Texas A&M University has requested $284,000 from the Legislature to expand the operations of the state climatologist, John Nielsen-Gammon, who says more money would help support research and relieve some of his ever-growing workload. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/82958f558958c0a737fdb6399b6d989d/BD%20INC%20Climate%20Map%20Portrait%202012)
It's politically unpopular among most Texas Republicans, but proposals to expand Medicaid coverage have gained traction with some fiscal conservatives. This interactive shows the estimated economic impact of expanding Medicaid by legislative district. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/MedicaidExpansionApp.jpg)
The case of death row inmate Andre Thomas offers a lens through which to examine the effects of a long underfunded mental health system and raises important questions about how Texas punishes the mentally ill. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/TroubleInMind-2.jpg)
For the second consecutive year, seizures of methamphetamine in the Laredo customs district — the country’s busiest land port — climbed significantly. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/MexicoMeth.jpg)
A who's who of mayors, lawmakers and agency officials testified at the Capitol on Tuesday in support of using $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund for water projects. But before that, they said, the state must focus on conservation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/TexasWaterTower.jpg)
An onslaught of media scrutiny doesn't appear to have slowed Ted Cruz, who returned to Texas on Tuesday. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/887efabba3f73c6f6a4aedcc2053bc6c/BD%20Cruz%20LaRue%20Tactical%202013)
More than 100 witnesses signed up to testify before the House Public Education Committee Tuesday on a massive bill restructuring student testing, graduation requirements and the public school accountability system in the state. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/_01F2737_1.jpg)
Your evening reading: Cruz on offense during tour of Texas gun manufacturer; senators condemn state's testing system; Legislature to investigate UT regents' treatment of Powers Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/7179a67d6d3c9289f3d697b8c4af36cb/BD%20INC%20Cruz%20LaRue%20Tactical%2002%202013)
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, kicked off a mini tour of the Lone Star State on Tuesday by bashing the Obama administration and its attempts "to restrict law-abiding citizens' right to bear arms." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/CruzTalkCMS.jpg)
State senators took turns publicly condemning Texas' student assessment system — the implementation of which one lawmaker called a "colossal failure" — at a Tuesday Education Committee meeting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/19/D54H2728.jpg)
Calling President Obama’s recent gun control initiatives “cynical” and “wrong,” U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said on Tuesday that lawmakers “should focus our efforts on deterring and punishing violent criminals." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d07f3a0258f53c55cb898c67a332614/BD%20INC%20Cruz%20Wide%202013)
For this week's nonscientific survey of insiders in government and politics, we asked about officeholders who leave government and join the lobby, about what they should report and about whether they ought to sit out for a while first. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/inside_intelligence-logo-Hahn-sponsorship.jpg){kind=logo}
Expanding Medicaid now will bring federal dollars back to Texas, ease the health care burden on local taxpayers, and provide regular medical care for thousands of people who aren't insured now. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/14/JenkinsClay.jpg)
In an effort to prevent the perception of conflicts of interest, faculty in the University of Texas System could soon be subject to more robust public disclosure requirements than lawmakers and even university system regents. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/18/Bidness-U.jpeg)
Texas has paid 89 exonerees nearly $61 million since 1992, according to data from the Texas comptroller's office. Use this interactive to see how much money the state has paid to exonerated prisoners by fiscal year. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/18/Wrongful-Imprisonment-Dataapp.jpg)
Legislation filed by state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, would require Texas school districts to equip their campuses with electronic emergency alarms that could contact the police directly in the event of a school emergency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-SchoolSecurity002.JPG)
A new advocacy group is hoping to get lawmakers and the public as worked up about transportation funding this session as they are about water. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Truck-Night.jpg)
A dramatic show of support in the Legislature for the president of the University of Texas at Austin has cast the spotlight on discord unfolding within the state's largest university system. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/4a137966cfaea56df7fd4fbb0dc9674c/BD%20INC%20Powers%2002%20CMS%202011)
Your evening reading: Legislature honors Powers amid UT System controversy; Patrick files bill to expand charter schools; Google brings driverless car to Texas Transportation Forum Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Powers_Horns.jpg)
After Vistasp M. Karbhari was selected on Feb. 14, sources told the Tribune that not every regent was aware he was a defendant in a pending lawsuit. Now the full board will revisit the matter. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/03/14/Dr.-Vistasp-M.-Karbhari.jpg)