POLITICS

Gov. Rick Perry at a press conference on Oct. 17, 2014, discussing the state's Ebola prevention efforts.
Gov. Rick Perry at a press conference on Oct. 17, 2014, discussing the state's Ebola prevention efforts.

Control Eluded State Leaders in Ebola Crisis

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.

Gov. Rick Perry visiting soldiers at Fort Hood on Oct. 9, 2014. The 36th Engineering Brigade is preparing to deploy to Liberia to assist in the effort to control the Ebola outbreak.
Gov. Rick Perry visiting soldiers at Fort Hood on Oct. 9, 2014. The 36th Engineering Brigade is preparing to deploy to Liberia to assist in the effort to control the Ebola outbreak.

The Brief: Oct. 22, 2014

Criticism by state leaders of the Obama administration for failures in the response to the Ebola virus omits mention of the tools at the state's disposal that were not used.

Former Dewhurst consultant Buddy Barfield walks to Austin federal court to plead guilty of embezzling almost $2-million in campaign funds on Oct. 21, 2014.
Former Dewhurst consultant Buddy Barfield walks to Austin federal court to plead guilty of embezzling almost $2-million in campaign funds on Oct. 21, 2014.

Former Dewhurst Aide Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

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.

The Brief: Oct. 22, 2014

Gov. Rick Perry visiting soldiers at Fort Hood on Oct. 9, 2014. The 36th Engineering Brigade is preparing to deploy to Liberia to assist in the effort to control the Ebola outbreak.
Gov. Rick Perry visiting soldiers at Fort Hood on Oct. 9, 2014. The 36th Engineering Brigade is preparing to deploy to Liberia to assist in the effort to control the Ebola outbreak.

Criticism by state leaders of the Obama administration for failures in the response to the Ebola virus omits mention of the tools at the state's disposal that were not used.

Former Dewhurst Aide Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement

Former Dewhurst consultant Buddy Barfield walks to Austin federal court to plead guilty of embezzling almost $2-million in campaign funds on Oct. 21, 2014.
Former Dewhurst consultant Buddy Barfield walks to Austin federal court to plead guilty of embezzling almost $2-million in campaign funds on Oct. 21, 2014.

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.

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Davis Says Controversial Ad Has Been "Incredibly Effective"

Texas gubernatorial Democratic candidate Sen. Wendy Davis speaks to group of supporters at Guero's Taco Bar on October 15th, 2014 in Austin, Texas
Texas gubernatorial Democratic candidate Sen. Wendy Davis speaks to group of supporters at Guero's Taco Bar on October 15th, 2014 in Austin, Texas

Several days into the media firestorm over the release of an ad that features an empty wheelchair, state Sen. Wendy Davis isn’t pulling back one inch from the harsh attacks on Attorney General Greg Abbott.

Details Yet to Emerge in Patrick's Tax Proposal

Dan Patrick, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, is shown at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth on June 7, 2014.
Dan Patrick, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, is shown at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth on June 7, 2014.

Dan Patrick, the GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, has made clear that he wants to lower property taxes. What he has left unclear — both to voters and to prominent business groups that have endorsed him — is exactly how he'll do that.

A Day in the Life of Sam Houston and His Very Lonely Campaign

Sam Houston, the Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general, in Houston on Oct. 7, 2014. Despite his GOP opponent's ethical troubles, Houston faces long odds and is struggling to draw attention.
Sam Houston, the Democratic nominee for Texas attorney general, in Houston on Oct. 7, 2014. Despite his GOP opponent's ethical troubles, Houston faces long odds and is struggling to draw attention.

With little money and swimming against the tide in conservative Texas, Democrat Sam Houston has little choice but to campaign for attorney general "the old fashioned way" — on the cheap, and largely from the front seat of his Toyota Prius. 

 

The Brief: Oct. 15, 2014

Tuesday turned into a topsy turvy day in the federal courts for the state of Texas with the voter ID law conserved for the Nov. 4 general election but a new delay placed on enforcing the new abortion law.

The Brief: Oct. 17, 2014

U.S. Sen Ted Cruz of Texas talks to the Capitol press about his upcoming to the Ukraine on May 16, 2014.
U.S. Sen Ted Cruz of Texas talks to the Capitol press about his upcoming to the Ukraine on May 16, 2014.

A lingering fight over a failed petition drive aimed at the city of Houston's equal rights ordinance boiled over this week as subpoenas issued against area pastors allied with the petition effort drew the ire of conservative leaders.

The Brief: Oct. 16, 2014

An exterior view of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Oct. 1, 2014.
An exterior view of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas on Oct. 1, 2014.

Wednesday amounted to a daylong series of body blows to those who thought that authorities had things under control in the response to the diagnosis of Ebola in Dallas.