Wedding bells rang for state Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, this weekend in the tiny old mining town of Shafter, near Big Bend National Park.
State Government
Stay informed on Texas state government with The Texas Tribune’s in-depth coverage of the governor, Legislature, state agencies, and policies shaping the future of Texas.
Watch That Date
Monday is K-Day. If Kay Bailey Hutchison quits before then, the election to replace her can be held on November 3. If she quits after that date, the replacement race will be held later.
Looking for the Levers
Kay Bailey Hutchison rebounded in the most recent poll from Rasmussen Reports, but one of Gov. Rick Perry’s hottest arguments rests on the rhetoric of “I’m from Austin; she’s from Washington.” And while the latest polling has the two gubernatorial candidates locked in a tight race, it’s a contest that initially — almost a year ago — was polling strongly in Hutchison’s favor.
Present but not accounted for
The State Auditor says the Texas Education Agency’s process for monitoring average daily attendance in public schools needs a few adjustments.
The revolution will not be televised
It may not be Mad Men, but the State Board on Education will begin broadcasting its meetings online on Wednesday.
Border Cameras: The Sequel
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry gave Texas border sheriffs another $2 million for a virtual border wall of web cameras that in its first full year failed to meet nearly every law enforcement goal his office originally set.
Political Startups
It’s the Labor Day break, a traditional starting point for political adventurers (as opposed to explorers) who will face the judgment of primary voters in six months.
Rematch? No and maybe
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, won’t face another challenge from wealthy El Paso businessman Dee Margo in 2010, but freshman Rep. Joe Moody might.
And in This Corner…
Texas Republicans are waiting to see what Kay will do. Everybody’s been talking about it for months and months.





