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All Coverage

  • Into Thin Air

    By Matt Stiles

    Lobbyists spent a record $15 million on advertising during the 2005 session and another $12 million in 2007 — but less than $1 million this year. What happened? Full Story 

  • Shapleigh Ever After

    By Brandi Grissom

    The longtime El Paso state senator, who said last month that he would not run for reelection, hasn’t revealed his statewide ambitions, but his public and private remarks leave little doubt that he's seriously considering a gubernatorial bid. Full Story 

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    Credit: senate media services

  • Detaining Care, Part One: Mental Hell

    By Emily Ramshaw

    The physically disabled and suicidal detainee was put in an isolated cell without her crutches. She was strip-searched and denied feminine products. For days, she slid around on the floor, covering herself and the cell in menstrual blood. When inspectors came out to investigate, they found a facility poorly equipped to provide mental health treatment to its 1,500 detainees. Full Story 

    Detainees and bunk beds inside the Willacy Immigration Detention Center.
    Credit: Getty Images

  • The Case for Civility

    By Lyndon Olson

    We live in an era of rudeness, in society in general, in the popular culture, and in our political life. Our culture today rewards incivility, crudeness, and cynicism. You can get on TV if you out-shout and offend the other guy. Everyone screams. No one listens. People don't just disagree; the challenge to the other is a battle to the death. What happened to us? Full Story 

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    Credit: Cindy Shivers Griffin

  • Size Doesn't Matter

    By Ross Ramsey

    Americans are less concerned about the amount of money in politics than about where the dough comes from, according to a new survey done by researchers at UT-Austin. Full Story 

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    Credit: LBJ School, University of Texas

  • Hopson's Choice

    By Ross Ramsey

    Rep. Chuck Hopson, D-Jacksonville, will seek reelection, but as a Republican — a move that might save his neck while wrecking his former party's chances at winning a majority in the House. Full Story 

  • 2010: Plano Dominoes

    By Ross Ramsey

    Plano City Councilwoman Mabrie Griffith Jackson is telling supporters she will resign that city job as early as Monday to put her name into the race to replace Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, who has decided he won't seek an 11th term next year. Full Story 

    State Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano
    Credit: House photo

  • KBH to TFRW: A change in plans

    By Kay Bailey Hutchison

    I must put what's best for my campaign aside and do what is best for Texas. That is why I must stay in the Senate while running for the Republican nomination for governor. I cannot walk away while this fight is being fought by our fellow Republicans. I must stay and fight with them. Full Story 

  • TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

    By Evan Smith

    KBH resigns herself to staying in the Senate, Grissom investigates the broken border, Ramshaw outs IT contractors who make gigabucks from state agencies, Hu gives Hutchison and Perry the Stump Interrupted treatment, the new head of the Foresenic Science Commission faces his critics, Stiles posts a searchable database of fines levied by the state ethics commission, and Hamilton discovers the consequences of party switching (none): The best of the best from November 9 to 13, 2009. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Elise Hu

  • Fail-safe?

    By Abby Rapoport

    Districts prepare to go to court with the TEA over minimum grades policies, prompting the question: How much should schools emulate the real world? And how many second chances should students get? Full Story 

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  • Hire Power

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Typically, Texas Child Protective Services experiences sky-high employee and caseworker vacancy rates, but as unemployment has soared, staffing numbers have blossomed — stabilizing child abuse caseloads. Why the bad economy is good news for one state agency. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva