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No Dollar Left Behind

By Morgan Smith Jan. 11, 2010

Let's say you're a donor to a candidate or an elected official who quits a race mid-campaign or chooses to not run for reelection. What if you made a contribution to one of the nine Texas legislators who decided not to seek reelection this year, or to a former diplomat who toyed with a bid for governor but ultimately thought better of it, or to a tech executive who considered a challenge to a member of Congress but decided against running at the last minute? What happens to your money? Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
Attack of the Ads

By Elise Hu Jan. 11, 2010

Rick Perry's and Kay Bailey Hutchison's ads seem pretty tame so far, but in an everything's-contested campaign cycle, even what constitutes an "attack ad" is grounds for debate. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
TribBlog: A Bridge to Somewhere

By Julián Aguilar Jan. 11, 2010

U.S. and Mexican authorities can still put aside their differences long enough to link the two countries together. Full Story
Who'll Control the Crayons Next Year?

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 11, 2010

As more candidate filings become available from the state's bigger counties, it's apparent that Republicans are going to have a noisy beginning to the year. They've got an unusual number of primary election challengers to their legislative incumbents. Democrats, meanwhile, are making a weak play for political control in the next decade. That's not an assessment of whether their candidates can compete — it's about whether they're in position to make real gains even if they do win some elections. Redistricting comes around in 2011, and the minority party needs either a House majority or a majority of seats on an arcane legislative board to control the map-making. They don't appear to be in position to do that. Full Story
T-Squared: Question Time

By Evan Smith Jan. 10, 2010

If you were interviewing Speaker Joe Straus on Wednesday morning, what would you ask him? Full Story
2010: Oh, the KBH Campaign's Just Gonna Love This

By Evan Smith Jan. 10, 2010

Deposed debate-question-asker Paul Burka's latest TEXAS MONTHLY cover story: "Perry for President?!?" Full Story
TribBlog: So Long

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 9, 2010

Family and friends of Austin political consultant Kelly Fero, who died unexpectedly at age 57 this week, said goodbye at a memorial event this morning. Full Story

Credit: Ralph Barrera/Austin American-Statesman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Jan. 9, 2010

Ramshaw's four-parter on the rural health care condundrum and depressing take-out on sexual abuse in youth lock-ups. Ramsey on filing day follies and the untimely death of a Democratic mainstay. Aguilar on the U.S. government's detention center mea culpa. Grissom on alien deportations in the name of making our streets safer. Rapoport on the organization and association endorsement dance. Hamilton on whether coattails exist. Hu and Philpott's multimedia profile of Linda Chavez-Thompson. And Philpott on big gubernatorial campaign bucks and even bigger candidate angst over the ways journalists are using social and new media to cover them. The best of our best from January 4 to January 8, 2010. Full Story
TribBlog: Clearing the Air

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 8, 2010

Texas needs to clean up its air. The candidates for governor say they know how to do it. Full Story

Credit: Jacob Villanueva
2010: Class is In

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Jan. 8, 2010

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson invited both of the Democrats running for his job to stop by for a crash course on what the General Land Office does. Full Story
The Midday Brief: January 8, 2010

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 8, 2010

Your afternoon reading. Full Story
The Brief: January 8, 2010

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 8, 2010

Many Texans may be in need of some good news today. Full Story
Fighting for Security

By Brandi Grissom Jan. 8, 2010

Immigration advocates say the feds are deporting thousands of illegal aliens who are minor offenders and some who've committed no crimes at all. But federal officials and local law enforcement argue that they're simply making Texas streets safer. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmerich
Guest Column: Save Rural Health Care Now

By Don McBeath Jan. 8, 2010

Why the 85 percent of Texans in and near urban areas should be concerned about the health care needs of the 15 percent who don't. Full Story
2010: How Many Candidates Filed for Governor?

By Evan Smith Jan. 7, 2010

Enter the Libertarians. Full Story
TribBlog: Perry Indicates He'll Pardon Timothy Cole

By Brandi Grissom Jan. 7, 2010

Gov. Rick Perry appears willing to sign a posthumous pardon for the exonerated Timothy Cole after Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today issued an opinion that said the governor could grant one. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Courtesy of the Cole family
The Midday Brief: January 7, 2010

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 7, 2010

Your afternoon reading. Full Story
On the Records: UT Boosters Split on Rick vs. Kay

By Matt Stiles Jan. 7, 2010

Did the University of Texas' deep-pocketed football boosters stay loyal to Kay Bailey Hutchison, an alumna, or support the Aggie in the governor's race, Rick Perry? Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Ads Infinitum: Perry Releases "Working For Us"

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 7, 2010

The ad, titled "Working For Us," features people thanking Perry for creating a small business-friendly environment in the state. Full Story
TribBlog: AG Says Posthumous Pardons Possible

By Elise Hu Jan. 7, 2010

A posthumous pardon is possible after all, according to an opinion from Attorney General Greg Abbott's office. This clears the way for the possible post-death pardon of Tim Cole, who was exonerated of a sexual assault conviction in a Travis County court last year, but had died in prison many years prior. Full Story