Tier-One Prize Money Bill Passes State Senate
After hitting a brief snag, the bill that creates a mechanism for the leaders in the race to become the state's next tier-one university passed the state Senate today. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/IMG_0315.JPG)
-
![State Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, explains HB 1000.]()
Credit: Reeve Hamilton -
Budget Notes: School Finance Remains the Key
Lawmakers made progress today on solving the current budget deficit but still haven't solved the major problem in the 2012-13 budget: school finance. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Approves Texting-While-Driving Ban
The Texas Senate approved a measure this evening that would ban texting and sending e-mails and instant messages while driving. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/texting-while-driving-2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Tim Caynes -
Kolkhorst Throws Herself a Life Raft on Heath Care Compact Bill
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst threw herself a life raft tonight, attaching her Health Care Compact bill — a measure that would seek to give Texas control of the purse strings for Medicare and Medicaid — onto a Senate health care bill that the House passed on third reading. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA9576.jpg)
![Rep. Lois Kolkhorst R-Brenham on House floor May 24th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Reyes Fires Back at Perry After TV Appearance
A border congressman today lashed out at Texas Gov. Rick Perry after Perry's appearance Tuesday on Fox News, where he proclaimed that the southern border is under siege while the federal government stands idly by. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Reyes.jpg)
![U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar -
Senate Passes Fracking Disclosure Bill
After a lengthy discussion, the Texas Senate unanimously passed a bill Wednesday that would require drilling companies using hydraulic fracturing techniques to disclose on a public website the chemicals they use in the process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MNFontainQuail18.jpg)
![A worker untangles a hose at a Fountain Quail water management and treatment facility in Roanoake, Texas. Fountain Quail cleans and separates water used in fracking for natural gas removal.]()
Credit: Matt Nager for The New York Times -
A&M Regents Chairman Asks Faculty for "Patience and Trust"
On the eve of an important meeting of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, chairman Richard Box issued a systemwide, tone-setting memo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Box.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: Lege Should Draw Congressional Map, Perry Says
Though lawmakers have run out of time to draw congressional redistricting map, Gov. Rick Perry says the responsibility lies with the Legislature, not the courts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PerryStills_0001_Layer_2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: So There Will Be a Special Session?
With less than a week left in the regular session, it's the question everyone's asking: Will the Legislature finish its business, or will Gov. Rick Perry call a special session? Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PerryStills_0000_Layer_3.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: Perry Hopeful On "Sanctuary Cities" Bill
Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday that "sanctuary cities" legislation is still important to him but is in the hands of the Texas Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PerryStills_0002_Layer_1.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: U.S. Border Security Effort is "Puny," Perry Says
The federal government's effort to secure the border is "puny," Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday, adding, "Texas is being forced to do things that aren't our responsibility." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/PerryStills_0003_Layer_0.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: Alex Jones Storms the Capitol
Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol Wednesday over the Legislature's failure to pass a bill criminalizing invasive airport pat downs. "Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!" he bellowed. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/AlexJonesDPS_2.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Radio Host Storms Capitol Over TSA "Groping" Bill
Notorious radio host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones led a raucous protest at the Capitol over the Legislature's failure to criminalize invasive airport pat downs. "Every one of [those senators] is an enemy of the Republic and the Republic of Texas!" he bellowed. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Kolkhorst Holding Nelson's Health Bill Hostage
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst is holding Sen. Jane Nelson's health reform bill hostage. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA7013.jpg)
![Sen Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound during Senate Finance Committee meeting on April 19th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Updated: Texplainer: Is TSA "Groping" Bill Junk Legislation?
Hey, Texplainer: Can Texas really stop the TSA from touching my privates when I go through airport security? Short answer: No. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TSA-airportsecurity.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
The Midday Brief: May 25, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Perry wants lawmakers, not courts, to draw congressional maps; Simpson blocks salvia bill; Texas vs. feds fight centers on a lizard Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Latest Texas vs. Feds Dispute? A Tiny Lizard
Could a brown, beady-eyed, two-and-a-half-inch lizard really threaten millions of barrels of Texas oil? West Texas lawmakers are worried that adding the sagebrush lizard to the endangered species list would do just that. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/sagebrush-lizard-m.png)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Steve Jurvetson -
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 81
On this week's episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben talk about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune polls, continuing speculation about Gov. Rick Perry's presidential plans and the end of the legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Tribcast_2.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman -
Data App: 27 New Entities, 30 Updated in Public Salaries Database
We've added 27 new entities — including university systems, transit authorities, and appraisal and school districts — to the Tribune's government employee salaries database and updated 30 others, bringing the total number to 129, with salary data for 660,000 public employees. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/GovSal_DataScreenshot.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: May 25, 2011
One of the state budget's most notoriously complicated components has lawmakers — just five days from the finish line — clamoring for a fix. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/MoneyEducationFinanceBills.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/6efe2e834354f535ac5583aa36f00268/BD%20INC%20Florence%20Shapiro%2001%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/24ae4a42dc5080752b936dc1db0f0f47/BD%20INC%20Jones%20Senate%202011)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d8630b961cbc5d2e0aae83d8d86b0c97/BD%20INC%20Perry%20House%202011)