a budget gap. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, one thing Texas has that nobody else does is $9 billion in a piggy bank called the Rainy Day Fund — and lawmakers are divided over whether to crack it open. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Battle Over Rainy Day Fund Heating Up

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Feb. 17, 2011

Texas, like many other states, is proposing billions of dollars in cuts to help close a budget gap. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, one thing Texas has that nobody else does is $9 billion in a piggy bank called the Rainy Day Fund — and lawmakers are divided over whether to crack it open. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 67

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Feb. 16, 2011

This week's episode of the TribCast features Evan, Ross, Ben and Matt on the supermajority in the Texas House, possible federal court challenges, the coming Census numbers, the Howard/Neil election challenge and the public school budget battle. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Warren Chisum for Texas Railroad Commissioner?

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 16, 2011

Put state Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, on the "maybe" list for Texas railroad commissioner — if there is such a thing when the job comes open. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Jurists, Lawmakers, Lawyers: Aid Funds Running Out

By Becca Aaronson Feb. 16, 2011

Organizations that provide legal services to those who can't afford them are quickly running out of money even as the need for their help is increasing, advocates said Wednesday at a press conference. Full Story
Religious Leaders Advocate for Ex-Veteran's Clemency

By Aziza Musa Feb. 16, 2011

Today, a week before his son is scheduled to die, Columbus Adams and a host of religious leaders asked the state to forgive Timothy Adams. His son, he said, never committed a crime before the day he lost control during an argument with his wife and killed their son. Full Story

Credit: Courtesy www.timothywayneadams.com
Make Abortion Illegal, First-Term House Members Say

By Evan Smith Feb. 16, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, three first-term Texas House members — Stefani Carter, R-Dallas; Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite; and Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie — acknowledged that they'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Full Story

Credit: Justin Dehn
Make Abortion Illegal, First-Term House Members Say

By Evan Smith Feb. 16, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, three first-term Texas House members — Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, Cindy Burkett, R-Mesquite, and Rodney Anderson, R-Grand Prairie — acknowledged that they'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned. Full Story
Texas vs. "Obamacare": How the Words Stack Up

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 16, 2011

Senate lawmakers unveiled bills today to reform how health care is paid for and how providers are held accountable for patient outcomes. Here's a look at how the wording of Texas' proposed reform legislation compares to the wording of the often-maligned federal health care reform law in Washington. Full Story

Credit: Wordle
Texas Social Studies Standards Receive Failing Grade

By Morgan Smith Feb. 16, 2011

A report from a conservative education think tank says social studies standards in Texas give students a distorted and politicized view of history that, in one case, resembles "Soviet schools harping on the glories of state socialism." Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva