Watch our abbreviated version of the daylong Senate debate, the dismissal of three dozen amendments and the ultimate passage of Senate Bill 14, a.k.a. the voter ID bill. The measure's now headed to the House. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_shot_2011-01-26_at_10.43.30_PM_1.png)
In this week's podcast, the group discusses voter ID, the budget shortfall's impact on mental health services and the 2012 Senate race — and Elise says farewell. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TT-TribCast-002.png)
As expected, the Texas Senate approved the controversial voter ID bill on Wednesday. Next, the measure will move to the Republican-dominated House, where it is also expected to pass easily. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB7421.jpg)
Disability rights advocates filed a class-action lawsuit today claiming that six Texas officials, including Gov. Rick Perry, violated the rights of more than 4,200 residents in state-supported living centers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Texas_State_School_SSLC_Sign_WEB.jpg)
Your afternoon reading: voter ID vote could come early, congressional Democrats chime in, and "Choose Life" license plates make a return Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20101018-DSC_9738.jpg)
The real battle over voter ID, which cleared an initial vote last night, could be just beginning. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c545cbe486800d44c2ce6ad01fce2231/BD%20INC%20Van%20De%20Putte%2002%202011)
The Obama administration's "drug czar" on the federal drug control strategy, curbing drug addiction in the United States, helping to end drug-related violence in Mexico — and why legalizing illicit drugs is not the answer. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/DrugTsar.jpg)
Back in the day, not all public officials could read, so clerks would read the bills aloud in the House and Senate. We're reasonably confident they all can read now, but the clerks keep the tradition alive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/texplainer-sponsoredTAMU.png)
Like many other Texas groups, faith organizations that lobby lawmakers are bracing for a brutal budgetary session. It’s not only a moral issue for the religious groups; it concerns their own bottom lines, too. Because when the government doesn’t provide for the needy, the needy look to the church. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PrayerMeetingCapSteps_sized_cropped.jpg)
Just how important is full-day pre-kindergarten for the state’s youngest and most disadvantaged kids? Is it more important than after-school tutoring? Than canceling music and art classes? As public school officials brace for a proposed $10 billion less in state funding, that’s one decision they'll have to make. “It's choosing between bad and worse and bad and bad,” says one superintendent. “It's definitely not a good day when we are sitting around talking about whether class size going up could help salvage all-day pre-K, or vice-versa.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PreKCuts2_1.jpg)