A gas well last fracked in March sits less than 400 feet from a home in Denton, which just became Texas' first city to ban fracking.
photo by: Cooper Neill
A gas well last fracked in March sits less than 400 feet from a home in Denton, which just became Texas' first city to ban fracking.

Courts Will Take Up Case of Fracking v. Drilling

Legal wrangling will settle challenges to Denton's newly passed fracking ban, and give Texans a free course on the widely mischaracterized oilfield technique that has put Texas at the forefront a national energy boom.

 
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is interviewed by Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.
photo by: Bob Daemmrich
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is interviewed by Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.

Cornyn Picked to Be Next Senate Majority Whip

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas will be the Senate's next majority whip, Republicans in the upper chamber decided Thursday. The majority whip is tasked with counting votes and helping communicate the majority leader’s position.

Cornyn Picked to Be Next Senate Majority Whip

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is interviewed by Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.
photo by: Bob Daemmrich
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is interviewed by Karen Tumulty of The Washington Post at the Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 20, 2014.

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas will be the Senate's next majority whip, Republicans in the upper chamber decided Thursday. The majority whip is tasked with counting votes and helping communicate the majority leader’s position.

 

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The Disappearing Rio Grande Expedition

 

Private Sector an Oasis for Thirsty San Antonio

A map of the proposed pipeline that will deliver 16 billion gallons of water annually from underneath Burleson County to San Antonio, about 140 miles away.
A map of the proposed pipeline that will deliver 16 billion gallons of water annually from underneath Burleson County to San Antonio, about 140 miles away.

Frustrated for decades in its search for a new source of water, San Antonio thinks it has finally divined the answer. It will pay a premium to let private companies do the work.

Struggles in the Shale

Across West Texas, wages are soaring for oil and gas industry workers — but so is the cost of living. For those who don’t hold top-dollar energy jobs, just paying the rent has gotten tough. This video is part of our Shale Life project.

The Brief: Nov. 13, 2014

Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Wendy Davis shows her book "Forgetting to be Afraid" at Book People on September 11th, 2014
Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Sen. Wendy Davis shows her book "Forgetting to be Afraid" at Book People on September 11th, 2014

Wendy Davis' rout was foretold by a couple of Democratic strategists who despaired nearly a year ago over the direction in which the Democratic gubernatorial candidate was taking her campaign.

Internal Memos Detail Davis Campaign Dysfunction

State Sen. Wendy Davis speaking to the press after a Travis County Democratic campaign rally on Oct. 22, 2014.
State Sen. Wendy Davis speaking to the press after a Travis County Democratic campaign rally on Oct. 22, 2014.

Consultants for Democrat Wendy Davis warned her campaign months ago that the Fort Worth senator was headed for a humiliating defeat in the Texas governor’s race unless she adopted a more centrist message and put a stop to staggering dysfunction.

 

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Video: Abbott Details His Transition to Governor

 

George W. Bush, Invoking Father, Urges Jeb to Run

Former President George W. Bush tells a story about his father at Texas A&M University on Nov. 11.
Former President George W. Bush tells a story about his father at Texas A&M University on Nov. 11.

Former President George W. Bush used an event designed to promote a new book to give his brother Jeb a boost. Invoking his father, Bush said: "I can speak for 41 when I say this. He ought to run for president, and he would be a great president should he win.”