Harris Won't Run Again; Vandergriff's In
State Sen. Chris Harris, R-Arlington, won't seek another term in the Texas Legislature, he said Monday, and he encouraged Victor Vandergriff to get into the race. UPDATE: Vandergriff says he's in. Full Story
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Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Liveblog: Public and Higher Education at The Texas Tribune Festival
We'll be liveblogging throughout the weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's public and higher education track — which includes panels on the role research should play at state universities and how to pay for public education. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson -
Liveblog: Health and Human Services at The Texas Tribune Festival
We'll be liveblogging throughout the weekend from The Texas Tribune Festival's health and human services track — which includes panels on the fight over federal health reform, whether Texas can cure cancer and what effect tort reform has had statewide. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson -
Liveblog: Energy and Environment at The Texas Tribune Festival
We'll be liveblogging throughout the weekend from the Texas Tribune Festival's energy and environment track — which includes panels on the coming crisis over water, big oil and national security, and whether green energy is an oxymoron. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Ben Hasson -
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Ramshaw, Root and Philpott track the governor on the campaign trail, Tan and Dehn on high school football concussions, and Murphy and yours truly on the partisan climates of each district under redistricting maps: The best of our content from Sept. 19 to 23. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Video: What Exactly Did Perry Say?
At one point during Thursday's Fox/Google Republican GOP debate, Gov. Rick Perry bungled an attempt to zing his most serious opponent, Mitt Romney. What exactly did he say? Allow us to interpret. Full Story
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Texas Still Undecided on No Child Left Behind Waiver
Despite more details from the Obama administration today about how it would exempt states from complying with the law's signature requirements, the Texas Education Agency has yet to decide whether it will apply for a waiver on federal accountability requirements under the 2001 act. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Trib's Root, Ramshaw Analyze Perry's Campaign
The Texas Tribune’s Jay Root and Emily Ramshaw analyze the state of Perry's presidential campaign. The Texas governor remains the front-runner, but his momentum appears to be slowing down. Full Story
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Evolving Law Results in Unequal Pay to Exonerated Prisoners
How much Texas pays exonerated prisoners depends largely on when they were released and applied for compensation. Changes in the law over the last decade have created vastly different payouts for former prisoners, leaving some feeling doubly wronged. Full Story
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Campaign Chatter
Rep. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, will run for Steve Ogden's Senate seat. Ogden isn't running, and Williamson County has become the 300-pound gorilla of that district in terms of population. Rep. Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock, won't run. Full Story
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In the Map Rooms
The Justice Department didn't find fault (put an asterisk here) with the Senate and State Board of Education redistricting maps from Texas, but told a federal court in Washington, DC, that it thinks the maps for the congressional delegation and for the Texas House go backwards in minority representation. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Higher-Octane Partisans
Partisan changes in the Legislature are on ice for now. The more important game to watch is for which kinds of Republicans and Democrats are coming to Austin every two years. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Medina, Activists Take Aim at Rick Perry at Capitol
Former gubernatorial candidate and Tea Party favorite Debra Medina and other activists slammed what they called a culture of crony capitalism in Texas politics at a Capitol press conference on Thursday — taking aim at Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story
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![Former gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina speaks at the Texas Capitol about crony capitalism, joined by Janet Ahmad of Homeowners for Better Building, on Sept. 22, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Updated: TDCJ Will End Final Feasts Before Executions
The long-standing tradition of allowing death row inmates one last meal of their choosing before they enter the execution chamber ends today, said Brad Livingston, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Full Story
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Higher Ed Oversight Committee Revisits "Solutions"
At today's hearing of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency, experts weighed in on how — and how not — to make universities in Texas more accountable and transparent. Full Story
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![Rep. Dan Branch R-Dallas and Sen. Judith Zaffirini D-Laredo, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Oversight of Higher Education Governance, Excellence & Transparency during meeting on September 21st, 2011]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Born Out of Controversy, New Higher Ed Committee Gets to Work
Today brings the latest step in the state's ongoing higher education debate: the inaugural hearing of the Joint Oversight Committee on Higher Education Governance, Excellence and Transparency. Full Story
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Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Texas Weekly Index: March Fights, November Peace
General elections in Texas will be less competitive than ever under the redistricting maps approved by the Legislature earlier this year. The political threats to incumbents, if any, will come in primaries and not in general elections. Full Story
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Perry Appoints San Antonio Lawyer to Utility Commission
Rolando Pablos, the former chairman of the Texas Racing Commission, will fill the empty slot at the Texas Public Utility Commission. Separately, the state's electric grid operator announced that its board chairwoman, Laura Doll, is stepping down. Full Story
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Grant Seeks to Reduce Restraints in Treatment Centers
Responding to cases of abuse and even death in Texas' residential treatment centers, a mental health organization is funding a program to better train direct-care workers. Full Story
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Ogden Won't Seek Another Term
The Texas Senate's chief budget writer — Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan — won't seek re-election, he announced this morning. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich
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