Texas State Legislature

Off and Running

Thanks to a Slick Move, Houston-based Weatherford Keeps Drilling in Sudan

The Trial of the Galveston Cat Killer

You Can Ignore Evolutionary Theory In Texas

College Tuition In Texas Just Keeps Going Up

Requiem for the Balinese Room

Texas Pols, Make Sure Those Checks Have Cleared -- It's Bankruptcy Time For Bo Pilgrim

Ah, Bo Pilgrim -- it takes a tough man to go from passing out checks on the floor of the Texas Legislature to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but you've done it.Pilgrim's Pride, the toast of Pittsburg, Texas, announced today that it's seeking bankrputcy protection "in an effort to address certain ... More >>

The Secret World Of Dan Patrick, Via Twitter

Dan Patrick -- hyperbolic talk-show host, slightly unhinged state senator -- has joined the Twitter world.Normally, that wouldn't be too exciting, as his Twitter page proves ("Getting ready for the 81st Texas Legislature session").But the decision gave his compadres at Lone Star Times the chance to ... More >>

Pub Flubs Grub

The drinking beats the dining at the new Village Brewery

Texas Legislature Needs to Do Better By Its College Students, Or Let's Just Keep Exporting Them to Other States

As we close in on rodeo time at the 2009 version of the Texas Legislature, education funding, as usual, will be one of the main topics. And in a dour economy, it's no secret that the degree-of-difficulty factor has just been ramped up a couple extra notches.We caught up with Scott Hochberg (D-Housto ... More >>

Live Shots

As we close in on rodeo time at the 2009 version of the Texas Legislature, education funding, as usual, will be one of the main topics. And in a dour economy, it's no secret that the degree-of-difficulty factor has just been ramped up a couple extra notches.We caught up with Scott Hochberg (D-Housto ... More >>

Never Mind!

Don't you wish the Legislature could forgive your screwups?

One Perfect Meal

Ordering right -- and wrong -- at the erratic Tien Fu

The Insider

Ordering right -- and wrong -- at the erratic Tien Fu

Rogue Elephant

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

Contributing Factors

Debra Danburg swears she'll defend your right to open government. But when it comes to Internet campaign finance reports, ignorance is bliss.

Grabbing for the (Public's) Gold

Voters would decide if Olympic efforts get up to $100 million in state subsidies

Workers Comp and Rescued Dogs

Mutual Decisions

Fighting For The Right To Live When The Hospital Wants To Let You Die

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Texas Advanced Directive Act, which allows a hospital to discontinue life-sustaining treatment against the wishes of the patient or patient's family. And to celebrate, the Texas Legislature held hearings this week on an amendment to change the controve ... More >>

The Also-Rans

The schools who could have been contenders

Trouble in Mind

Texas's mentally impaired used to go to treatment centers. Now they go to prison.

The Curriculum Question

Businessman John Privett thought he had a solution to the problems of some of Houston's troubled schools. The parents wanted to try it. The teachers wanted to try it. But HISD administrators said no.

UH Grapples With The Guns-On-Campus Issue

The Texas Legislature is moving forward with a bill allowing concealed handguns on college campuses. Not a fan of the move: The University of Houston faculty senate. They've passed a resolution opposing the legislation.Not a fan of the faculty resolution: Some UH students.Seth Chandler, the law prof ... More >>

Life, Post-Ike: A Full Recovery

Just when it looked like UTMB might leave Galveston forever, local legislators saved it.

Houston 2020: The Future Is Unwritten

But hey, that's not stopping Noise.

Incoming: Fairness for Victims

Plus: Darkhorse Rides In

Even Rick Perry Can't Support Arizona's Immigration Law

Rick Perry appeals to Move On, ACORN and Daily Kos​People, if there is one rule in life, it's this: If Rick Friggin' Perry thinks you've gone too far to the right, it's time to check yourself before you wreck yourself.Perry's office has just issued a statement saying the controversial new Arizona ... More >>

Horse Racing in Texas, On Its Way to the Last Round-up?

And they're off....​Is the Texas horse race industry in a death spiral? That seems to be the concern in a report filed today by Steven Long of Horseback Magazine who spent today with the Texas Racing Commission at Sam Houston Race Park.According to Long, Andrea Young of Sam Houston said the park's ... More >>

Goodbye, David Thompson

Mystery fans mourn the passing of a Houston bookseller

Watch Out Muslims: State Senator Dan Patrick Creates "Tea Party Caucus" In Legislature

Dan Patrick: FINALLY the Tea Party will be heard in Texas​Right-wing radio guru Dan Patrick has announced the creation of a Tea Party Caucusfor the upcoming Texas legislative session.And no, "Tea Party Caucus" is not necessarily a synonym for "Texas Legislature," at least not yet."The Tea Party ha ... More >>

State Rep. Debbie Riddle's Pre-Filed Bills: A Sampling

Debbie Riddle's got a full plate​Monday was the first day to pre-file bills for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature, and Tomball State Rep. Debbie Riddle famously camped out to get first crack at things. She filed nine bills. Not all of them deal with the Brown Menace attacking the ... More >>

Just What America Needs: Four More Texas Votes In The U.S. House Of Representatives

Texas is a big winner​Republicans in the Texas Legislature have already been salivating over the opportunity to redraw Congressional districts with little to no interference from those annoying Democrats. The U.S. Census just handed them another gift: Four more seats to mess with. A 20 perce ... More >>

Return to Sender

What Would Comprehensive Immigration Reform Look Like If the Feds Got Off Their Duffs?

Teach For America: TEA Undertakes Audit

TFA: It's about to be audited​The Texas Education Agency has until January 31 to submit a report to the Texas Legislature that asks whether the much lauded Teach for America is doing much good for the low-income students in Texas. The Lege allocated TFA $8 million over last year and this year ... More >>

The Texas Lege: Five Crazy Things It Will Debate In 2010

Come for the budget-cutting, stay for the insanity​We regret to inform you that 2011 is one of those godforsaken years when the Texas Legislature will be in session. We further regret to inform you that Republicans have a supermajority in the House, and almost half of those GOPers are proud m ... More >>

Death Penalty Hearing: Judge Kevin Fine Gets Slapped Down By Appeals Court

Judge Kevin Fine: Rejected​The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has permanently shut down district judge Kevin Fine's quixotic and headline-grabbing effort to examine the constitutionality of how Texas applies the death penalty. In an order issued this morning, the CCA says Fine had no busines ... More >>

DVR Warning: Daily Show to Take On Legislature's Right-Wing Christians Tonight

State reps, get ready for your close-up​The Daily Show is getting ready to show America just how progressive, intelligent and open-minded the Texas Legislature is -- check that, we are now informed they are going to show the Lege for what it is. The Austin American-Statesman's capitol blog re ... More >>

Are Teach For America Teachers Better? $39K Later, We Still Don't Know

Teach for America: Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Now pay us​Anyone who's been holding his breath waiting for the Texas Education Agency to release its evaluation of the Teach For America program in the state can let it out now -- along with a sigh of disappointment. Tasked by the Texas Le ... More >>

Useless Report

Study of Teach For America's worth says little.

Come and Bake It

Local movement fights for cottage food bill.

Weed: The Top Ten Texas Stoners of All Time

Matthew McConaughey possibly has experimented​The 82nd session of the august Texas Legislature will no doubt end as all the others have, without decriminalizing marijuana even for medical use. (We're just going out on a limb here with this prediction.) More and more states seem to be getting ... More >>

Let Them Eat Cake

Readers rant about strict Texas food laws.

Bikes on Easements

North-south cycling trails could be a go!

The Five Most Texan Types Of Music

​Happy San Jacinto Day, fellow Texans and people who wish they were; i.e. everyone else. If you don't know why today is special, shame on you. But since us Texans are a friendly sort, allow Rocks Off to fill you in. On April 21, 1836, Texian forces under Gen. Sam Houston (aka "Big Drunk") lau ... More >>

Space Tourists Can't Sue: And Take a Look at Their Insurance Policy

Using any of these will void the policy.​With NASA getting out of the shuttle business, the next big thing is expected to be space tourism. It can be a dangerous thing, but luckily there is the Texas Legislature to make sure, as they always do, that no one can sue a company for pretty much an ... More >>

Legislature Makes Western Swing Official Texas Music

News Flash: Hank Williams still not a Texan nodepression.comBob "Willis" & His Texas Playboys​It appears Rocks Off's efforts of a few weeks ago were all for naught. Despite presenting what we thought was a fairly persuasive San Jacinto Day argument to the contrary, earlier today the Texas L ... More >>

Five Texans Who Will Never Be Official State Musician

​Before the Texas Legislature did something completely predictable and sold out the state's public schools declared Western Swing the state's official music, it did something slightly less predictable and appointed two people not from Austin or the Hill Country as the next two official state m ... More >>

ZZ Top Will Release New Album By Year's End, Gibbons Says

Jim BrickerZZ Top at The Woodlands, September 2010​After years of hemming and haw-haw-haw-hawing about how far along it is, who they are working with, and whether or not it even actually exists, ZZ Top singer/guitarist (Rev.) Billy F. Gibbons said the trio plans to release its first studio alb ... More >>

HISD Gets Millions, Avoids Tax Hike & Harvin Moore Gives the Lege a Bronx Cheer

Cutting too much doesn't mean there's money in the bank​It doesn't look like there's going to be an increase in taxes after all and Houston ISD just got word that it's been approved for more than $70.6 million in so-called E-Rate Funding which means a lot of kids who've been going without wi-f ... More >>

HISD Trustees Pass Budget, Listen as Larry Says He's Not a Mooch, Anna Says She's Not a Basher and Paula Says I'm No Judas

Truth or Dare at HISD.​Trustee Larry Marshall denied any conflicts of interest in his trip to Costa Rica no matter what the Houston Chronicle says. Anna Eastman said she isn't a "teacher basher" even though she knows some people think she is. And Board President Paula Harris saluted her friend ... More >>