In a blow to the state's abortion providers, federal appeals judges on Tuesday upheld a state law requiring nearly all Texas facilities that perform the procedure to meet hospital-like standards. Full Story
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The Texas Railroad Commission has a new leader. The state’s three-member oil and gas regulator on Tuesday unanimously elected David Porter as its chairman. He replaces Christi Craddick in the largely ceremonial role. Full Story
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In a wide-ranging interview with the Tribune’s Evan Smith, House Speaker Joe Straus touted the new state budget, franchise tax cuts and the Legislature’s slow but steady pace this year. Full Story
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In South Carolina on Monday, Republican voters were eager to hear former Texas Gov. Rick Perry's ideas about the economy and border security, but they mostly ignored a looming issue for the presidential candidate: his felony indictment in Texas. Full Story
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Full video of my 6/9 conversation with state Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, the speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Full Story
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Differences in border security proposals sparked lots of debate during the 84th legislative session. Use our Texas Legislative Guide to see what lawmakers agreed upon, as well as other related issues that were debated this session. Full Story
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Texas lawmakers are celebrating news that Mexico will soon allow U.S. agents to carry guns while inspecting cargo on Mexican soil. The change should help speed trade between the two countries. Full Story
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In this week's edition of the Trib+Health newsletter: CPRIT awards largest-ever preventive grant, a leadership shakeup at HHSC and an interview with Indranil Bardhan of the University of Texas at Dallas. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a Dallas Republican, has amassed enough political capital to become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, and he's using it to try to kill the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the latest Tea Party punching bag. Full Story
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A pair of protests was held in McKinney on Monday in response to police action dispersing a crowd at a pool party over the weekend as details emerged about the party itself. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed a bill into law that removes licensing requirements for hair braiders. The bill was pushed by longtime braider Isis Brantley, who has called for a rule change for years. Full Story
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Weary of Republican infighting, state Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, announced Monday that she won’t seek re-election next year. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott told a San Antonio radio station on Monday that he won't call a special session on same-sex marriage restrictions, even though conservative leaders pleaded via letter for him to do so. Full Story
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Bennett Ratliff will run for the Dallas-area House seat he lost to state Rep. Matt Rinaldi by just 92 votes in the 2014 GOP primary, the Coppell Republican announced Monday. Full Story
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The Texas Legislature left Austin last week after a regular session considered conservative by nearly everyone involved. So why is it getting bad grades from so many conservatives? Full Story
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A McKinney police officer is on administrative leave after video of his actions to subdue a 15-year-old girl at a pool party Friday night received more than 1 million views online over the weekend. Full Story
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey look back on the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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"I don’t know who she’s playing to, but she’s not playing to the people of Texas," Rick Perry said on CNN, referring to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's criticism of his voter access policies as governor. Full Story
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Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who launched a 2016 presidential campaign last month, got a chance to show off his deep ties to Texas with a recent trip to the state. Full Story
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As Texas' major cities continue their decades-long evolution to minority-majority populations, tracking minority and female ascension to mayoral firsts has almost reached the complexity of a political trivia game. Full Story
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