For as many as 40,000 low-income Austin households being squeezed by high rents in a booming city, Wednesday offers the barest glimmer of hope.

Christine Ayala reports: http://trib.it/1CRYnF6

New in Trib+Water: Disappearing rural lands http://trib.it/1mgVC7z

In this week's edition of the Trib+Water newsletter: Texas is losing more rural land than any other state, the cost of water is rising and an interview with Kent Satterwhite, general manager of the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority.

Subscribe today, it's free! http://trib.it/1qAMmPV

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's former adviser Kenneth "Buddy" Barfield pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges of wire fraud, making a false tax return and embezzlement of funds contributed to a federal candidate.

Christine Ayala and Reeve Hamilton report: http://trib.it/1FxvtOH

Gov. Rick Perry will visit UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas to make an announcement regarding Ebola preparedness and response. Watch the livestream, courtesy of KXAS-TV.

http://www.texastribune.org/livestream/

Dispatches from around the state on the first day of early voting; Oil price tremors not rattling Texas. Yet.; Texas on lonely side of battle over ozone pollution.

John Reynolds with The Brief for Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014: http://trib.it/1wh25al

Today in TribTalk:
Stop doubting Texas' graduation numbers, by Michael Marder http://trib.it/1yUAlMa

After calling for an end to subsidies for wind energy production, the Texas comptroller will soon release a report that could rekindle debate surrounding Texas’ largest incentive for natural gas producers.

Jim Malewitz on tax breaks facing scrutiny: http://trib.it/1wjLLqk

Gov. Rick Perry and other Texas officials are pointing fingers at the Obama administration for botching the Ebola response. But the state did not fully use its own power to restrict travel, quarantine health care workers and limit possible spread of the deadly virus.

Jay Root and Edgar Walters report: http://trib.it/1FxE7gm

What more could Texas have done about Ebola?; Little help for those who can't make the rent; First bullet train meeting focuses on station locations; Former Dewhurst aide pleads guilty to embezzlement.

John Reynolds with The Brief for Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014: http://trib.it/1t4oJmu

Today in TribTalk:
A bold step toward solving Texas' road woes, by Jeff Leach http://trib.it/1sOABrf

Gov. Rick Perry announced Tuesday that three health care providers in North Texas will partner to form an Ebola treatment facility, as recommended by the state’s infectious disease task force.

Edgar Walters reports: http://trib.it/1yVqgyz

A ballot initiative to ban fracking in Denton has put the North Texas city at the center of a nationwide debate over the safety of drilling, the money it produces and the role cities play in regulating it. As Election Day nears, the fight is growing fiercer.

KUT News' Mose Buchele reports for StateImpact Texas. Listen: http://trib.it/ZDNI3T

Woven into the recent federal ruling that found the state's voter photo ID law unconstitutional is a bigger question for Texas lawmakers — whether the state should have to seek federal permission when it changes election and voting laws.

Ross Ramsey: http://trib.it/1nsLyiI

Early voting starts in Texas; First wind, now gas: Tax breaks face scrutiny; Analysis: Behind voter ID, federal pre-clearance; ICYMI: Wealthy donor pumps cash into Bexar County DA race.

John Reynolds with The Brief for Monday, Oct. 20, 2014: http://trib.it/1vSo1uJ

Today in TribTalk:
Why the Texas Enterprise Fund is still worth it, by Jason Villalba http://trib.it/1t32gG2