GOVERNMENT

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Judge Bert Richardson, right.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and Judge Bert Richardson, right.

All Eyes on Perry in First Courtroom Appearance

A Thursday pre-trial hearing on Gov. Rick Perry's abuse of power indictment will focus on whether the criminal prosecutor in the case was properly sworn in and if a transcript of grand jury testimony should be made available for inspection by the judge. But all eyes will instead be on Perry, who is expected to make his first appearance in court.

 

Greg Abbott celebrates his victory over Wendy Davis on Nov. 4, 2014.
Greg Abbott celebrates his victory over Wendy Davis on Nov. 4, 2014.

The Brief: Nov. 5, 2014

As the night lengthened on Tuesday, the real contest, it seemed, was to find a fitting description as to how thoroughly Democrats were taken to the woodshed both in Texas and nationally.

The Brief: Nov. 5, 2014

Greg Abbott celebrates his victory over Wendy Davis on Nov. 4, 2014.
Greg Abbott celebrates his victory over Wendy Davis on Nov. 4, 2014.

As the night lengthened on Tuesday, the real contest, it seemed, was to find a fitting description as to how thoroughly Democrats were taken to the woodshed both in Texas and nationally.

Featured Data

Government Salary Database Updated

Voters Overwhelmingly Back State Roads Proposition

A natural gas drilling boom in the Eagle Ford Shale area in South Texas is straining the area's rural roads as more than 1,000 loaded trucks are needed to bring a single well into production.
A natural gas drilling boom in the Eagle Ford Shale area in South Texas is straining the area's rural roads as more than 1,000 loaded trucks are needed to bring a single well into production.

Texas voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported using oil and gas tax revenue to fund new road projects. Further down the ballot, a trio of highly contentious district attorney races led a roster of high-profile local contests.

Abbott Crushes Davis in GOP Sweep

Republican Greg Abbott celebrates with family after winning governor's race in a landslide.
Republican Greg Abbott celebrates with family after winning governor's race in a landslide.

As expected, Attorney General Greg Abbott crushed Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis in a landslide in the Texas governor's race. Abbott, 56, who will become the first Texas governor in a wheelchair, presided over a sweep of the statewide ballot and helped usher in a whole new crop of Republican leaders.

The Brief: Oct. 30, 2014

A cascade aerator is shown at the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant outside of San Antonio, where the San Antonio Water System maintains an underground storage reservoir.
A cascade aerator is shown at the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment Plant outside of San Antonio, where the San Antonio Water System maintains an underground storage reservoir.

Questions continue to be raised about a giant water pipeline project that would pump roughly 16 billion gallons of groundwater annually from Burleson County to San Antonio.

The Brief: Oct. 28, 2014

Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic nominee for governor Wendy Davis made separate appearances before national audiences on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, Perry at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Davis on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."
Republican Gov. Rick Perry and Democratic nominee for governor Wendy Davis made separate appearances before national audiences on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014, Perry at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, Davis on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."

Monday night was a big one for a pair of Texas politicos who were both given a national stage from which to galvanize support among their respective voter bases.

The Brief: Nov. 3, 2014

Signs greeting early voters outside the Lakeside Activity Center in Mesquite.
Signs greeting early voters outside the Lakeside Activity Center in Mesquite.

It's the day before Election Day, meaning time for everybody to take a deep breath in anticipation of what might unfold on Tuesday. Here's what you might have missed over a busy weekend on the political front.

Van de Putte's Statewide Bus Tour Ventures off Democrats' Beaten Path

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte waves to the delegates at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center on June 27, 2014.
State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte waves to the delegates at the 2014 Texas Democratic Convention held at the Dallas Convention Center on June 27, 2014.

State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor, is reaching out to voters in conservative hotbeds in North and East Texas — a nod to Democrats’ dependence on increasing voter turnout in statewide races.