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The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.

  • Primary Color: HD-52

    By Brian Thevenot

    The GOP smackdown in this Republican-leaning district, now occupied by a freshman Democrat, is really a disagreement over focus. One leading candidate, a Capitol insider, has his sights trained on statewide concerns. The other, a Williamson County insider, focuses more on local concerns — and denigrates his opponent's experience. Full Story 

    Larry Gonzalez (left), John Gordon

  • Primary Color: HD-43

    By Julián Aguilar

    Ideological purity is the big issue on March 2 in this South Texas district. Freshman state Rep. Tara Rios Ybarra, D-South Padre Island, touts her "moderate" approach and bipartisan tendencies, but her challenger insists, “The first thing we have to do is get rid of all the closet Republicans from the Democratic Party." Full Story 

    J.M. Lozano and Tara Rios Ybarra

  • TribBlog: Judges Gone Wild [Updated]

    By Morgan Smith

    In an unexpected reversal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has thrown out Charles Dean Hood's death sentence on the heels of a U.S. Supreme Court appeal and national media attention. Full Story 

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    Credit: Supreme Court of the United States

  • The Buck Stops Where?

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Three of the biggest social services messes of Rick Perry's ten-year tenure — the sexual abuse scandal at the Texas Youth Commission, fight clubs at state institutions for the disabled and deaths of children on Child Protective Services’ watch — have been noticeably absent from the campaign trail. Is it because Texans don't hold him accountable for these tragedies? Or because his opponents think GOP primary voters simply don't care? Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Talking Back to the Feds

    By Brian Thevenot

    "Teachers should be chasing us around," the Texas high school senior told the official from the U.S. Department of Education. "We shouldn't be chasing them. But that doesn't always happen here." Full Story 

    Students Arturo Garcia and Chris Conway listen to a U.S. Department of Education representative describe a grant program targeting low-performing schools like theirs, Reagan High School in East Austin. The money is tied to major overhauls and replacement of staff.
    Credit: Brian Thevenot

  • Primary Color: HD-36

    By Julián Aguilar

    Embattled state Rep. Ismael “Kino” Flores is quitting, and two Democrats are vying to replace him in one of the state's poorest and least-educated districts — where old-school border politics rule, where no Republicans bothered to file for the general election. After all, this is the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story 

    Sergio Muñoz and Sandra Rodriguez
    Credit: Julian Aguilar

  • 2010: A Small Number, Doubled

    By Ross Ramsey

    Through the close of business on Monday, 119,195 Texans had voted early in the big counties, a 98 percent increase over four years ago. GOP primary voting was up 146 percent, to 86,179; Democratic primary voting was up a mere 52 percent, to 33,016. Full Story 

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  • The Brief: February 23, 2010

    By Morgan Smith

    There’s plenty for Texas-focused Supreme Court watchers to gnaw on today. Also, there’s this election going on, and people really want to vote in it. Full Story 

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    Credit: Supreme Court of the United States

  • Primary Color: SD-5

    By Brian Thevenot

    Forget about issues. The GOP primary for this Senate seat in Central Texas is all about honesty and integrity. Incumbent Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, says of his challenger, Ben Bius, "I can't remember the last time he said something truthful." Bius says of Ogden, "I can forgive a man a policy difference if he keeps his word." Full Story 

    Steve Ogen (left), Ben Bius (right)
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich and benfortexas.org

  • Look Back in Anger

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    With only a week to go before the GOP primary for governor, Debra Medina is pressing forward with her insurgent candidacy — despite the controversy over 9/11 truthers that temporarily upended her campaign. Her core supporters remain strongly with her, unfazed by and miffed at the media's scrutiny. How the whole thing ends is anyone's guess. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, spent Monday on the trail with Medina and her flock and filed this report. Full Story 

    February 21, 2010. Debra Medina, flanked by supporters at an event at Texas Pride BBQ in Adkins, TX.
    Credit: Justin Dehn

  • Primary Color: HD-105

    By Andrew Kreighbaum

    North Texas Democrats see GOP state Rep. Linda Harper-Brown's Irving seat as theirs for the taking in 2010 — the top target in their battle to take back the majority in the House. But first they have to settle on a candidate. Full Story 

    Limberg, a Democratic candidate for the Texas House from Irving.