Retired, Rehired
No snowbirds here. A growing number of state employees are retiring and coming straight back to work, padding — and in some cases nearly doubling — their state salaries with pension pay-outs. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
2010: The Texas Tribune Index
The number-crunchers among the Republicans and the Democrats in Texas use election results to get a feel for the political environment in each legislative district. They start with statewide races and then bake in some assumptions about what might happen if they put the right candidates in place. We and other political watchers need the same thing, without the partisan ingredients. So we cooked up the Texas Tribune Index. Full Story
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TribBlog: Rick Perry as Chuck Norris in the Twittersphere
He can "can blow bubbles with beef jerky"? Full Story
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Credit: @rickperryfacts -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Multi-part stories from Ramshaw and Grissom and Stiles on mental health services for detained immigrants and on payday lenders who provide exorbitantly priced credit to people with nowhere else to turn... Twitter, word clouds and the race for governor — a Stiles joint... Farouk Shami is in and Hu was there to watch... Philpott went to Bastrop for a gather of Republican governors... Rapoport finds a State Board of Education that's trying to control itself... and we have the skinny on legislative races that are likely to be competitive (only about 5 percent of the races on the ballot). It's the best of The Texas Tribune from November 14 to 20, 2009. Full Story
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TribBlog: Unemployment Rises in Texas
The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.3 percent in October, up from 5.2 percent a year ago. Full Story
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Debtors' Treadmill, Part Two: Political Payday
Groups that offer high-interest, short-term consumer loans and want to avoid state regulation contributed more than $1.4 million to Texas politicians over the past nine years, Texas Ethics Commission records show. Full Story
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Credit: Matt Stiles -
TribBlog: Perry Won't Grant Thompson Clemency
Gov. Rick Perry won't grant clemency to Robert Lee Thompson, who was sentenced to death under Texas' controversial "law of parties." Full Story
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Ads Infinitum: Up and at 'Em
Republicans Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry have started their air war, and Democrat Farouk Shami — new to the race — starts on TV at the same time. Full Story
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TribBlog: Interim Charges
Speaker Joe Straus has given committees their assignments for the next year. Full Story
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2010: Dee Margo's in for Round Three in El Paso
El Paso Republican businessman Dee Margo said today he will run for the Texas House again, taking on Democrat Joe Moody. The campaign will be Margo's third try for a seat in the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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State (Board) of Agitation
The State Board of Education, which has showcased some intense philosophical fights, has drawn scrutiny for becoming a partisan battleground. For now, members are just trying to get along — but the rifts are as big as ever. Full Story
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Credit: Abby Rapoport -
Debtors' Treadmill, Part One: Borrowed Time
Desperate Texans who get crosswise with payday lenders quickly find they get no help from the state, which hasn't regulated the industry since 2005. Full Story
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Fight Club
With 198 legislators on the ballot next year, there ought to be more fear in the air. But only a few are in obvious political trouble. Who's on the list, and what makes them vulnerable? Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva -
GOP Guvs Plead the Tenth
The Republican Governors’ Association has come to Texas for its annual conference. They’re upbeat from its fresh wins in Virginia and New Jersey. And the group wants to build on those wins heading into the 2010 elections. Full Story
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TribBlog: Latinos and Redistricting
Guess which demographic group is calling dibs on new congressional seats? Full Story
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Math Anxiety
Will there be enough money to cover the current state budget? "Fortunately, it's too early to tell," jokes House Speaker Joe Straus. He and other state leaders are well aware of the numbers, and although they think it's not yet time to act, they're focused on the big question. Full Story
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Credit: Jacob Villanueva, Elise Hu -
TribBlog: DPS: We're Stopping the Bad Guys
The day after DPS warns parents that Mexican cartels are trying to recruit their kids to sell drugs, the agency issues a press release that says DPS efforts are pushing back drugs and preventing them from getting here. Full Story
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The Brief: November 18, 2009
Could Sarah Palin be far behind? Full Story
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Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Smugglers
That warning comes as law enforcement officials report an increase in the number of youth from Mexico and the United States becoming involved in human and drug trafficking. Full Story
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T-Squared: Staff of Life
The latest addition to our elected officials directory: a listing of every staffer (we think) who works for a member of the Texas Legislature. Full Story
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