Past Contributions

• TribLive: Staples on the Two-Thirds Rule and More

  By Evan Smith May 16, 2011

  At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the Senate's two-thirds rule, the Rainy Day Fund, abortion sonograms and other issues that he'd confront as lieutenant governor. Full Story 

• TribLive: Staples on Dewhurst

  By Evan Smith May 16, 2011

  At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I asked Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples to assess the tenure of the man he hopes to succeed as lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst. Full Story 

• Video: Todd Staples at TribLive

  By Evan Smith May 16, 2011

  At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers, what he thinks about the Senate's two-thirds rule, his nascent campaign for lieutenant governor in 2014 and more. Full Story 

• TribLive: Staples on Border Violence, the 2/3 Rule and More

  By Evan Smith May 16, 2011

  At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers, what he thinks about the Senate's two-thirds rule, his run for lieutenant governor in 2014 and more. Full Story 

• TribLive: Staples on Border Violence

  By Evan Smith May 16, 2011

  At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, I interviewed Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples about the impact of drug-fueled violence on border farmers and ranchers — and the web site he maintains to collect tales of the war in progress. Full Story 

• Ron Paul Announces for President

  By Evan Smith May 13, 2011

  This morning on ABC's Good Morning America, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, formally announced that he plans to run for president in 2012. Full Story 

• TribLive: Staples on the 2014 Lite Guv Race

  By Evan Smith May 12, 2011

  At this morning's TribLive conversation, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples talked about his plans to run for lieutenant governor in 2014 — and offered his assessment of the other likely candidates in the race, Comptroller Susan Combs and Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson. Full Story 

• T-Squared: Jay Root, Star Reporter, Joins Trib Staff

  By Evan Smith May 11, 2011

  It's always a kick to announce big hires, and this one is massive: Jay Root, an award-winning journalist who has set a standard for coverage of Texas politics and breaking news with The Associated Press and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, is joining the Tribune's staff. Full Story 

• T-Squared: Trib Spring Pledge Drive a Huge Success

  By Evan Smith May 9, 2011

  I'm overjoyed to report that last week's brief membership drive — our first ever — exceeded our wildest expectations on the number of members generated, the amount of money raised and the size of the average gift. Full Story 

• TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

  By Evan Smith May 7, 2011

  Aaronson on the latest attack on Planned Parenthood, Aguilar previews the sanctuary cities debate, Grissom on a death row inmate's unsuccessful appeal, Hamilton on the UT System's faculty "productivity" data dump, Philpott on the prospect of lawsuits over education cuts, Ramsey on puppies and other distractions, Ramshaw on a tobacco fight, my interview with the presidents of UT-Austin and Texas A&M, M. Smith on a former State Board of Ed member who may have violated state ethics law, Stiles interactively displays the effects of House redistricting and Tan on the Senate budget end game: The best of our best content from May 2 to 6, 2011. Full Story