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The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.

  • The Rich are Different

    By Abby Rapoport

    When political consultants take on wealthy candidates, does that mean they can milk them and their campaigns for all they’re worth? Are they simply trying to help good people get elected? Or both? Full Story 

    Tony Sanchez, Farouk Shami
    Credit: Bob Daemmrich, Todd Wiseman

  • Legal Lottery

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Can Texas lottery winners sell all of their payments to private finance companies? State attorneys say no. A state appeals court says yes. The Texas Supreme Court will decide. Full Story 

  • Never Can Say Goodbye

    By Ross Ramsey

    Texas voters won't be offered a real chance at change in the Legislature and Congress next year. Four out of five state and federal lawmakers face no real competition in their primary or general elections. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • Mapmaker, Mapmaker

    By Ross Ramsey

    Think like the political pros and your mind will go to the long game instead of the short one. The short game is the elections of 2010. The long game is redistricting in 2011, when maps are drawn that corral the voters into the districts that will elect legislators for the next ten years. Full Story 

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  • Advice for Annise Parker

    By Kirk Watson

    Congratulations, Mayor-Elect. Now you get to govern a great city — Houston — that’s much bigger than the electorate and much more complicated than the campaign. Perhaps you’d like some aspirin? Or a re-count? Full Story 

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    Credit: gavelgrab.org

  • Race to the Bottom Line

    By Brian Thevenot

    The feds want Texas to sign onto a movement toward national education standards in order to get up to $700 million in "Race to the Top" money. Texas officials say our students —and our curriculum — aren't for sale. Full Story 

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    Credit: Jacob Villanueva

  • 2010: Done-bar

    By Reeve Hamilton

    As anticipated, Cynthia Dunbar has officially announced that she will not seek re-election to her spot on the State Board of Education Full Story 

    Cynthia Dunbar served on the Texas State Board of Education from 2007 to 2010
    Credit: cynthiadunbar.com

  • Caven's Quest, Part Two

    By Brandi Grissom

    In 2008, the file at DPS headquarters in Austin still said Scotty Caven III caused the August 2004 car crash that killed him and two others. Officials there had declined to reopen and investigate the case. But his father, UT System regent Scott Caven Jr., wouldn’t take no for an answer. Full Story 

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    Credit: Bob Daemmrich

  • Slideshow: Transition Medicine

    By Emily Ramshaw

    Benjamin Ligums was born with a rare degenerative brain disease that left him immobile, non-verbal and legally blind. His family has found a second home at Baylor's Transition Medicine Clinic, which specializes in treating profoundly disabled young adults. Full Story 

    Ann Ligums pushes her profoundly disabled son Benjamin, 26, into the Baylor Transition Medicine Clinic in Houston.
    Credit: Photo by Steve Moakley

  • Audio: Cap and Tirade

    By Ben Philpott, KUT News

    Rick Perry attacked the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision yesterday to declare carbon dioxide a public danger, arguing that the ruling lacks scientific evidence. The EPA's move could propel the cost of carbon reduction onto the list of issues in play in the governor’s race. Full Story 

  • Caven's Quest, Part One

    By Brandi Grissom

    After his son and two others died in a horrific car wreck in 2004, former UT Regent Scott Caven Jr. set out to prove that his namesake, Scotty, wasn't to blame. He eventually persuaded the Texas Department of Public Safety to change its accident report — a rare feat: In the last five years, DPS has changed the final reports in fewer than 1 percent of fatal crash investigations. Full Story 

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