Ann Richards

Finding Austin

The neo city on the hills is a far cry from its cheap pot, cold beer and low-rent former ways.

Space Shuttle Blues: County Commissioner Calls for a Congressional Investigation

Answers are demanded, even though they're obvious.​You know what the Space Shuttle fiasco needs? Congress getting involved. At least that's the thinking of Harris County Commissioner Jack Morman. He's introducing a resolution at next week's meeting demanding Congress investigate "Nasa's deci ... More >>

Feds To Texas' Environmental Regulators: Good God, You Suck (UPDATED With Rick Perry Saying No, You Suck)

Feds come to the same conclusion we did​The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency smacked the hell out of Texas environmental regulators earlier this week, announcing that the feds will begin taking control over the issuance of operating permits to chemical plants and refineries because the s ... More >>

The Tug of War

Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison are locked in a pitched battle over the soul of the GOP. They are also running for governor.

Gubernatorial Candidate Kinky Friedman: My Dog Could Run This State As Well As Rick Perry

Photos by Craig Hlavaty​ "Going from musician to politician is definitely a step down," says Kinky Friedman, who announced his Texas gubernatorial candidacy Tuesday morning. "But I'll take it for Texas." Of course, it's a step that Friedman, author of songs such as "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jes ... More >>

Gubernatorial Candidate Kinky Friedman: My Dog Could Run This State As Well As Rick Perry

Photos by Craig Hlavaty​ "Going from musician to politician is definitely a step down," says Kinky Friedman, who announced his Texas gubernatorial candidacy Tuesday morning. "But I'll take it for Texas." Of course, it's a step that Friedman, author of songs such as "They Ain't Makin' Jews Like Jes ... More >>

Can LBJ Kick Chuck Norris' Ass?

We all know the facts about Chuck Norris:Chuck Norris knows everything there is to know - Except for the definition of mercy.Chuck Norris knows the last digit of pi.A high tide means Chuck Norris is flying over your coast. The tide is caused by God pissing his pants.We know all that. What we ... More >>

Texas Woman Fights Abuse at the State's Schools for the Mentally Retarded

Her son was beaten up by an angry caregiver at Denton State School

Big Boobs Revisited

Former ambassador Arthur Schechter prevails in his court case, wins more than $3.5 million

Get Lit: Always By My Side: A Father’s Grace and a Sports Journey Unlike Any Other, by Jim Nantz

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in Austin

Big Boobs

Attorneys Arthur Schechter and Gary Pitts are in a nasty fight over breast implant cases

Greyhound Racing

Tracks and breeders struggle as attendance declines

Switch Hitter

A book tour stirs up some dust over Jim Blackburn and an old environmental deal

Purchase Orders

Bob Perry writes a lot of checks to politicians, and wields a lot of influence as a result

Bond Bombshell

Debra Foster’s used to rounding up fugitives. Now she’s firing away at Montgomery County.

Face To Face

The murder of their loved one haunted Amy and Linda White until a Texas prison mediation program brought them together with the killer. Now they've all got their answers -- and unique justice.

Rejected

Thousands of inmates rely annually on a capricious parole board for their freedom. Most, like George Dismukes, return to their cells without ever knowing why they were denied.

Kissing Off a Kingmaker

In District 7, is the real conservative behind door No. 1 or door No. 2?

Strong Convictions

Hard-line leaders such as loopy Stephen Mansfield have taken their agenda to the Court of Criminal Appeals, where legal precedents--not prosecutions--get overturned

No More Miss Congeniality

For years Metroplex pageants abused their queens. Then the queens fought back.

Calling the Shots

In the Southwestern Bell and AT&T slugfest over supposed consumer savings, the biggest sucker punch of all is headed your way

Adding It All Up

What does it really mean to pass the TAAS?

Balancing the Bench

Will race and bad blood play a part in the Guv's judicial picks?

Rogue Elephant

Log Cabin Republicans want to be part of the GOP, which wants no part of them

The Insider

The Party Boys

Politics pulls out the hard "soft" cash, Houston-style

The Special Needs of Frank Gonzales Jr.

The Texas parole board let him out to die; instead, he got involved in a killing.

Horror Show

Ruben Guerrero's plans to be a judge again are dashed, as local Democrats continue their inept ways

Fighting for Franklin

A white lawyer has him. His grandmother wants him back

Following the Money

Cry Tough

Essential bassist Tommy Shannon hangs in there

The Insider

After the Crash

When victims' rights advocate Pam Lychner and her daughters died on TWA Flight 800, her husband knew what he had to do: Find justice for Pam.

What Really Happened To Rodeny Hulin?

Since his death, teenage inmate Rodney Hulin has become a national symbol of why it's wrong to send juveniles to adult prisons. His true story, though, paints a different kind of troubling picture.

The Insider

The Insider

Press Picks

The Insider

The Trouble with Larry

Could castration cure Larry McQuay of his urge to molest children? He thinks it can, and wants the state to nueter him. Others would just like to neutralize him.

Party Pooper

The Democratic chairman takes a power struggle personally

All About Elyse

After years of making Mayor Bob presentable, Houston's First Lady is ready to get serious. Seriously.

Opening Up

A promising young lawmaker goes public with his long battle with mental depression

Turkeys (and Other Creatures) On the Ballot

Quick! It's almost Election Day!! Do you know who your candidates are? Check this guide to the mother of all ballots!

Clean, Sober and Blue

Jerry Lightfoot struggles in Houston -- and wins

Vince Ryan's Distress

His campaign manager's gone, his headquarters got smoked, but domestic bliss awaits

The Watchman of the Electronic Frontier

As the cyber-future creeps toward Houston, one group stands guard: EFH

The Battle for Lavaca Bay

Diane Wilson asked only that her home bay be allowed to live. She says she was told no. So she went to war.

Betting on Seabrook's Future?

The city's mayor has a master plan to stop local gambling -- but he may be behind the tide

The fight to save the Katy Prairie

How many winters more will Arctic waterfowl make their 10,000-year-old journey to the western edge of Houston?