An Inside Game, Already Afoot
The possibility of five or more new Republican senators in 2013 opens a tactical door for conservatives who'd like to gain control of the Legislature. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Once Again, Texas Faces Lawsuits Over How It Funds Its Schools
The lawsuits over public education funding that are currently taking shape will be the latest in a long history of court intervention in Texas' school finance system. But how much can the judiciary do to fix it? Full Story
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Campaign Roundup: The Week's Political News
State campaign news, candidate announcements, retirements and rumors from the past week. Full Story
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![Sen. Wendy Davis D-Fort Worth on the Senate floor May 23rd, 2011]()
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Updated: An Emotional Morton Thankful His Was Not a Capital Case
After an emotional day in court, Michael Morton left prison today, almost 25 years after he was convicted of murdering his wife. His release came after prosecutors agreed his conviction should be overturned based on the results of recent DNA testing. Full Story
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![Michael Morton sits beside his mother, Patricia Morton, during an emotional press conference in October 2011 after a judge agreed to release him on personal bond after he spent nearly 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife. Recently tested DNA indicates another man committed the 1986 killing.]()
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Updated: Morton Wins Release From Prison After 25 Years
Michael Morton, who served 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife Christine, now will be released after DNA evidence linked another man to the crime and to another murder 16 months later. Full Story
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![Debra Jan Baker, Michael Morton (center), Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley]()
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TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on the shrinking of state government, Aguilar on the controversy over in-state tuition for the children of undocumented immigrants, Galbraith on Rick Perry vs. the EPA, Grissom on a startling development in a 25-year-old murder case, Hamilton on Ken Starr's first year as president of Baylor, Ramsey on what inmates have to do with redistricting, Ramshaw on the state's crisis in insurance coverage, Root on Perry's presidential grind dance and Smith on obstacles to addressing childhood obesity: The best of our best content from Sept. 26-30, 2011. Full Story
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Prisoners Don't Vote, but They Sometimes Count
Texas prison inmates can’t vote, so most counties ignore them. But they can change the value of your votes for Congress and the state Legislature. Full Story
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An Eye on the Calendar
The state probably won't have political maps for federal and state legislators until November and possibly December, crowding the filing-fundraising-campaigning cycle into the holidays and perilously close to the March primaries. Full Story
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Campaign Chatter
Chris Harris and Will Hartnett say they won't be back, but the horde of candidates for state and federal legislative seats is growing. Full Story
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Federal Court to Texas Election Officials: Wait
State officials in Texas can hold off on election preparations, a federal court said Thursday, but with Texas' political maps still in limbo, they also didn't get a new set of deadlines to help them get ready for the 2012 elections. Full Story
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Hartnett Confirms He Won't Seek Re-election
State Rep. Will Hartnett, R-Dallas, said this afternoon that he won't seek another term in the Texas House. Full Story
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U.S. Supreme Court Won't Reinstate Abortion Sonogram Law
The U.S. Supreme Court today refused to let Texas enforce its new abortion sonogram law while the measure is under appeal, following a similar ruling from a federal appeals court on Wednesday. Full Story
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Schools, Textbook Publishers Adjust to Power Shift
A new state law decentralizing the selection and purchase of instructional materials for Texas students has sparked debate about how it will affect the politically charged State Board of Education's power to control what’s taught in Texas classrooms. Full Story
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Cattle Rustler Wins Release From Prison
Roddy Dean Pippin, the diabetic cowboy who has been in prison for more than eight years, will get to ride out of the big house next month after the state's highest criminal court ruled today that he has done his time. Full Story
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DNA Test Links Morton Case to Unsolved Killing?
In a startling development, Travis County authorities are investigating whether an unsolved 1988 killing of an Austin woman is related to the 1986 murder of Christine Morton, for which her husband, Michael Morton, is serving life in prison. Full Story
![Debra Jan Baker, Michael Morton (center), Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley]()
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Video: String of Perry Flubs Sparks Doubts
Gov. Rick Perry's underwhelming and inconsistent debate performances have made him a target of pundits, political satirists — and many of his party's top figures. Full Story
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Anticipating Budget Cuts, State Agencies Shrink
The numbers prove it: State government is shrinking. Many attribute the drop in state jobs to the budget cuts lawmakers passed last legislative session. But agencies had been preparing for the deficit by dropping employees for more than a year. Full Story
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Protesters Gather for Boehner Reception
Protesters gathered outside the Headliners Club in Austin to urge U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. Boehner was in Austin to attend a reception with several GOP congressmen from Texas. Full Story
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Staples and Generals Call Out Feds on Border Security
The former head of the U.S. Armed Forces Southern Command said Monday that if the U.S. does not provide more support to Mexico, that country's next presidential administration may have no choice but to make a deal with cartel leaders. Full Story
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![Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, holds up copy of recently released independent copy of Texas border security during press conference at Texas Capitol on September 26th, 2011]()
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Travis County Attorneys May Hold Answers in 25-Year-Old Murder
Travis County prosecutors on Monday provided “powerful evidence” to a Williamson County district court that could be crucial in exonerating Michael Morton of the 1986 murder of his wife. Full Story
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![Presiding Officer of the Texas Forensic Science Commission John Bradley during a commission meeting April 14th, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
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