The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
House Speaker Joe Straus, seeking a fourth term at the helm of the chamber, is facing a challenge from state Rep. Scott Turner. If Straus prevails, he could gain an advantage in setting the agenda for the next legislative session. Full Story
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Following opposition from gun rights organizations, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission this week dropped proposed rules changes that would have allowed alcohol sales alongside gun sales. Full Story
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Several conservative writers had made a connection between the death of comedian Joan Rivers and Texas' regulation of abortion clinics before Gov. Rick Perry's comment on the matter Sunday. Full Story
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Full video of Ross Ramsey's 2014 Texas Tribune Festival keynote conversation with state Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, Speaker of the Texas House. Full Story
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A vow by state Sen. Dan Patrick, the GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, to repeal the Texas DREAM Act could face criticism from Republicans trying to reach out to Hispanic voters. Full Story
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Gov. Rick Perry, speaking on Sunday at The Texas Tribune Festival, said he still supports a Texas law that grants in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants. He also said he would not decide whether he was going to run for president until 2015. Full Story
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Greg Abbott, the Republican nominee for Texas governor, is trying to break the Democrats’ near lock on deep South Texas. The Democrats are dismissive of his effort, but it underscores the importance both camps are attaching to Hispanics this year. Full Story
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During a heated debate Saturday on women’s health, state Rep. Dawnna Dukes revealed that she has had an abortion. The revelation comes two weeks after state Sen. Wendy Davis revealed she terminated two pregnancies for medical reasons. Full Story
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The stark differences between state Sens. Dan Patrick and Leticia Van de Putte, the Republican and Democratic nominees for lieutenant governor, were front and center Saturday as they appeared at the Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Immigration track. The sessions include panels on border security, Latinos and the Republican Party, the comprehensive immigration reform debate, and what to do with the DREAMers. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Public Education track. The sessions include panels on education reform, the new math requirements for high school graduation, early college high schools, and insight from superintendents. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Health Care track. The sessions include panels on mental health, the Affordable Care Act, medical education and women's health. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Transportation track. The sessions include panels on road funding, high-speed rail, future transportation planning and the new urban mobility. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Justice track. The sessions include panels on criminal justice reform, the Texas Supreme Court, same-sex marriage and the death penalty. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Energy track. The sessions include panels on the state's power grid, the potential impact of energy reform in Mexico on Texas, the debate over hydraulic fracturing and a deeper look at the state's drilling boom. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Open Government track. The sessions include panels on disclosures by legislators, open records in Texas, transparency and the Texas budget, and the issue of donor privacy. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Environment track. The sessions include panels on the state's water needs, the Texas coast, agriculture in the state and Texas' battles with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Full Story
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We're liveblogging the sessions from the 2014 Texas Tribune Festival's Higher Education track. The sessions include panels on progress on the "Closing the Gaps" plan, the completion crisis, the state of community colleges and the affordability of higher education. Full Story
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Ahead of Friday's gubernatorial debate in Edinburg, supporters of Wendy Davis staged a fake welcome rally Friday to mark the arrival of Greg Abbott’s out-of-town volunteers to the Rio Grande Valley. Full Story
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The State Board of Education took its first vote Wednesday on an amendment that would require teachers in the state to adhere to the state's curriculum standards when teaching Advanced Placement courses. Full Story
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