The controversial Secure Communities initiative, aimed at deporting criminal aliens but criticized for removing mostly minor offenders of lesser crimes, may undergo considerable changes, according to the director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/fingerprint.png)
Earlier this week, we published a quiz to see if readers could distinguish between comments made about higher education by Gov. Rick Perry, University of Texas President Bill Powers, and others. It turns out: They (sometimes) can’t! Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/EducationQuizChartResults.jpg)
In parts of the Permian Basin, less than 0.2 inches of rain has fallen since September. As the drought grows increasingly dire, officials and residents are taking more drastic measures to reduce water use. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-MidlandWater-RH001.JPG)
The veto deadline for the 82nd legislative session — June 19 — is quickly approaching, and Gov. Rick Perry is expected to announce a slew of vetoes any moment. Explore our latest data visualizations to find out which Texas governors vetoed the most bills during their tenure, and see the total number of vetoes from sessions past. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/VetoPowerViz.jpg)
Your afternoon reading: Perry's visit to The Wall Street Journal; Obama extends National Guard troop deployments along border; Texas Republicans decide against straw poll Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Perry2CMS.jpg)
One certain result of the 82nd Legislative Session is that the University of Texas at Austin will lose a signfiicant amount of funding in the 2012-2013 budget. Nathan Bernier of KUT News interviewed UT-Austin President Bill Powers on the effects of that cut and other session-related matters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a137966cfaea56df7fd4fbb0dc9674c/BD%20INC%20Powers%2002%20CMS%202011)
What looked to be a small special-session victory for Democrats unraveled on Thursday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA0865.jpg)
The 82nd Legislature delivered a fatal whack to state grants for full-day pre-kindergarten. But some public schools are refusing to let the budgetary machete finish off their early childhood programs, choosing instead to charge tuition to students. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PreschoolBlocksAndCash.jpg)
Diabetic cowboy outlaw Roddy Dean Pippin thinks his ride out of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Carole S. Young unit should have started Thursday. Prison officials plan to keep him until 2013 — and so taxpayers continue paying for his extensive health care needs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RoddyPippin.jpg)
One of the most emotional and controversial issues of the year centered around the sanctuary cities bil. Senate Democrats managed to block SB 9 during the regular session, but it's found a new life in the special session. Behind the scenes, some question whether the Democrats are now reaping what they sowed when one of their members pushed the Legislature into overtime. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/BurnamRally_1.png)
The Trinity has never been much-loved like the Guadalupe, the San Marcos or the Frio. For the first time, both Dallas and Fort Worth are making efforts to revitalize it and make it a destination for recreation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TribnityRiver.jpg)
Houston Mayor Annise Parker has released an interactive budget balancing tool on her personal website, giving citizens a chance to see if they can close the city's $130 million deficit. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/BudgetInteractive.jpg)
The state of Texas incarcerated him for nearly two decades — and nearly executed him twice — for murders he didn't commit. Now, the state is balking at giving him the $1 million he's owed for all the years he spent wrongfully imprisoned. Despite it all, Anthony Graves remains positive. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/A_Graves_StillFrame.jpg)
In a "Power Play Live" webcast posted on Fox News' website, host Chris Stirewalt discusses the GOP's fast-growing fascination with Perry's potential presidential candidacy with Dana Perino, past press secretary for former President George W. Bush, and Democratic strategist Joe Trippi. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/fdff1055012e79769385034f6f5fdb5e/BD%20INC%20Perry%20Triumphant%2001%202011)
Current law requires inmates to make a copayment of $3 per doctor visit. HB 26, by state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, seeks to offset some of the prison health care costs that taxpayers now absorb by requiring inmates in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to pay an annual fee of $100 if they use prison medical services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/prison-bed.png)
When the Senate passed her two signature education bills, Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, made an effort to keep her colleagues from weighing them down with extra amendments. The lower chamber took a different approach. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB0793.jpg)
Your afternoon reading: Republicans reverse Democrats' Rainy Day win; the Ten Best/Worst writers explain themselves; Perry polling in single digits in Texas survey Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCA0874.jpg)
Likely voters in Texas approve of President Barack Obama almost as much as they approve of Gov. Rick Perry, according to the third and final release of poll results from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of civic leaders. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/_KCB0198.jpg)
At this morning's TribLive conversation, the authors of Texas Monthly's biennial Best and Worst Legislators story explained why they put Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on the Ten Worst list. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribliveBestWorst.jpg)
Gov. Rick Perry's swing through the U.S. this week has left some Texas Democrats — still holed up in Austin — less than enthused. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Perry4CMS.jpg)