The Brief: Aug. 8, 2014
In the governor's race, the ad wars are officially underway. Full Story
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Dueling Ads in Governor's Race
UPDATED: A TV ad war is about to begin in the governor's race. State Sen. Wendy Davis is out with a blistering TV attack ad featuring the story of a rape victim and a vote her opponent made as a judge. The ad was released after Greg Abbott announced he was airing the first major statewide TV ad of the fall governor's race. Full Story
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Credit: Laura Buckman / Bob Daemmrich -
GOP Lawmakers Make Case for Upholding Same-Sex Marriage Ban
UPDATED: Removing Texas' same-sex marriage ban could clear the way for bigamy and pedophilia, according to a brief signed by 63 Republican lawmakers including the GOP candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general. Full Story
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![GOP nominees for lieutenant governor and attorney general Dan Patrick (l.) and Ken Paxton.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich/ Laura Buckman -
The Brief: Aug. 6, 2014
Three years after Gov. Rick Perry took heat for his full-throated defense of the state's in-state tuition laws, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has revived the issue, accusing Perry of helping draw migrants to the border. Full Story
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Davis and Abbott Swap Corrupt Insider Charges
Here is the state of the Texas governor's race in the late summer of 2014: Both candidates are speaking directly to their base voters and labeling each other as corrupt insiders out of touch with ordinary people. Full Story
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![Gubernatorial candidates Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis are shown on primary night on March 4, 2014.]()
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The Brief: Aug. 4, 2014
A new report raises fresh doubts about a key witness instrumental in securing the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham. This new evidence forces again the question as to whether Texas executed an innocent man. Full Story
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![Cameron Todd Willingham was executed on Feb. 17, 2004.]()
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The Brief: Aug. 1, 2014
Ted Cruz has become the latest D.C.-based practitioner of the Pottery Barn rule: He broke the border bill, and now, possibly more than any other single person, he owns it. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas thanks Republican delegates in Fort Worth on June 6, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: July 31, 2014
This week's House committee hearing in which leading officials in charge of executing the plan said they never asked for Guard troops revealed another aspect of Rick Perry's border action, according to the Houston Chronicle's Patrick Svitek. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry announces the deployment of National Guard troops along the Texas border as Texas Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listens at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2014.]()
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Texas Governor's Race: Analyzing the Money
The candidates for Texas governor have been raising millions for their campaigns since last summer. The Tribune identified their top donors, famous givers and other noteworthy contributions. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Marjorie Kamys Cotera / Todd Wiseman -
The Brief: July 30, 2014
Top officials at the Texas National Guard and the Department of Public Safety on Tuesday told a select House committee looking at the costs of the ongoing border operation that they did not request Guard troops. Full Story
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![Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Congress Holds Hearing on Red River Land Fight
UPDATED: Lawmakers at a congressional hearing Tuesday considered legislation that seeks to clear up confusion over whether Texans who live along the Red River own their property — or whether the federal government does. Full Story
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![A view of the Red River looking east, north of Bonham, Texas. Texas is to the right, and Oklahoma is on the left. The border between the two states runs along the south (right) bank of the river.]()
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With Summer Ads, Some Campaigns Are Testing Conventional Wisdom
In Texas, the traditional model for general election campaign advertising — don't run ads before Labor Day — is being challenged by some campaigns. Full Story
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![Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott isn't on TV right now, but he is spending campaign funds to screen his latest 30-second spot at theaters before screenings of some summer blockbusters.]()
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The Brief: July 25, 2014
Can those National Guard troops being sent to the border arrest people? The latest word is they can. And the reason why is that Rick Perry sent them, and not the federal government. Full Story
![Adjutant General John Nichols of the Texas National Guard explains the Guard's role in helping secure the border as Gov. Rick Perry, l, and DPS Director Steve McCraw listen July 21, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texplainer: Does New AP U.S. History Curriculum Contain Common Core?
Hey, Texplainer: If high school students take AP U.S. history, does that mean they are studying Common Core? Wouldn't that be illegal in Texas? Full Story
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![The new U.S. history framework is the first of what will be updates to all 34 AP subjects offered as a result of a redesign effort launched by the College Board in 2006.]()
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Amid Lawsuit, Farmers Insurance PAC Gives Thousands to Abbott
Critics of Attorney General Greg Abbott say he has not fairly represented Texas homeowners who were charged too much by an insurance company whose employees' PAC has given generously to his campaign. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General and Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott speaks to supporters at Lavazza Espression on Congress Avenue in Austin.]()
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The Brief: July 22, 2014
The words of the day on Monday were "force multiplier," as in what Gov. Rick Perry said the activation of up to 1,000 National Guard troops would do for the border surge effort already underway by the Department of Public Safety. Full Story
![Gov. Rick Perry announces the deployment of National Guard troops along the Texas border as Texas Guard Adjutant General John Nichols listens at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2014.]()
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The Brief: July 21, 2014
Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst will make a border security announcement at 2 p.m. at the state Capitol. The two are expected to announce the deployment of 1,000 National Guard troops to the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry and DPS Director Steve McCraw spoke at a June 23, 2014, news conference following a tour of a federal facility housing unaccompanied minors in Weslaco, Texas. The state is providing $1.3 million per week to step up border patrols.]()
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Abbott Stands By Transparency Record Some Say is Mixed
Ask Texas Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott about his record on government transparency and he will tell you it is one worth bragging about. Open government advocates say his record is more varied. Full Story
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![Republican attorney general and gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott speaks one-on-one with members of the media following his appearance at a Congress Avenue coffeehouse on July 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: July 17, 2014
Wendy Davis' fundraising figures from Tuesday that showed her raising slightly more money than her GOP rival for governor are now being questioned. Full Story
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![Texas gubernatorial hopeful Wendy Davis addresses delegates at the Black Caucus at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center in Dallas, Texas, June 27, 2014.]()
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Davis Money Haul Less Than Advertised
Democrat Wendy Davis' campaign for governor boasted that it outraised Republican Greg Abbott over the last few months and had hauled in $13.1 million. The actual reports, published online Wednesday, told a different story. Full Story
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![State Sen. Wendy Davis, the 2014 Democratic nominee for governor, addressing supporters on July 13, 2014, in East Austin.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond
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