The Brief: Aug. 5, 2013
The House and Senate will get back to business at the Texas Capitol this afternoon, attempting to tackle transportation funding in yet a third special session. Full Story
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Abbott Faces Questions on Settlement and His Advocacy of Tort Laws
Since Greg Abbott received a settlement following his 1984 accident, lawmakers have erected hurdles for lawsuits in personal injury cases. There is disagreement about whether Abbott could get a similar settlement now. Full Story
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Money for DPS to Help With Backlog of Rape Kits
Thousands of untested rape kits are likely to get processed for DNA evidence after state budget writers included $11 million for the effort in the 2014-15 budget. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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![Pictured is a sexual assault evidence collection kit used by law enforcement throughout Texas.]()
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Newsreel: Third Time's the Charm?
This week in the Texas Weekly Newsreel: The Legislature begins its third special session, the 2014 candidates are stirring and House leaders open a new political action committee to pass a constitutional amendment on water. Full Story
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The Playlist: Once More With Feeling
Gov. Rick Perry called lawmakers back to the Capitol this week for yet another special session, the third since the 83rd regular session ended in May. So we start our latest news-inspired playlist with Kris Kristofferson's "Once More With Feeling." Full Story
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State Awaits Federal Guidance to Drug Test Jobless Texans
Texans who work in some industries must already take drug tests as a condition of employment. Soon, they will also face them if they lose their jobs and seek unemployment. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Grissom with two different reactions to two jail closures, Batheja on the latest effort to pass a transportation funding plan, Satija's look at an investigation into the potential impact of Eagle Ford Shale drilling on ozone levels, Murphy and Aaronson's map of life expectancy figures, Aguilar with a push to keep immigration reform in the spotlight, Root's exclusive interview with Abbott about his 1986 settlement and our second-ever 31 Days, 31 Ways series: The best of our best for the week of July 29 to Aug. 2, 2013. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Aug. 2, 2013
Your evening reading: Abbott opens up about lawsuit settlement; Cruz quiet on McConnell primary endorsement; federal government approves West recovery funding Full Story
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Hospital Changes Policy That Kept Some Rural Doctors From Delivery Room
UPDATED: A Wise County hospital system has changed its specialist-only policy that prevented some family practice doctors from delivering babies. Full Story
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![Dr. Brad Faglie, one of the family physicians being denied hospital privileges at the nearby Wise Regional Health System, examines Adriana Zuniga, a pregnant Medicaid patient at a medical clinic in Alvord.]()
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Texas Ports of Entry Tapped for Federal Pilot Program
Key ports of entry on the Texas-Mexico border are among those that have been selected for a pilot program that allows local governments to enter into public-private partnerships with Customs and Border Protection. Full Story
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Feds Approve Texas' Request for West Recovery
The West community will receive additional federal funding to rebuild following the explosion of a fertilizer depot in April that killed 15 people and flattened much of the town, Gov. Rick Perry announced on Friday. Full Story
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![A vehicle near the remains of a fertilizer plant burning after an explosion in West, Texas, near Waco.]()
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Facebook Says it Erred by Removing Branch Campaign Video
UPDATED: A Facebook spokesperson issued a statement on Friday saying that a campaign video on attorney general candidate Dan Branch's page had been removed erroneously and has since been restored. Full Story
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Craft Breweries Seeing New Doors Open
Texas' craft brewers are facing the biggest legislative overhaul the industry has seen in 20 years. News laws are letting them expand sales of their products. This story is part of our monthlong 31 Days, 31 Ways series. Full Story
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![Matt Bitsche, chief engineer and head brewer at Infamous Brewing Company, inspects a pint of beer for clarity, aroma and overall carbonation in the glass, Jul. 12, 2013.]()
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For the First Time, Abbott Discusses Details of His Lawsuit Settlement
Attorney General Greg Abbott, the front-running candidate for Texas governor, on Thursday opened up for the first time about the legal settlement that guarantees him a six-figure yearly income for the rest of his life. Full Story
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![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaks at the National Right to Life convention on June 27, 2013.]()
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In Two Cities, Opposite Reactions to Jail Closure
The decision by legislators this year to close two privately run jails operated by the Corrections Corporation of America is being met with very different reactions in the communities where the jails are situated. Full Story
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![Male detainees work to fix a cell door inside of the Dawson State Jail in Dallas on Jul. 31, 2013. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice decided not to renew its contract with the Corrections Corporation of America for the Dawson State Jail after the state legislature struck 97 million dollars from its funding. The unit will begin relocating its offenders on Aug. 1, 2013, and expects to have all offenders relocated by the end of the month.]()
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Playing "Simon Says" With Political Maps
The state says anyone who disagrees with election law changes ought to prove there is a problem in court. The federal government and others want the state to prove there are no problems before those laws ever take effect. Full Story
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After West Blast, Obama Signs Order Targeting Plants
A few months after the deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, President Obama on Thursday signed an executive order aimed at increasing safety and oversight at chemical plants across the country. Full Story
![A vehicle near the remains of a fertilizer plant burning after an explosion in West, Texas, near Waco.]()
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The Brief: Aug. 2, 2013
A combative new phase of a key 2014 down-ballot race is beginning to emerge. Full Story
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![State Rep. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, after failing to win the endorsement of GOP caucus members for House speaker on Jan. 10, 2011.]()
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Ken Paxton Announces Bid for Attorney General
UPDATED: Touting himself as a "proven conservative," state Sen. Ken Paxton, R-McKinney, announced the launch of his campaign to be the state's next attorney general before a conservative crowd at the Plano Centre on Thursday evening. Full Story
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The Evening Brief: Aug. 1, 2013
Your evening reading: transportation funding plan clears House committee; Texas again running low on lethal injection drug; report says Texas counties stand to gain most from health reform Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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