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All Coverage

  • What lawless hordes?

    By Brandi Grissom

    Border officials say their communities aren't being overrun with "lawless hordes" of Mexican drug runners and people smugglers, and they said Gov. Rick Perry is painting an inaccurate scary picture of their home. Full Story 

  • Both bases covered

    By Brandi Grissom

    Gov. Rick Perry and former New York Mayor and GOP presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani are traveling the state this week, touting anti-gang legislation and state border security efforts. Full Story 

  • Border Cameras: The Sequel

    By Ross Ramsey

    AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry gave Texas border sheriffs another $2 million for a virtual border wall of web cameras that in its first full year failed to meet nearly every law enforcement goal his office originally set. Full Story 

  • Perry: More boots on the border

    By Brandi Grissom

    Gov. Rick Perry is expanding Operation Border Star, a multi-agency border security effort he launched in 2007, sending teams of Texas Rangers and National Guard troops to curb border crime and prevent spillover violence from Mexico. Full Story 

  • Border cameras: Take two

    By Brandi Grissom

    Gov. Rick Perry gave Texas border sheriffs another $2 million for a virtual border wall of web cameras that in its first full year failed to meet nearly every law enforcement goal his office originally set. Full Story 

  • Political Startups

    By Ross Ramsey

    It's the Labor Day break, a traditional starting point for political adventurers (as opposed to explorers) who will face the judgment of primary voters in six months. Full Story 

  • Third Time's the Charm

    By Ross Ramsey

    After exploratory dry runs in 2002 and 2006, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison formally announced her bid for governor of Texas before a sparse crowd in La Marque, starting a 19-stop, week-long tour of the state with a series of broadsides at the incumbent and a promise to return the state to Republican glory. Full Story 

  • Declarations

    By Ross Ramsey

    Kay Bailey Hutchison's political two-step gets under way next week with an 18-city tour — starting in her old high school in La Marque — to announce that she'll seek the Republican nomination for governor against an incumbent who's held the job longer than anyone in state history. Full Story 

  • When?

    By Ross Ramsey

    If U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison really does step down in October or November, as she said recently on WBAP-AM, the election to replace her could land anytime between December and May. It'd be in May unless Gov. Rick Perry — the guy Hutchison hopes to unseat — declares an emergency and sets an earlier date. Full Story 

  • Green Days

    By Ross Ramsey

    It's midsummer. Hot. Time for vacations. But first: The campaign finance reports are in, and you can start to see where (some of) the money is going. Full Story 

  • PAC Pack

    By Ross Ramsey

    Texas Republicans are starting a critical election cycle with a gaggle of competing political action committees, a muddle that could hamper efforts to hang onto the slimmest possible majority in the Texas House. Full Story 

  • Boring and Short

    By Ross Ramsey

    For a Texas governor — especially for one embarking on a reelection bid — that headline perfectly describes a successful special session. Voters didn't get hurt, weren't aroused, and have no real reason to give it another thought. Full Story 

  • Nip & Tuck

    By Ross Ramsey

    There aren't any real surprises on Gov. Rick Perry's agenda for the special session starting next week, and not much controversy, either: He clearly wants to get lawmakers through this thing in a hurry. Full Story 

  • Veto Eve

    By Ross Ramsey

    We're entering the last days available to the governor to consider bills. Anything not vetoed by midnight on Father's Day will become law, with or without Rick Perry's signature. Full Story