The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has taken to starting interviews by saying he won't run for governor against Greg Abbott. But it is a question, in part, because of the two men, Patrick often acts more like the governor than the governor does. Full Story
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Along a disputed stretch of the Red River, one Clay County farmer got his land back from the federal government. Can his neighbors follow suit? Full Story
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The Health Care track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on the Legislature, the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. We also featured a conversation with Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Chris Traylor. Full Story
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The Justice track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on criminal justice reform, the Legislature, open carry, and gay rights and states' rights. There was also a conversation with several Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges. Full Story
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The Transportation track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival included panel discussions on high-speed rail, transportation planning, urban mobility and the Legislature. Listen to audio from each session. Full Story
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The Timothy Cole Exoneration Review Commission Thursday paid tribute to its namesake – who was wrongfully convicted in a 1985 rape case – and began setting a vision for its role in prevent further wrongful convictions in Texas. Full Story
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Accusing the city of Austin of trying to "take control over Texas tax policy," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office asked a court Thursday to allow it to intervene in the city's lawsuit challenging the state's property appraisal system. Full Story
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At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court addressed the recent pushback against the "lawlessness" of the U.S. Supreme Court's unelected jurists. Full Story
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Here's full video of the "You're Welcome, America: Texas in 2050" session from the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival. The session was presented by Steve Murdock, a former state demographer and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau. Full Story
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At our 10/29 conversation, Chief Justice Nathan Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court talked about the timing of a possible ruling on the state's appeal in the school finance lawsuit. Full Story
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By filing a one-page form, some producers can have their oil wells reclassified as gas wells and potentially reap huge tax savings. More such requests are being granted, and the Texas budget might start feeling the pain. Full Story
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Texas officials have asked an appeals court for permission to proceed with cutting payments to a therapy program for children with disabilities — the latest development in an ongoing lawsuit over the budget state lawmakers crafted this year. Full Story
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The Public Education track at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on turning around struggling schools, pre-K, public education and the Legislature, and charter schools. There was also a conversation with Education Commissioner Michael Williams. Full Story
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The Obama administration has warned state leaders that pushing Planned Parenthood out of the state’s Medicaid program could put Texas at odds with federal law. Full Story
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During the keynote sessions of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival, we featured one-on-one conversations with Dan Patrick, Joe Straus, Nancy Pelosi and Julián Castro. You can watch those interviews and videos of our other keynote sessions here. Full Story
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Here's video of the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival's "Their Last Sine Die" panel, which featured former state Rep. Joe Farias and state Reps. Patricia Harless and Jim Keffer. Full Story
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After months of heated campaigning, Houston voters will have the final word next week on an embattled nondiscrimination ordinance, a big test for Texas gay rights activists. Full Story
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Last week's alert that more than 100 steer vanished from a farm in Waco didn't surprise farmers and ranchers. In 2014, the total market value of stolen livestock and ranching equipment in Texas reached an nine-year high. Full Story
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When one party overwhelms the two-party system, it tends to develop into a two-faction party. That's the case with the Texas Republican Party — as you can see by who the speaker of the Texas House and the lieutenant governor are backing in the presidential race. Full Story
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The Higher Education track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions with several university system chancellors and private college leaders. Also, there was a one-on-one conversation with Mike Perrin, the interim athletic director at the University of Texas at Austin. Full Story
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