state government

The Brief: January 12, 2010

By Abby Rapoport Jan. 12, 2010

Just because the Republican debates will make for good television, don’t forget the joys of a live show. Today, the State Board of Education is coming to town Full Story
Guest Column: The 2010 Agenda: Business

By Bill Hammond Jan. 12, 2010

To restore jobs lost during the recession and to prepare for those ready to enter the job market, Texas must create more than two million jobs in the next decade. A key factor in achieving this target is having educated employees available to fill positions as they become available. Full Story
Mapping It Out

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Jan. 12, 2010

What does the 2010 census mean for 2011 redistricting? Ben Philpott filed this report for KUT News and the Tribune. Full Story

Credit: Texas Legislative Council
Hijacking History

By Brian Thevenot Jan. 12, 2010

Was America ordained by God to lead the world? Are our public school students taught enough about the African American and Hispanic experiences? Was Joseph McCarthy an American hero? The always controversial State Board of Education meets this week to take up such questions as it revises Texas' social studies standards. Full Story
Still Restrained

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 12, 2010

Texas educators forcibly pinned down students with disabilities as many times in 2009 as they did in 2008, despite efforts to curb the practice. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
TribBlog: Access Granted

By Julián Aguilar Jan. 11, 2010

Should reporters wear muzzles when they're around politicians? Some states seem to think so, but not, thankfully, Texas. Full Story
The Brief: January 11, 2010

By Abby Rapoport Jan. 11, 2010

TV and politics collide this week, but it won't include Tom DeLay's dance moves. Full Story
No Dollar Left Behind

By Morgan Smith Jan. 11, 2010

Let's say you're a donor to a candidate or an elected official who quits a race mid-campaign or chooses to not run for reelection. What if you made a contribution to one of the nine Texas legislators who decided not to seek reelection this year, or to a former diplomat who toyed with a bid for governor but ultimately thought better of it, or to a tech executive who considered a challenge to a member of Congress but decided against running at the last minute? What happens to your money? Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
T-Squared: Question Time

By Evan Smith Jan. 10, 2010

If you were interviewing Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday morning, what would you ask him? Full Story
TribBlog: Perry Indicates He'll Pardon Timothy Cole

By Brandi Grissom Jan. 7, 2010

Gov. Rick Perry appears willing to sign a posthumous pardon for the exonerated Timothy Cole after Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today issued an opinion that said the governor could grant one. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Courtesy of the Cole family
TribBlog: AG Says Posthumous Pardons Possible

By Elise Hu Jan. 7, 2010

A posthumous pardon is possible after all, according to an opinion from Attorney General Greg Abbott's office. This clears the way for the possible post-death pardon of Tim Cole, who was exonerated of a sexual assault conviction in a Travis County court last year, but had died in prison many years prior. Full Story
Sexual Abuse in State Lock-ups

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 7, 2010

Three years after a sexual abuse scandal rocked the Texas Youth Commission, one in five juvenile offenders in Texas youth lock-ups report being forced into sexual acts. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
On the Records: Spending Search

By Matt Stiles Jan. 7, 2010

We have 10 years and more than $350 million in Texas campaign expenditures available for search and download. Find your own stories. Full Story

Credit: Austin Chronicle
The Brief: January 7, 2010

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 7, 2010

Everything old is new again. Full Story
Ads Infinitum: Hutchison Releases "Hook'Em" Ad

By Matt Stiles Jan. 6, 2010

A burnt-orange view of "Roads." Full Story
TribBlog: Fair Game

By Matt Stiles Jan. 6, 2010

State Sen. John Whitmire didn't break the law by spending $90,000 in campaign funds on sports tickets, the Texas Ethics Commission finds. Full Story

Credit: Associated Press
The Brief: January 6, 2010

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 6, 2010

KERA to Debra Medina: Come and knock on our door. We've been waiting for you… Full Story
But We Were Friends!

By Abby Rapoport Jan. 6, 2010

In politics, friendship apparently lasts through only one political cycle. Just ask Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Many organizations that previously supported both her and Gov. Rick Perry have put their weight behind Perry's re-election bid instead of her challenge. The Texas Farm Bureau sits as the sole trade group cheerleading for the Hutchison campaign — while Perry counts 50 organizations and associations supporting him. Full Story
A Detention Center Mea Culpa

By Julián Aguilar Jan. 6, 2010

The U.S. government is imposing greater restrictions than necessary on most aliens held in custody for immigration violations, according to a charge made by ... the U.S. government. Full Story

Credit: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security
No Country For Health Care, Part 3: Shrinking Rural Ranks

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 6, 2010

It’s no time to be an advocate for rural health care. Rural lawmakers say they're consistently outnumbered and under-represented — and that redistricting will only make matters worse. Full Story

Credit: David Hartstein