Despite the prospect of a $21 billion budget shortfall, the governor, the lieutenant governor and several state lawmakers have insisted that the upcoming legislative session will be a "no-tax-increase session." But as Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, small businesses in Texas could still end up paying more taxes. Full Story
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"It is impossible to carry out our role in these conditions," read the editorial this week in El Diario de Juárez. "Tell us, therefore, what is expected of us as a medium." The paper was directly addressing Mexican drug traffickers who assassinated its young photographer Luis Carlos Santiago in broad daylight, but the whole world took notice — and asked if the Mexican media was finally waving the white flag before the cartels and gangs now warring for control of the bloodied country. Diario editor Pedro Torres explains that the intent was simply "to call attention to what is going on." Full Story
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For the 13th event in our TribLive series, I interviewed the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor on running for office for the first time in a tough year, how she'd deal with the budget shortfall, whether she'd mess with the Senate's two-thirds rule and what's wrong with the Texas Enterprise Fund. Full Story
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The 2006 Democratic nominee for governor talks about suing Rick Perry and the Republican Governors Assocation over illegal contributions and pocketing a settlement and judgement of more than $2.4 million. Full Story
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If Gov. Rick Perry's goal in speaking at the National Conference of Editorial Writers luncheon in Dallas was to win the group over, then they say he "utterly failed." Full Story
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A new report details an undercover investigation of federally funded child care subsidy programs by the GAO in five states, including Texas. The GAO determined that the Texas program was vulnerable to fraud. Full Story
The American Future Fund is the second national group to enter the CD-17 race with a TV ad against U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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Here's how to make an endorsement splash: Don't. Full Story
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Come January, the Environmental Protection Agency will begin regulating greenhouse gas emissions around the country for the first time — but not if Texas can help it. Attorney General Greg Abbott last week lodged legal challenges in a federal court against EPA actions on multiple fronts, including a reiteration of the state's long-standing argument against the agency's scientific foundation for determining the dangers of greenhouse gas pollution. Full Story
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Relief for young adults without health benefits may be on its way today, as several key provisions of federal health care reform take effect. The law mandates that insurers allow parents to enroll dependents up to age 26 regardless of their student status. Full Story
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The suddenly Sarah Palin-approved Republican challenger to U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas, on why the former Alaska governor bestowed her blessing, the proportionate diversity of the Tea Party, the rise of "tyranny" in the federal government and why he shouldn't be counted out just yet. Full Story
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In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Elise and Ben discuss Linda Chavez-Thompson and the other lesser-known statewide candidates, the impact of Libertarians at the polls and the choice between paper and plastic when Harris County voters cast their ballots. Full Story
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The Texas Farm Bureau is staying out of the general election for governor, endorsing none of the major or minor candidates. Full Story
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Linda Chavez-Thompson, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, told a TribLive audience this morning that she's not afraid of being associated with President Barack Obama; quite the opposite. Full Story
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Your afternoon reading. Full Story
For John Cornyn, the timing couldn't be more awkward. Full Story
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Six weeks and counting: November 3, 2010, is the day when we reset the Trib membership clock to zero, when anyone who's been with us for a year or more needs to stand with us again to remain an active member. There are a bunch of good reasons to re-up. Full Story
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Talking point No. 1 for an elected official facing an ethics investigation in Texas: Blame the politicization of the Public Integrity Unit, which is funded by the Legislature but operates out of the district attorney's office in heavily Democratic Travis County. Full Story
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Is a hospital bed an integral part of medical care? As a federal judge considers the constitutionality of Texas’ 2003 medical malpractice reform — and Gov. Rick Perry campaigns for more lawsuit restrictions — the state Supreme Court has ruled that hospital injuries seemingly unrelated to doctor error can fall under Texas’ stringent medical malpractice caps. Some legal observers say the decision is a perversion of legislative intent, but tort reform advocates contend the high court simply closed a huge loophole in liability reforms. Full Story
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