The Brief: November 11, 2009
There was a bittersweet note of unity preceding what will undoubtedly prove a poignant Veteran’s Day. Full Story
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2010: Hopson's BFF
Republican Brian Walker, who lost a close race to Democrat Chuck Hopson in 2008, endorsed Hopson's reelection bid next year — now that Hopson has switched to the GOP. Full Story
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Credit: chuckhopson.com -
Off The Books, Part One: High-Price High-Tech
State agencies are spending tens of millions of dollars every year on information technology contract workers, employees who aren’t on the state payroll – but whose pay often dwarfs those who are. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Texas Weekly: A National Plan for Affordable Insurance
To insure most Texans, two big changes are needed: a guarantee of affordable insurance pricing for everyone, and a strong subsidy system for those who can't pay without help. Full Story
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Credit: Center for Public Policy Priorities -
Broken Border, Part Four: Who's Watching?
The Web site where you can view border cameras isn't getting the predicted traffic, calling into question the program's law enforcement impact. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
Forensic Science Chairmen Face Off
John Bradley, the Williamson County District Attorney and the newly-appointed chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, spent his morning answering a steady stream of questions from Texas lawmakers. At issue, if and when his panel will re-open the investigation into whether faulty science led to the arson conviction of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by the state in 2004. Full Story
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TribBlog: Sharp, Valley legislators push for veterans health care
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate John Sharp and state Reps. Ryan Guillen and Veronica Gonzales fired off a letter today to the two Republican Texas senators asking them to find money to boost health care funding for Rio Grande Valley veterans. Full Story
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On the Records: Srsly, Border Patrol? Srsly?
The mildly pleasant woman who answered the phone explained to me that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Freedom of Information Act office does not accept requests electronically. Full Story
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Credit: machinesoflovinggrace.com -
The Midday Brief: November 10, 2009
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
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TribBlog: Bradley Makes His Case
Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley expected some verbal jousting today at the Senate Criminal Justice Committee about his plans for the Texas Forensic Science Commission. He was right. Full Story
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Credit: Elise Hu -
Stump Interrupted: Rick Perry
Governor Rick Perry is the subject of the latest video in our Stump Interrupted series, which marries trivia bubbles with purposely newsless stump speeches. In this installment, Perry's late-October address to the Lake Travis Republican Women's Club gets, well, interrupted. Full Story
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TT for Dummies
Eager to impress partygoers with your knowledge of Texas politics and policy? Wondering how to wring every last bit of information out of The Texas Tribune? Our handy video tour (and the quick explainers here) should help. Full Story
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TribBlog: Anchia for President? How about Castro?
A California newspaper's speculation on who will be the country's first Hispanic president lists Texas' own Rep. Rafael Anchia and San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro as fan favorites. Full Story
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2010: McCall's for Ratliff
Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, is endorsing State Board of Education wannabe Thomas Ratliff, an important move because Collin County is a key part of that race's geography. Full Story
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Hu Tube: Behind the Bubbles
We debuted the Stump Interrupted series this week and I've received some emails about how the work is done. The short answer=not quickly. Full Story
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TribBlog: A Chip Off the Old Bloc
The SBOE's Don McLeroy might miss Rick Agosto more than he thought. Full Story
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The Brief: November 10, 2009
If Williamson County DA John Bradley is sick of the spotlight, then he got appointed to the wrong commission. Of course, many people would argue that regardless. Full Story
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Broken Border, Part Three: Decriminalize?
Experts from around the U.S. and Mexico are debating the War on Drugs and its affect on violence south of the border. Some of them wonder whether decriminalization is the answer. Full Story
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Credit: Justin Dehn -
Texas Weekly: Off with Their Pom-poms
Idea for seminars at the LBJ School of Public Affairs, the Baker Institute of Public Policy, and the Bush School of Government and Public Service: How do you fire a cheerleader? Full Story
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Credit: Glenn Smith