The newly cracked, chipped and crowded roads linking Texas boomtowns have meant more than just traffic jams for local commuters. They've also proved deadly. This slideshow is part of our Shale Life project.

Becca Aaronson, Emily Albracht and Tamir Kalifa: http://trib.it/1FLTvpw

At a Thursday pre-trial hearing on Rick Perry's abuse of power indictment, all eyes will be on the Texas governor, who is expected to make his first appearance in court.

Terri Langford: http://trib.it/1x7j3bA

Abbott assumes the mantle of leadership; In Texas boomtowns, more traffic means more deaths; Perry to make first courtroom appearance; Should city voters pick the Ag commissioner?; Bexar County voting machine omits Abbott; Map: How Democratic turnout tumbled across Texas.


John Reynolds with The Brief for Thursday, Nov. 6, 2014: http://trib.it/1po8Sj1

Today in TribTalk:
Why Texas stayed so red, by Ted Delisi http://trib.it/1tg5zFu

oin us tomorrow for TribLive with Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick. RSVP and #livestream: http://trib.it/Y1vZ66

Twenty-nine Texans who weren't in the state Legislature last session will take their seats as new members of the Texas House and Senate in January. All but three are Republicans. Explore our list of fresh faces.

Becca Aaronson, Bobby Blanchard and Christine Ayala make the introductions: http://trib.it/1zuGSgM

We're livestreaming Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's Austin news conference on his transition plan. The news conference is expected to start at 11:30 a.m. Central time. The feed is courtesy of KXAN-TV.

Watch: http://trib.it/1x6iNJL

Texas voters have picked the agriculture commissioner for more than a century. But is that a good idea in a state almost 90 percent urban?

Neena Satija digs for answers: http://trib.it/1tADwUM

We're livestreaming this morning's TribLive conversation with Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.

8:00 a.m.: http://www.texastribune.org/

Many Texas Democrats had said that Wendy Davis was the kind of candidate who could at least move the needle for the bedraggled state party. But failed tactics and other issues helped doom Davis' bid for governor.

Jay Root: http://trib.it/1x4LucA

Reeve, Ross, Emily and Evan are joined by Jay and Jim for a special TribLive taping of TribCast on the morning after the 2014 general election. Topics covered include everything from the plight of Texas Democrats to the state's future under new leadership.

Listen:

That was fast. Just hours after Denton residents voted to ban hydraulic fracturing, the state’s biggest petroleum group fired off its first legal challenge to the new rule.

Jim Malewitz reports: http://trib.it/1s53zPX

See the history of #tx2014 elections, Primary through General, in our college hoops-style brackets. Chris Chang: http://trib.it/1gVTj9B