Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison and Debra Medina will meet on stage tonight at the University of North Texas campus in Denton for the first gubernatorial debate. While their interplay will only last an hour, putting the show together took weeks, with dozens of people working on details from set design to question preparation. Ben Philpott, who’s covering the governor’s race for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this audio postcard featuring people who make a career out of getting ready for the big night.
State Government
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Public Education
The American History Wars
As the SBOE grinded through testimony on Wednesday over its controversial social studies standards, much of the debate teetered on two basic fulcrums: teaching vs. indoctrination and patriotism vs. realism.
Posted inState Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 11
In this week’s TribCast, Evan, Ross, Elise and Ben pregame the GOP gubernatorial debate, consider the political prospects of ESPN’s Craig James and sum up House Speaker Joe Straus’ appearance at the inaugural TribLive event.
Posted in
Economy
Out of the Race
Texas will not apply for Race for the Top, the one-time federal grant worth up to $700 million for the state. Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott cited strings attached to the potential money: “It was chock full of burdens. Their overall policy was to control curriculum across the country.”
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Public Education
TribBlog: “Diverse States of America”
The State Board of Education gets an earful on patriotism, multiculturalism and Sikhism as it hears public comment on social studies standards
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State Government
TribBlog: Dallas City Officials Do the Robot, the Running Man and the Hula In City Promo Video Featuring Mark Cuban
In a new city promotional video, Dallas city council members, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and a dozen other celebrities bust a move — and risk lifelong embarrassment. Did I mention Vanilla Ice is involved?
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State Government
2010: Rick vs. Kay Fundraising
Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has slightly more campaign cash in the bank than her GOP rival, Gov. Rick Perry.
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State Government
TribBlog: Straus Wants to Slow Down on Mansion
The state ought to slow down proposals to expand the Governor’s Mansion, House Speaker Joe Straus said in the inaugural TribLive event this morning, creating an obstacle to an idea endorsed by First Lady Anita Perry that has stirred historic preservationists in Texas.
Posted in
Economy
The Brief: January 13, 2010
Remember those kids who would do extra homework assignments — without turning them in? Apparently Gov. Rick Perry and Education Commissioner Robert Scott might have just such students.