All Coverage | The Texas Tribune

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 13, 2010

Hu, Philpott, and Ramsey on the Democratic gubernatorial debate, the pre-game, the post-game, and the highlight reel. Thevenot on the push for accountability in persistently low-performing schools. M. Smith on the Republican assault on sitting Republican appellate judge. Hamilton on a county with more than one Tea Party trying to claim conservative voters. With lawmakers staring down a growing budget crunch, Aguilar looks back at the last one for instruction. Grissom finds that U.S. Border Patrol has quietly stopped a program to deport illegal immigrants through Presidio. Ramshaw reports on a West Texas nurse who got into and out of criminal trouble for complaining about a doctor she worked with. The second University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll finds Rick Perry and Bill White with big leads in their respective party primaries. Rapoport found herself in the eye of the storm, traveling with Debra Medina on the day the candidate unexpectedly and disastrously made national news when Glenn Beck asked her on his radio shows about the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. The best of our best from February 8 to 12, 2010. Full Story

2010: Newspaper Endorsements: DMN for White

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2010

"[C]ould offer his party its best chance to win the Governor's Mansion since Ann Richards." Full Story

Bill White campaign headquarters Edinburg, Texas. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

A Day with Debra Medina

By Abby Rapoport Feb. 12, 2010

I had wanted to shadow the phenom gubernatorial candidate on the trail since before the first GOP debate, and her handlers told me I could do it on February 11. Little did I know, little did they know, that Glenn Beck's questions about 9/11 "truthers" would turn her campaign upside-down right before my eyes. Full Story

Governor candidate Debra Medina greets visitors at the Fort Bend County Chamber of Commerce prior to her speech in a heavily Republican area of Houston on Thursday. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

2010: Newspaper Endorsements: DMN for KBH

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 12, 2010

"Our state is in need of a statesman." Full Story

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, appearing at the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum in Austin. — Credit: Elise Hu

2010: Farouk Shami, White People, and 9/11 "Truth"

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 12, 2010

"You don't find white people who are willing to work," the Democratic candidate for governor said. But there's more. He also didn't disavow the conspiracy theory that the U.S. government was involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Full Story

Democratic candidate for Governor Farouk Shami greets visitors at an evening meet and greet at the Celestial Room in downtown McAllen, TX. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

2010: White Only 4% Behind Perry?

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 12, 2010

Democrat Bill White runs stronger against Republican Rick Perry than either of Perry's Republican primary rivals, according to a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 Texas Poll. Full Story

The Midday Brief: February 12, 2010

By Abby Rapoport Feb. 12, 2010

Your afternoon reading. Full Story

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs — Credit: Comptroller's Office

TribBlog: Tax Revenues Continue to Fall

By Julián Aguilar Feb. 12, 2010

Sales tax collections fell by double digits, again. Full Story

2010: Newspaper Endorsements: SAEN for Gilbert

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2010

"Gilbert is far more knowledgeable about agriculture issues and state government than Friedman." Full Story

2010: Newspaper Endorsements: DMN, SAEN on Lite Guv

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2010

"Earle has the better insight into the levers of power in government," says the Morning News. "Chavez-Thompson is undoubtedly the best Democratic candidate in the race," says the Express-News. Full Story

TribBlog: NYT Mag on SBOE's "Christian Nation"

By Brian Thevenot Feb. 12, 2010

It seems the social conservatives on the State Board of Education may be on their way to getting more ink than any other politicians in modern Texas history, a cause that will be helped in this Sunday's printing of The New York Times Magazine. Full Story

About 130 people signed up to address the State Board of Education about its social studies standards in a marathon meeting in January. — Credit: Bob Daemmerich

TribBlog: TX Supreme Court To Consider "Pole Tax"

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 12, 2010

The Texas Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of a $5 tax on admission to the state's strip clubs — a measure lawmakers implemented in 2007 to raise money for sexual assault prevention and low-income health insurance. Full Story

Ads Infinitum: KBH's "Honest"

By Elise Hu Feb. 12, 2010

With early voting starting next week and public poll numbers in the twenties, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's latest spot aims to remind voters why they should like her more than the incumbent governor. Full Story

Screengrab from Hutchison's TV spot, "Honest" — Credit: Texans for Kay

2010: 100k Jobs or I'll Quit!

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2010

Farouk Shami's latest promise. Full Story

The Brief: February 12, 2010

By Abby Rapoport Feb. 12, 2010

Debra Medina, take comfort in the words of Cat Stevens — "The first cut is the deepest." Especially if the cut is about 9/11 truthers. Full Story

TribBlog: CPPP Says Texas Kids Fare Worse Than Most

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 12, 2010

Texas kids are poorer, hungrier and more often uninsured than kids in almost any other state, according to the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Full Story

Blame the Whistleblower?

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 12, 2010

When a West Texas sheriff criminally charged a nurse who reported an unethical doctor to the Texas Medical Board, it sent shockwaves through the nation’s nursing community. But her acquittal has done little to calm the furor. Full Story

Texas Tea

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 12, 2010

The Tea Party is a movement more than an organization, with various Texas offshoots that agree on some things and not on others. Like whether to be a PAC or a nonprofit. Which issues to emphasize. And whether to endorse — gulp — Democrats. Full Story

January 16, 2009: A coalition of Tea Party groups rally against Democrats and U.S. President Barack Obama Saturday afternoon at the Texas Capitol. — Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Perry, White Way Ahead

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 12, 2010

In the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, Rick Perry and Bill White are way out front in their respective primaries. Full Story

The Polling Center: First Take on the February 2010 Results

By Jim Henson and Daron Shaw Feb. 12, 2010

The University of Texas / Texas Tribune poll, conducted from February 1-7, shows Gov. Rick Perry holding a 24-point lead over U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican gubernatorial primary contest, with Debra Medina posing a surprisingly strong challenge to Hutchison for second place. Full Story