The warnings were clear: avoid traveling the highways in northern Mexico at night. But it wasn't enough to stop some of the most fervent Mexican fans of the Dallas Cowboys from traversing them to get to a game. Full Story
Arizona sheriff and Gov. Rick Perry endorser Joe Arpaio allegedly engaged in discriminatory law enforcement practices and racial profiling of Latinos, according to a report released today by the U.S. Department of Justice. Full Story
In this episode of Weekend Insider, Gov. Rick Perry heads out on a bus tour of Iowa, and reporters Ben Philpott and Jay Root are along for the ride. Reporter Julian Aguilar takes a different type of bus tour — from Mexico to Dallas with some serious Cowboys fans. Full Story
The warning from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was polite but firm: The U.S. Department of Justice will not stand idly by if it feels Texas intends to halt or reverse gains for minority voting rights. Full Story
Drug seizures are up but illegal immigrant arrests are falling on the southern border, according to data released today by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Full Story
A decision by the White House to reduce the number of National Guard soldiers on the country’s border with Mexico has provoked a fierce but expected reaction from Gov. Rick Perry, a longtime advocate for more boots on the ground in Texas. Full Story
The expansion of a program that would allow some foreigners to enter the U.S. without a visa has strong support from the White House. But as Hernán Rozemberg of Fronteras reports, a federal report has raised concerns about how the program will impact the government’s ability to manage the system. Full Story
Root on Rick Perry's controversial new ad, Tan on the fallout, Aaronson's map of where the food stamps go, my interview with Stephen Colbert's campaign finance lawyer, Aguilar on the drop in the number of illegal immigrants crossing into Texas, Hamilton on the growth of unregulated colleges, Galbraith's interview with S. David Freeman on the environmental failures of public power, Grissom on the newest state agency and and Hamilton and M. Smith on a sudden change at the top of UT's law school: The best of our best content from December 5 to 9, 2011. Full Story
A sour economy, increased border law enforcement and skyrocketing smuggling fees are keeping more would-be crossers at home. But you wouldn't know it from the presidential campaigns. Full Story
In this episode of Weekend Insider, Tribune reporter Julian Aguilar discusses immigration and politics, and executive editor Ross Ramsey discusses talks about candidates looking to voters for a second chance. Full Story
For this week's nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked what issues might surface in the party primaries, whether the Voting Right Act is still necessary — and if the state should mandate a Longhorn-Aggie game on Thanksgiving. Full Story
Aaronson maps the growth of poverty in Texas, Aguilar on the suicide of an illegal immigrant, Galbraith on the prospect of more rolling blackouts, Grissom on a prosecutor's memory lapse, Hamilton on the prospect of public universities undergoing a sunset review, Murphy's latest awesome redistricting interactive, Ramsey on a stumbling start to the 2012 election season, Root on Rick Perry's latest populist tirade, M. Smith on the boom in for-profit teacher certification programs and Tan on the fight against cervical cancer in ... Africa: The best of our best content from November 28 to December 2, 2011. Full Story
Experts speculate that a key factor in the increase in reports of child abuse and neglect is the struggling economy. The number of reported cases of abuse has grown 6 percent in Texas since 2008, before the recession. Full Story
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released more interim charges he wants Senate committees to consider before the upper chamber gavels in January 2013. And it should be a surprise to few that there's a sustained focus on the Texas-Mexico border. Full Story
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst released a list today of border security-related issues he wants Senate committees to consider in advance of the 2013 legislative session. Full Story
In the wake of an illegal immigrant's suicide last week, Texas groups urging passage of the DREAM Act are aiming to make sure what happened to Joaquin Luna doesn't happen to other students. Full Story
Rick Perry sharpened his populist tirade against Wall Street financiers and Washington politicians Wednesday, saying Americans had been “snookered” by bogus investments and a string of taxpayer-financed bailouts. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry picked up a substantial endorsement on Tuesday from controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. But as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, it's unclear whether the endorsement will be enough to turn around Perry's flagging campaign. Full Story
Rick Perry barnstormed New Hampshire and the talk radio circuit Tuesday to showcase his endorsement from immigration hardliner Joe Arpaio, but there were few visible signs that the Arizona sheriff’s blessing will revive the governor’s campaign. Full Story
"America's toughest sheriff," as he calls himself, joined Rick Perry on the campaign trail today as the governor aims to mend fences with the GOP voters he has alienated with his moderate stands on illegal immigration. Full Story