STORIES BY TOPIC

RECENT STORIES

• Surprises under Williamson DA's image 
• Medina touts Latino family in new ads 
• State's big investment funds bouncing back 
• Lawmaker slips away from Democratic Party for GOP 
• Food stamp workers share frustrations 
• Was Staples' TV spot savvy or just plain illegal? 
• From college cash to beach access, 11 amendments pass 
• Elections system pulled from IBM data center contract 
• Democrat joins gubernatorial race, says he'll spend $10 million in primary 
• UT poll gives Perry cushion over Hutchison 
• Texas' School Fund might invest in charter school facilities 
• Prop. 11 
• GOP businessman launches bid to unseat Democrat Bolton 
• Combs reverses course on tuition savings plan 
• Prop 10 
• Nolan Ryan outbats VP Cheney in adviser's book 
• TxDOT considers $1.1 billion for I-35 expansion 
• Project managers recommend expanding governor's mansion 
• Proposition 9 
• Health officials: Prisoners won't get H1N1 vaccine before the general public 
• Proposition 8 
• Cheney will stump with Hutchison 
• Food stamp workers work longer hours and get less training 
• New GOP chair nearly sidelined in 2007 wreck 
• Swine flu vaccine is prison-bound 
• Former ambassador, state senator dies at home in Amarillo 
• Proposition 6 
• Proposition 5 
• Prop 9 would protect access to beaches, backers say 
• More than 100,000 participants in Texas prepaid tuition plan offered refunds 
• New Texas GOP chair says Hutchison should decide 
• Proposition 4 
• Perry often turns to own staff for appointments 
• Ombudsman accused of smuggling items into youth lockups 
• Election Day issue 
• Former Gov. White urges rethinking of death penalty 
• Amendment would affect land next to military bases 
• LCRA delays vote on drought declaration 
• Here's a scenario: 7 Democratic senators run for statewide office 
• Lawmaker decries e-mail claims on ballot proposals; Texas Lottery to start selling veterans scratch-off tickets 
• Texas Constitution proposals on Nov. 3 ballot 
• Opportunities missed in fatal Texas arson case 
• Voters to consider research university money 
• Gen K generates Dome Top 10 list 
• Prison volunteer banned after admitting improper relationships with ex-cons 
• Perry backs arson ruling 
• Hutchison causing political heartache 
• Hutchison leaving resignation date open 
• State Board of Education to review ethics policies 
• Cell phone smuggling to inmates still on rise 
• Perry to replace teacher retirement board chairman after less than a year 
• From humble beginnings, Andrade grows into secretary of state job 
• Reaction to Obama's prize breaks along party lines among Texas officeholders 
• Prison brass attend meeting in guard shirts 
• At Austin job fair, veterans fight odds to find full-time jobs 
• Jury says state officials violated parolee's right to hearing 
• Judge to become first Latina on Texas Supreme Court 
• Conservatives prize secrecy at Austin gathering 
• Forensic panel members urged Perry against shakeup 
• Federal officials: Texas needs food stamp czar 
• Road in front of Governor's Mansion might stay closed 
• State board OKs hiring of more food stamp workers 
• Tom DeLay: Dancin' to the numbers 
• Dallas activist running to replace Benkiser as leader of state GOP 
• A food stamp fingerprint feud 
• Perry defends shake-up of forensics board; Rawson to leave information agency 
• Perry shakes up agency investigating man's execution 
• On same day, Perry urged action on emergency economic plan before questioning it 
• Perry campaign blames webcast problems on sabotage 
• Illegal burning case still smolders in Texas 
• Social media prevalent in governor's race 
• Plum assignment has helped Hutchison, but will it now hurt her? 
• Hiring of investment adviser divides board 
• Federal officials: Texas must speed up processing of food stamp applications or risk federal funding 
• Perry's wealth fueled by land deals, investments 
• Gilbert picks fight with What's-his-name 
• Perry angers D.C. allies with broad rebuke 
• Senate candidates not transparent in finances - yet 
• Backlog, processing errors bedevil food stamp program 
• In response to video, Perry says he knows state's economic woes 
• Sharp, White keep focus off national issues - or Obama 
• Tyler-area rancher says he'll enter Democratic gubernatorial primary 
• South Texas lawmaker launches clothing line 
• State board vows to save Christmas, Chavez 
• A halting start to Katz's quest for office 
• Hutchison, Perry about even, poll shows 
• Flap over social studies heats up again 
• State's raucous 2008 Democratic primary dampens chances of change 
• Perry gets political help from New York: Giuliani 
• No re-election bid for Flores 
• Controversy over ACORN flares in Texas 
• Mansion fundraising drive hits $3.5 million 
• Key election dates, 2009-2010 
• National party leader: Help for Texas Democrats will flow next year 
• Wharton woman to take on Perry, Hutchison 
• Prison chaplain admits smuggling letters from death row 
• Driver's license delays should taper off soon 
• Ogden confirms he won't seek re-election 
• National Democrats gathering in Austin to talk up their chances in Texas 

POLITICS

• Democrat joins gubernatorial race, says he'll spend $10 million in primary 
• UT poll gives Perry cushion over Hutchison 
• Cheney will stump with Hutchison 
• New Texas GOP chair says Hutchison should decide 
• Perry often turns to own staff for appointments 
• Texas Constitution proposals on Nov. 3 ballot 
• Gen K generates Dome Top 10 list 
• Perry backs arson ruling 
• Hutchison leaving resignation date open 
• Perry to replace teacher retirement board chairman after less than a year 

SPEAKER'S RACE

• Speaker is a natural long shot 
• House speaker to announce committees this week 
• With little squabbling, House OKs rules 
• Waco lawmaker played big role in Craddick's ouster 
• Democratic group lays groundwork for House change 
• Is a vote for Straus like hitting Reset - or Replay? 
• Straus to be first Jewish speaker since statehood 
• Straus says House agenda up to members 
• Speaker-apparent steps lightly toward taking over 
• Attorney general's opinion divided on push to oust speaker 

BUDGET AND TAXES

• House, Senate appoint plethora of conference committees to iron out bill differences 
• House and Senate still ironing out budget differences 
• Small businesses in line for tax cut 
• Bucking Perry, Senate seeks unemployment money 
• House budget raises pay for state workers 
• Senate approves budget with controversial stem cell language 
• Education stimulus funds in question 
• Grant for A&M system avoided usual vetting 
• Proposed pay raises spark ire 
• Perry will fight stimulus dollars for unemployment 

BORDER/IMMIGRATION

• Texas guard isn't on high alert, officials say 
• Seen Big Foot lately? Then you've probably seen an undocumented worker using a fake ID to vote 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE

• Ombudsman accused of smuggling items into youth lockups 
• Former Gov. White urges rethinking of death penalty 
• Opportunities missed in fatal Texas arson case 
• Prison volunteer banned after admitting improper relationships with ex-cons 
• Perry backs arson ruling 
• Cell phone smuggling to inmates still on rise 
• Jury says state officials violated parolee's right to hearing 
• Tom DeLay: Dancin' to the numbers 
• Illegal burning case still smolders in Texas 
• Prison chaplain admits smuggling letters from death row 

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION ACT

ETHICS

• Watson bill mandates more openness in Texas Supreme Court decision-making 
• Keller legal defense expected to be expensive 
• PACs, others asked to return Stanford donations 
• Judge's ethics case may hinge on phone calls 
• Judge faces ethics trial 

GAMBLING

• Gambling rhetoric heats up, even if legislation doesn't 
• Gambling expansion difficult to handicap this session 
• Kickapoos lose legal round, raise prospect of expanding gambling anyway 

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

• State board OKs hiring of more food stamp workers 
• As nation discusses health care, Texas doctor shortage expected to worsen 
• Perry promotes Suehs to lead Health and Human Services Commission 
• A different kind of tea party 
• Even with health insurance, Texans in high-risk pool struggle 
• Health officials plan for challenging flu season 
• Has Perry improved Texans' health care? 
• Audit: State dental data unreliable 
• Health care protest set up by partisans, Doggett says 
• Low-cost plan for uninsured workers launches 

PUBLIC EDUCATION

• Texas' School Fund might invest in charter school facilities 
• State Board of Education to review ethics policies 
• Hiring of investment adviser divides board 
• State board vows to save Christmas, Chavez 
• Flap over social studies heats up again 
• Study: Dropouts costing Texas billions 
• Districts sticking with current graduation requirements 
• New Bible requirement hits Texas schools this fall 
• Dropout figures carry more weight in ratings 
• Texas' $3.2 billion stimulus plan approved 

HIGHER EDUCATION

• Voters to consider research university money 
• For Obama, A&M expecting activists from across state 
• Ex-regents describe governor's lobbying for chancellor 
• Federal judge upholds UT's consideration of race in admissions 
• Texas tuition program going broke 
• Boosting Hispanic enrollment increasingly urgent, Texas officials say 
• Tuition regulation measures die 
• Senator yields to House version of top 10% bill 
• Deal would boost college aid 
• UT chancellor cool to concealed handguns on campus 

ENVIRONMENT

• Study of San Marcos Springs gets $1 million 
• State senator, environmental agency tussle over smelter documents 
• Senate passes measure to boost development of solar energy plants 
• Democratic senators say environmental agency is too cozy with companies 
• Strama proposes loan program for solar panels 
• State board's global warming standards irk environmentalists 
• Air cleanup plan includes rebates, grants 
• Lawmakers look for ways to build solar industry 
• U.K. urges Texas to address global warming 
• Revolving door at Texas environmental agency? 

TRANSPORTATION

• TxDOT considers $1.1 billion for I-35 expansion 
• New law may bring XL$BIDS 4TXPL8S 
• Road bond, sunset bills nearing quick passage 
• TxDOT overhaul bill could be dead 
• Transit board shake-up closer to final passage 
• House gives initial OK to TXDoT overhaul 
• Toddlers, motorcycles a risky mix, couple say 
• Lege is missing a road fairy 
• Slide in gas tax revenue hits roads 
• More money for transportation? Not this session 

ENERGY

• Senate passes measure to boost development of solar energy plants 
• Lawmakers look for ways to build solar industry 
• Craddick appoints committee on energy and environment 
• Innovation key for Texas to compete for business