economy

Austin's Formula One Race Gets Green Light

By Ross Ramsey Dec. 7, 2011

The promoters and track owners trying to put on a Formula One race in Austin apparently overcame their differences just in time — the F1 race for November 2012 is officially on the calendar. Full Story

Credit: Gregory Moine
Updated Interactive: Food Stamp Distribution Map

By Becca Aaronson Dec. 6, 2011

Fewer Texans will receive food stamps in December than in November, but the number is still up overall since 2005 as the national recession continues. Our updated interactive map allows you to explore the number of food stamp recipients in your county and the economic impact of the program. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman
Weekend Insider: Need for Foster Care, Family Accused of Murder

By Justin Dehn Dec. 1, 2011

In this episode of Weekend Insider, Claire Cardona explains the rise in the state's need for foster care, and Brandi Grissom introduces us to a family accused of murder. Full Story
Interactive: Poverty Rates Rising Across Texas

By Becca Aaronson Nov. 30, 2011

In 2010, 4.4 million Texans lived below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday. Poverty has increased in more than 200 counties across Texas since 2007, the year before the recession hit. Use our interactive maps to explore the change in annual poverty rates and the median household income in your county. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Callie Richmond / Becca Aaronson / Todd Wiseman
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 26, 2011

Root and Tan on the restoration of the Governor's Mansion and on the Perrys' expensive replacement digs, E. Smith's TribLive interview with three freshman legislators in El Paso, M. Smith on tough financial standards for local school districts, Ramshaw and Murphy on Texas docs paid by drug companies, yours truly on new congressional and legislative redistricting maps, Hamilton on the biggest competitive endeavor in Brownsville's schools and Aguilar on how border mayors feel about military equipment in their cities: The best of our best content from November 21 to 25, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Benjamin Hasson
Updated Interactive: Texas Economy by Region

By Becca Aaronson Nov. 23, 2011

This update of our "Texas Economy by Region" interactive map compares the unemployment rate from 2010 to 2011 in each county to determine whether the economy has improved or declined. We’ve also included a map of Texas cities with pop-ups that show industry changes from 2010 to 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva / Becca Aaronson
How Democrats Can Come Back: Three Views

By Evan Smith Nov. 22, 2011

How can the party of LBJ, Ann Richards and Henry Cisneros regain its footing? We asked three prominent Democratic strategists for their take. Full Story
Texas Unemployment Rate Drops in October

By Becca Aaronson Nov. 18, 2011

The Texas unemployment rate dropped only slightly this month from 8.5 percent to 8.4 percent, according to statistics released by the Texas Workforce Commission today. But the state's economy is not performing as well as it was this time last year. And as the national economy has improved, the Texas economy has lagged. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / www.sxc.hu
Memo to Voters: There's No Free Lunch

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 14, 2011

Voters clearly want good schools and nice roads and low taxes. It's a political and policy question straight out of a business textbook: What's the right balance of price and quality? Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
What Do Voters Want?

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 10, 2011

Texas Republicans are playing with the old Milton Friedman line: There is no such thing as a free lunch. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 5, 2011

The latest UT/TT Poll on the 2012 race and other issues, Root on Herman Cain's stumble, Ramshaw and Titus on Texas Republicans who don't support Perry, Murphy maps presidential fundraising in Texas, Philpott on changing the constitution for parks and education, Hamilton on a case of higher ed separation anxiety, Grissom on the state's breakup with a death penalty witness, Galbraith on a congressman's search for a big leak, Aguilar on the Border Patrol's effort to operate in environmentally protected areas and Aaronson on a dramatic drop in government employment in Texas: The best of our best content from October 31 to November 4, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
UT/TT Poll: Economy, Immigration Top Voter Concerns

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 4, 2011

Texas voters think the economy is the biggest problem facing the country but immigration is the most pressing issue facing the state, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
Interactive: Budget Cuts Continue to Shrink Texas State Government

By Becca Aaronson Nov. 3, 2011

This interactive shows the dramatic drop in employment at Texas state agencies from the third quarter of fiscal year 2011 to the last quarter, right before $15 billion in cuts to the 2012-2013 biennium budget kicked in Sept. 1. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
UT/TT Poll: Most Voters Don't Credit Perry for Texas' Economic Success

By Ross Ramsey Nov. 1, 2011

Texas voters are more likely to attribute the state's economic success to its natural resources and long-standing pro-business policies than to Gov. Rick Perry's leadership, according to the new University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll. Full Story
New Perry Ad: "I'm a Doer, Not a Talker"

By Evan Smith Oct. 31, 2011

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign is broadcasting a new ad in Iowa starting today that implicity denigrates Barack Obama for being "slick" and using a TelePrompter and explicity promises action instead of talk. Full Story
Perry's First Paid Ad Hits Iowa Airwaves

By Evan Smith Oct. 26, 2011

Rick Perry's presidential campaign reportedly spent $175,000 on its first ad buy in Iowa, whose crucial caucus is a little more than two months away. The ad focuses on job creation efforts in Texas during Perry's tenure as governor. Full Story
Court Hears Challenge to State Business Tax

By Ross Ramsey Oct. 24, 2011

A successful challenge to the state's primary business tax would throw lawmakers into special session to try to find enough money to pay for public schools, a lawyer for the state told the Texas Supreme Court today. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribLive: A Conversation with Susan Combs

By Evan Smith Oct. 23, 2011

At last Thursday's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the health of the Texas economy, her agency's data breach, her shifting position on abortion and more. Full Story
Private Sector Continues to Create Jobs in Texas

By Becca Aaronson Oct. 21, 2011

Texas added 15,400 new jobs last month, according to statistics released today by the Texas Workforce Commission. The Texas unemployment rate, which increased over the last three months, remained steady in September at 8.5 percent. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / www.sxc.hu
TribLive: Combs on 82nd Session Budget Cuts

By Evan Smith Oct. 20, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, Comptroller Susan Combs talked about the billions cut from the state budget during the last legislative session — and whether kicking the can down the road on health care costs was a sound financial decision. Full Story