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The Weekly TribCast: Episode 97

By Reeve Hamilton Sept. 14, 2011

This week on the TribCast, Ross, Reeve, Brandi and Jay talk about the recent GOP debates, the death penalty and the return of the HPV vaccine controversy. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Pardons Board Denies Clemency in Buck Case

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 13, 2011

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles today voted against recommending clemency for Duane Edward Buck, rejecting the pleas of his lawyers, a victim he shot and a prosecutor who was on the team that sentenced him to death. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Duane Buck Prosecutor Urges Clemency

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 12, 2011

A lawyer who worked on the Harris County District Attorney's prosecution team that sent Duane Edward Buck to death row is calling on state officials to halt the execution schedueld for Thursday and allow for a new sentencing trial in the case. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Guest Column: About Those Cheers for the Death Penalty

By Jim Henson Sept. 9, 2011

One of the oddest moments of the GOP presidential primary debate occurred when the audience burst into applause in response to a recap of Gov. Rick Perry’s record of presiding over 234 executions. Should anyone be surprised by the reaction? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Jacob Villanueva
With Wildfire Risk High, Military Alters Training in Texas

By Kate Galbraith Sept. 9, 2011

As the worst one-year drought in Texas history wears on, officials at some military installations around the state have banned the use of tracer fire and other pyrotechnics. Full Story

Credit: Spencer Selvidge
Smith Eyes a Return

By Morgan Smith Sept. 8, 2011

Austin lawyer and anti-affirmative-action advocate Steven Wayne Smith is planning a return to the Texas Supreme Court. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: Sam Bassett: The TT Interview

By Brandi Grissom and Todd Wiseman Sept. 8, 2011

The former chairman of the Forensic Science Commission on why he believes the governor replaced him and why he argues it is critical for the Texas justice system that the commission finish its investigation into the Willingham arson case. Full Story
Fact-Checking Romney's Claims About Texas Jobs

By Becca Aaronson Sept. 8, 2011

Mitt Romney says Rick Perry has "substantially underperformed his predecessors on job creation” and that the state's unemployment rate has doubled on his watch. Is Romney right? Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / www.sxc.hu
Forensic Panel Urged to Continue Willingham Arson Probe

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 8, 2011

The Innocence Project is urging the Texas Forensic Science Commission to forge ahead with its investigation of arson cases despite a recent ruling from the state’s top lawyer that seemed to limit the panel’s authority. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Djakhangir Zakhidov / Todd Wiseman
Lawyers, Victim Seek Clemency for Death Row Inmate

By Lara Lapin Sept. 7, 2011

Phyllis Taylor survived the 1995 shooting spree that ended with two others dead and Duane Buck on death row. Buck is scheduled to be executed on Sept. 15. Today, Taylor asked state officials to halt his execution. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
On the Records: FEMA's Wildfire Spending

By Becca Aaronson Sept. 7, 2011

As wildfires continue to sweep across the state, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized seven more grants to help Texas manage the flames. Although the figures for the grants given to Texas after June are not yet available, the Tribune has a look at the $3.8 billion FEMA has given Texas to mitigate disasters. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Sept. 3, 2011

Aaronson on the stats behind the Texas Miracle, Aguilar on an area of the budget that didn't get cut during the session, Dehn and Tan wrap-up our 31 Days, 31 Ways project, Galbraith talks to Todd Staples about the drought, Grissom on controversial executions during Rick Perry's tenure (plus a visualization by Murphy and Seger), Hamilton on the Rodney Dangerfield of Texas universities, Philpott on the search for clues in past Perry debates, Ramshaw on Perry's opposition to abortion rights and Root on Perry's assurances to conservatives that his past won't embarrass them: The best of our best content from Aug. 29 to Sept. 2, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
On the Records: How We Got the TDCJ Execution Data

By Ryan Murphy Sept. 2, 2011

This morning @TribData released a visualization of all executions in the state of Texas since Gov. Rick Perry took office in late 2000. Here's how we made it happen. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Ryan Murphy / Noah Seger / Todd Wiseman
Willingham Aside, Executions Under Perry Raise Questions

By Brandi Grissom Sept. 2, 2011

As Gov. Rick Perry touts his tough-on-crime policies on the national stage, the case of Cameron Todd Willingham remains in the headlines. But Willingham’s execution is hardly the only controversial one Perry has presided over. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Bob Daemmrich / Todd Wiseman
Lawyers Seek Reprieve for Death Row Inmate in Racially Tinged Case

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 31, 2011

Lawyers for death row inmate Duane Edward Buck today asked for clemency based on the statement of a key witness that the fact he was black meant Buck was more likely to be violent in the future. Full Story

Credit: Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Embattled ATF Interim Director Reassigned

By Julián Aguilar Aug. 30, 2011

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced today that the embattled interim director who oversaw the flawed gun-smuggling investigation known as “Fast and Furious” is stepping down. Full Story

Credit: Todd Wiseman
Video: Perry on Willingham and Innocence

By Justin Dehn Aug. 29, 2011

In his October 2010 interview with the Tribune, Gov. Rick Perry talked about controversial Cameron Todd Willingham death penalty case — and the broader issue of innocence. Full Story
31 Days, 31 Ways: Tort Reform Bill Gives Texas High Court New Powers

By Morgan Smith Aug. 28, 2011

DAY 28 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Under a new tort reform law, the Texas Supreme Court will make rules to expedite certain lawsuits and to allow judges to dismiss meritless ones early on. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Out of Jail, Into Danger: Lockups Continue Nighttime Releases

By Brandi Grissom Aug. 28, 2011

County jail inmates are often released in the dark of night with little or no money and no transportation. Despite tragic stories of death and assaults, lawmakers this year failed to approve legislation that would require releases during daylight hours. Full Story

Credit: Todd Spoth
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Aug. 27, 2011

Tan on coming prison school cuts and online sales taxes, Root on Rick Perry's support for tax increases when he was a lawmaker, Ramshaw and Serafini on what "Perrycare" would entail, yours truly on the differences between Perry and George W. Bush, Philpott on the passions of the Paulites, Murphy and Seger unveil the Trib's Texas Public Schools Database, Hamilton on UT's answer to calls for improvements in higher ed, Galbraith on predictions that the record heat in Texas will be a long-term problem and Aguilar on the legal shootout over gun sales in Texas: The best of our best content from Aug. 22 to 26, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman