An amendment from Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, that would have directed surplus money from the Rainy Day Fund to pay for enrollment growth in public schools has perished in conference committee. Full Story
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San Antonio State Rep. Joaquin Castro will take on veteran U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett to vie for a newly-created congressional district that spans from San Antonio up to southern Travis County. Full Story
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House Speaker Joe Straus knocks down the TSA "anti-groping" bill. Are voters ready for another Texan in the White House? News of the "tepid" response to Perry's NALEO speech spreads inside the Beltway. Full Story
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The House appears set on passing a non-binding TSA anti-groping resolution, instead of Rep. David Simpson's bill. Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says a Senate committee will hear the upper chamber's version of the bill on Monday. Full Story
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Not every crowd is an adoring crowd. Gov. Rick Perry got a reality check in San Antonio this week. Full Story
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Plans to build a coal plant called the White Stallion Energy Center near Bay City have stirred considerable controversy, as residents near and far worry about air pollution and the huge amounts of water needed to operate the plant. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry’s neon-light promotion on the national stage of the $6 billion left in the Rainy Day Fund exposes a disconnect with the conservative lawmakers battling for his principles at home, where his party is working to divert negative public sentiment about the deep budget reductions. Full Story
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Lawmakers aren't buying Amazon's latest pitch for a sales tax break in Texas. But Rick Perry is. Full Story
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Strategists say the longer lawmakers stay in town, the more time Gov. Rick Perry has to show off his conservative credentials and appeal to a crucial bloc that could propel him into a national race: Republican primary voters. Full Story
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A decision on the whether to advance the state’s pending “sanctuary cities” legislation will not be made until Monday, leaving less time for lawmakers to consider the bills before Wednesday’s special session deadline. Full Story
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Hey, Texplainer: How much does the Texas Capitol recycle during a legislative session? During this session, 72 tons of paper, plastic and aluminum, bringing in $12,000 to the fund that maintains state buildings. Full Story
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Texas Gov. Rick Perry made no mention of the federal government’s overreach or the violence he says is spilling across the state’s border during a brief and tense public appearance today before hundreds of Latino elected officials. Full Story
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Hey Texplainer: What happens to the bills that Perry doesn't sign or veto? Gov. Rick Perry has vetoed and signed a multitude of bills this year, but to date there have been 27 he allowed to become law by default. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading: Could ghosts of Gov. Rick Perry's past affect his presidential intentions? Meanwhile, parents prepare for budget cuts in the classroom, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says he'll reveal his next campaign move in July. Full Story
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Advocates for a $5 "pole tax" on strip club patrons that raises money for state services say their effort to change which programs benefit from the fee is dead. Full Story
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Lawmakers to lobbyists: Butt out of TWIA fight. Full Story
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Lawmakers and consumer groups say special interests need to butt out of the battle over the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association. Full Story
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The political ambitions of state Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, have been the subject of speculation since he switched parties prior to the recent legislative session. But he’s announcing today that — for now, at least — he doesn’t intend to go anywhere. Full Story
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Despite the drought, rice fields in Southeast Texas are emerald green this time of year, thanks to water released from two reservoirs hundreds of miles up the Colorado River. But the rice growers fear for their future, as water restrictions tighten. Full Story
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Tearful testimony from students brought to the country illegally and a new ICE directive that stresses discretionary enforcement has raised more concerns over the state's pending "sanctuary cities" legislation. Full Story
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