Basically, Texas has its own grid to avoid dealing with — you guessed it — the feds. But grid independence has been violated a few times over the years — not even counting Mexico's help during blackouts in 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/ERCOT_Region_map.jpg)
Protecting education and recognizing that the rapidly growing Hispanic population will gain a major political voice in Texas were themes that emerged Monday at the Tribune's “New Day Rising” forum. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0f4c0b57acc88a50c520c0ea1448d358/BD%20INC%20Politics%20and%20Governance%2001%202011)
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association called an emergency board meeting this afternoon to discuss the Texas Department of Insurance’s decision to put the agency on administrative oversight. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/twia.png)
Republican analysts said at today's Texas Tribune "New Day Rising" forum that as Texas' Hispanic population continues to surge, its traditionally Democratic electorate is more and more up for grabs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/20101018-DSC_9742.jpg)
In a recent Tribune article, state Rep. Leo Berman alleged that illegal immigrants are bringing infectious diseases into Texas. Is he right? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/texplainer-sponsoredTAMU.png)
The onetime death house chaplain on what it was like to witness the most state executions of anyone in his job (95, by lethal injection), what changed his mind about the death penalty and why lawmakers should continue to fund the chaplain program. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Pitts bill draws on Rainy Day Fund; forensic science chairman approved; freed man sues state of Texas Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9d97b31d86f61c5cda9ba4507fcbb631/TT%20Event%20Pitts%2005%202011)
Anthony Graves, who was freed from jail this year after spending 18 years behind bars for brutal murders he did not commit, sued the state of Texas today to officially clear his name and to force the Texas comptroller to pay him for the time he was wrongfully imprisoned. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/anthony.jpg)
The Senate Nominations Committee voted 4-2 today to recommend approval of the state forensic board Chairman John Bradley's appointment. Sens. José Rodríguez and Kirk Watson voted against Bradley's nomination. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA6256.jpg)
Corpus Christi's Flour Bluff ISD has blocked extracurricular clubs from meeting on campus to make sure it's complying with federal law after denying approval of a gay-straight alliance. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Classroom.jpg)
The deck may already be stacked against Tom Leppert. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6117e7e289f9c969b68de6386059a39c/BD%20INC%20Leppert%202%202010)
In 2009, state Rep. Leo Berman's bills — like the ones restricting illegal immigrants to certain geographical regions and denying them access to higher education — failed to gain traction. But with a Republican supermajority now in control, this could very well be the session of Leo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/LeoBerman001.jpg)
The growth of the state’s Hispanic population and the rise of immigration as a political issue put Texas Republicans in a tight spot — especially the ones with statewide aspirations. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_Immigration_JV-29.jpg)
For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders on issues of the moment, we asked whether lawmakers will finally approve new forms of gambling to soften the blow of massive budget-cutting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo_1.png){kind=logo}
State Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, wants all presidential and vice presidential candidates to show their birth certificate to the Texas Secretary of State in order to get on the ballot. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/BermanYouTube.jpg)
Who would have thought that of all of the big, nasty, thorny things in front of the Legislature this year that redistricting might be the least dangerous? Full Story
Texans know Farouk Shami as a former long-shot candidate for governor, the head of a hair care empire, and the inspiration for perhaps the greatest campaign song of all time. Soon, Shami will add another job to that list: guest judge on Celebrity Apprentice. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a57f722f69555d1bb480c6ab4414785d/BD%20INC%20Farouk%20Shami%201%202010)
Big D may need a new nickname. Despite a surging state population, the city of Dallas grew by a paltry 1 percent in the last decade — a rate lower than any of the 20 largest cities in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib_Census_CalebBryantMiller10.jpg)
The best of our best content from Feb. 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/tribweek-feb262011.png)
No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Screen_shot_2011-02-25_at_6.12.28_PM.png)